How COVID-19 was a Foil for Gerrymandering our ‘A’ Level Grades

Algorithm used to favour Eton over Eltham, Harrow over Harlow, and Millfield over Middleton

If you wish to better yourself, I urge you not to be Northern, working-class, nor a former pupil of a bog-standard comprehensive or academy in an impoverished area. That it seems is the message we are getting from this year’s ‘A’ Level results. A staggering 40% of results were downgraded from the teachers’ predictions at each College of Further Education and Sixth Form Department.

Austonley Brass Ensemble: Sunday Brass at the Boarshurst Band Club

A pristine performance from a perfect ten players (well, eleven counting the percussionist)

Ten from the cream of brass banding enthralled a packed audience at last night’s [Sunday 8th May] concert with Austonley Brass, at Boarshurst Band Club. Among its personnel is the Boarshurst Band Club musical director, James Garlick (Trombone/Euphonium), and his father, Philip Garlick (Trumpet/Tenor Horn).

Phoenix Brass Ensemble: Sunday Brass at the Boarshurst Band Club

Ensemble offers ten good reasons for a great night

Breaking from the norm a little, last night’s [Sunday 17 April] concert was brought to us by a ten-piece ensemble. The Phoenix Brass Ensemble gave a great concert at the Boarshurst Band Club, with the ten players providing a powerful and well-rounded sound.

The band with musical director Alan Widdop, have been going for 36 years, established in Littleborough. Recent changes in personnel have seen the arrival of players from the disbanded Versatile Brass. One of them took a back seat from being our front man, the flugelhorn player we shall mention later.

Latitude Brass Quintet: Five Star Performance in Debut Concert

RNCM students’ first ever concert at Boarshurst Band Club captivates

At 8pm a quintet of Royal Northern College of Music students took their positions at the Boarshurst Band Club to perform their first ever concert. Known as the Latitude Brass Quintet, the bandsmen had only been going for a month in this guise.

As part of their course at the RNCM, the syllabus entails the formation of a musical group. Instead of a chamber music group, they eschewed harps for cornets and formed a brass ensemble. By 9.35pm, their work paid off. It was a great start with a nice balance between popular and classical music in their programme.

On some occasions, you had to pinch yourself and wonder if there was five or 33 players.