WHEN young trombonist Peter Moore took to the stage as a guest soloist with Wingates Band, he had no idea that the event was really an audition.

Ten-year-old Peter delighted the audience at the Bridgewater Hall, Manchester, with his rendition of Friedebald Grfe's Trombone Concerto.

As he came to the end, musical director Andrew Berryman, who was looking for a new principal trombone player, turned to the audience and asked: "Shall we give him the job?"

The audience, who were at the hall for The Great Northern Brass Arts Festival, responded with rapturous applause.

Peter becomes the youngest member in the band's illustrious 133-year history, and possibly the youngest principal trombonist in the country.

Mr Berryman is Peter's tutor at Chethams School of Music in Manchester. He has taught Peter for two years, and has known the boy's family since they were all members of the same orchestra in Northern Ireland.

Mr Berryman, who is principal trombone player of the Hall Orchestra, said: "He has a truly exceptional talent - the sort that only comes along once in a lifetime."

Peter said: "This is what I have always wanted to do, so it has been great and I'm really enjoying it.

"I was nervous because I wanted to do well and make a good impression, but now I'm a lot more relaxed when it comes to performing in front of people. At first, I wasn't sure I would be good enough, but now I have settled into it and I think my tutoring at Chethams has made a massive difference."

Peter, who lives in Stalybridge, comes from a musical family. His father Grenville, aged 44, is a cornet player in Brighouse and Rastrick Band. His mother Jane, aged 45, has just joined the cornet section at Wingates.

Peter has an older brother and sister, twins David and Helen, aged 17. David plays the flugel horn with Brighouse and Helen plays the tenor horn.

Mrs Moore said: "I am delighted that he has got such a fantastic opportunity to play in such a good band. With his teacher conducting, it is the icing on the cake.

"It is noisy in the house when we are all practising, but we enjoy listening to each other when we can.

"Peter wants to be a trombone soloist. He really wants to do it. He has his heart set on it, and we will support him in everything he does.

"We really enjoy playing together in the band. I enjoy spending time with him and I can always hear him play, which is lovely."