Smithills' Brass Band wins another accolade
10:09pm Monday 14th April 2008 in News By News Editor James Higgins
SMITHILLS School Senior Brass Band proved they were a class act when they marched away with yet another accolade.
The talented musicians won the National Youth Brass Band Championship of Great Britain in the school section on Sunday.
Their victory at the competition, this year held at the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester, is the fourth in the last five years.
More than 30 bands from across the British Isles took part in the competition, which is now in its 15th year.
The school's victory comes just three days after its young musicians finished recording a new programme of music for Radio 2, entitled Class Act, to be broadcast in June.
Musical director Chris Wormald said: "I am very proud of the musicians. Their success is down to hard work. They rehearsed during the Easter holidays and in their spare time, when most people were relaxing."
"The standard in this competition is extremely high and gets higher every year. The winning programme by Smithills had to include the prescribed, set test piece Music From Kantara' by Kenneth Downie which featured a superb solo by Principal Euphonium player Kirsty Nolan."
The Bolton school beat its closest rivals Wardle High School from Rochdale into second place to take the title Mr Wormald, who is also the school's assistant headteacher, said: "Smithills can once again look forward to another very special year ahead as it parades the latest of its many national titles."
The school's Senior Brass Band are currently the World Champions, a title they will hold on to until Summer 2009, before defending it.
