“Powerful” “A Fantastic night packed with unbelievable talent”, “variety, with a musical production that anyone would enjoy”, these were the words from just a few of the many happy audience members after attending Saturday night’s concert produced by Cullybackey Pipe Band at the Braids Arts Centre, Ballymena.
Cullybackey PB brought the curtain down on this year’s Ballymena Arts Festival. The newly commissioned “Dalriada” suite of music was unveiled during the headline performance which saw a capacity crowd fill the Braid Arts centre to heart rendering song, dance, contemporary and traditional music, and a pipe band performance of epic proportion.
The closing night of the festival was opened by Ballymena Mayor Alderman PJ McAvoy. Mayor McAvoy paid tribute to the sterling work that goes into the performing arts describing them as a jewel in the crown for the Borough. Speaking of the work carried out By Cullybackey PB, Alderman PJ described them as ambassadors who represent the borough on the world stage and do so with measured success as they are now ranked in the world’s top ten. Mayor McAvoy introduced Cullybackey on stage before taking his seat to enjoy the entire performance.
The innovative concert piece got underway with the audience being treated to a prelude when the Dalriada slow air was uniquely performed in canntaireachd song by band member Rachel McLeister, Cullybackey PB, led by Pipe Major Robert Cupples collaborated with Colin Elder, a former member of Cullybackey PB and now musical director, in compiling the musical arrangements that made up the Dalriada suite. The innovative musical piece was framed by the spoken word and took the listener on a journey through key historical events in the history of the Kingdom of Dalriada. Robert who themed the Dalriada concept for Cullybackey pipe bands concert repertoire is over whelmed by the positive feedback from within and outside the pipe band fraternity. “The band has taken a quantum leap forward in terms of sound, playing and tune selection. This is a watershed moment for us and the Dalriada concert pieces have only complimented the relaunch of the band with the latest musical sets, style of playing and reconfiguration of the various sections within the band as we prepare for the next instalment of our journey” states a pleased Pipe Major Cupples.
The concert has set a benchmark for these styles of concerts. Being performed almost entirely from within the ranks of the Grade 4A and Grade 1 bands and using current membership to provide the various musical performances which included. Solo Piping from Graham Sterling, Current Ulster intermediate champion, Solo Drumming from William Glenholmes, Senior Ulster drumming champion, Soloist Rachel McLeister who performed the folk classic “The Dark Isle” and performed Dalriada canntaireachd song, Scott Galloway, who entertained by accompanying a pipe jig on drum kit providing a contemporary sound to which the Shelley Anne Campbell school of dancing performed. Cullybackey PB performed their new medleys for the upcoming season with rapturous applause before Adrian Hoy’s world renowned drum corp entertained the audience with an outstanding drumming fanfare displayed with an ultra violet light show providing an awesome visual.Grade4A under the direction of Pipe Major Warren Robinson were also on display with many of the junior players making their debuts with the band. Grade 4A played their competition sets finishing with on a high note with loud recognition from the listening audience. Also performing was guest Piper and solo player Ashley McMichael of Field Marshal Montgomery Pipe band.
Cullybackey PB brought the curtain down on the Ballymena Arts festival providing a fitting tribute to the wealth of talent that has been developed and produced from within the Cullybackey PB School of excellence.The much anticipated and long awaited Dalriada concert has now been endorsed by the listener and will now be extended and developed into a standalone musical programme. Cullybackey players focus will now be directed to the competition arena planning for a successful 2013 season.
