March was a busy month in Edward Gregson’s diary.  He travelled to Trondheim, Norway, to adjudicate the Norwegian National Wind Band Championships, commenting that:

“The standard of wind playing in Norway is extraordinarily high, and in the Elite section the quality of both performance and programming was of a professional standard.  The winning ensemble, the Christiania Blåseenemble from Oslo, conducted by Rolf Gupta, played four movements from Messiaen’s demanding Et Expecto Ressurectionem, as well as John Adam’s Short Ride in a Fast Machine, to an extremely high level, and were worthy winners.  I gather the ensemble is made up of former graduates from the Norwegian Academy of Music.”

Gregson was also adjudicator at the English Schools Orchestra Young Composers Competition, held at Cecil Sharp House in London.    The four finalists enjoyed the opportunity of hearing their composition rehearsed and performed by the English Young Artists’ Sinfonia, as well as receiving feedback from the performers and the competition judges Edward Gregson, Scott Stroman and Richard Sisson.  The worthy winner was Jasper Dommett.