Laura Conway set to join brass band course in Norway

Laura Conway set to join brass band course in Norway

Former student of Wardle Academy, Laura Conway is set to join a prestigious one-year specialist brass band course at Manger Folkehogskule in Norway.

Laura applied for a place at the school after meeting the current brass band course students in April, this year, when they visited Wardle Academy. Within two days she had received an offer to start in September 2016.

Laura, who has just completed her A Levels at Rochdale Sixth Form College, said: “I was planning on going to university in September but I have deferred my place for one year as I could simply not turn down this offer.”

The Manger Folkehogskule offers 20 hours of music tuition each week as well as lessons in conducting, composition, and working with specialist tutors, there will also be a wide range of non-musical opportunities. The school is approximately an hour from Bergen set in a beautiful area near the fjords.

Currently principle cornet with the Wardle Academy Youth Band and Wardle Anderson Band, Laura has also been offered a place in one of Norway's top brass bands 'Manger Mussikklag'.

She plans to fly out to Bergen on 19 August with her parents, Sean and Jane, and her younger sister Emma, who is also hoping to enrol at the school next year.

Laura added: “I would like to thank my uncle, Lee Rigg, conductor of the Wardle Academy Youth Band, who has given my so many fantastic opportunities to perform at prestigious concert halls, winning national and European titles.

“I would also like to thank my family and friends who have always supported and encouraged me to perform and to the Wardle Academy Band Association for their continued support and fundraising.”