Smithy Bridge Primary to perform at Royal Albert Hall

Photo: Tempest Photography

Smithy Bridge Primary’s Brass Band

The brass band at Smithy Bridge Primary School will be playing at London’s Royal Albert Hall in November as part of the Music for Youth Proms 2018.

After qualifying through regional and national finals, Smithy Bridge Primary’s Brass Band will perform on Monday 5 November, alongside bands from across the country.

Smithy Bridge Primary School Band was first formed in 1993 when Lee Rigg began working in school as a brass teacher. There were only two members of the band when it started.

The school now has over 40 young brass players aged 7 to 11 and a history of successful adult players emerging from these humble beginnings.

During the last 25 years the band has performed at the Music for Youth festival many times and received sponsors’ awards and certificates which are still proudly displayed in school.

As well as many concerts and at the local Rochdale festival, the school band performs in assemblies, school fairs and locally in the community at Christmas.

The band has entered The National Youth Band Championships in which it became Beginner Band champions in 2009 and 2012. They have also played alongside The Black Dyke Band on two memorable occasions.

Headteacher Jane George said: “We are really honoured and excited to be going. Our choir was invited in 2010 but we have been waiting for this special invitation for our wonderful, talented band.

“To play in The Royal Albert Hall is a great achievement for such a young band and we are very proud to be given this opportunity. The band currently has 25 members and rehearses on Wednesday lunchtimes at school.

“Mr Rigg is something of a legend in the local community and it is an honour for the children to learn their skills with such a talented musician.”

Music for Youth is a national youth arts charity working to provide young people aged 21 and under with free, life-changing performance and progression opportunities, regardless of background or musical style.

The Music for Youth Proms concerts are a celebration of the entire Music for Youth annual season, showcasing high quality performances from some of the UK’s most creative, innovative and energetic young musicians. 

The spectacular finale to the year of Music for Youth events, each night 1,000 different young musicians take part in a concert like no other: full-scale orchestras showcased side by side with some of the brightest young jazz bands, chamber groups, rock bands and choirs from across the UK.