My WYGF09 experience.

We have been getting some fantastic feedback from this year’s WYGF. We’re busy doing a festival overview which we will feature here on the site shortly, but here’s a little bit about the WYGF09 experience from Michael Oram (see above: far left) who came to WYGF for the first time this year. Michael writes ….

“My experience of the WYGF was absolutely fantastic; however it got off to a shaky start, as a few days before I became ill. It was very upsetting for me as I remember thinking I wouldn’t make it, and I had been looking forward to the festival for absolutely ages. I finally got better the day before the festival and only missed the first day, to make sure I was 100%.

Although I arrived a day late I was made to feel extremely welcome by the team and had great fun in orchestra 5, with Helen Sanderson and Frank Gerstmeier. Even though I hadn’t had much time to practice my parts because I had been on holiday, I soon picked them up and really enjoyed playing the two contrasting ensemble pieces.

I really loved the atmosphere around Dean Close School. Having hundreds of people in the same building who share the same passion was really good fun, as well as interesting. The facilities were brilliant and we all had a great time in the swimming pool with the diving boards.

I thought the YouTube competition was a great idea and I uploaded Cycles in the Avenue by Vincent Lindsey Clarke (grade 6). I was lucky enough to win a master class with Vincent, which was extremely helpful. It was also interesting to be told the inspiration behind his composition 5 Pictures of Sark and learn why he chose to do certain things within them. For example the Harmonics at the end of Cycles in the Avenue represent a bicycle bell.

The evening concerts were phenomenal! I heard Martha Masters and Brad Richter play: Brad’s concert was unusual because of the way he incorporated a clothes pen and match sticks into his compositions. This really brought out how versatile the sounds the guitar can make are. Other evening events were also exciting and the staff panto was great fun to watch. I particularly enjoyed Frank’s performance, and the song… ‘On the first day of World Youth…’ I performed myself during WYGF as part of the Junior Guildhall Guitar Ensemble in one of the showcase concerts, and I thoroughly enjoyed Gitarrenstadt Bad Nauheim’s performance in the same concert.

I would recommend the festival to everyone who has interest in playing the classical guitar. Believe me, you will have the time of your life! Even if you are a classical guitar superstar or an absolute beginner it doesn’t matter, you will love every second of it. I extremely enjoyed this year’s festival and can not wait until WYGF 2011!”