Gold for Wardle High Junior Wind Band

Wardle High Junior Wind Band outside The Royal Academy Hall

Wardle High Junior Wind Band won a Gold Award in the National Concert Band Festival at The Royal Academy Hall.

The award was the highest achieved in the Junior Wind Band Class on the day.

The two day festival had in excess of 2,400 participants and 900 supporters in attendance – the largest gathering of wind musicians in the UK.

The Junior Wind Band won the North West of England Platinum Award in the regional event and an invitation to perform in London at the Royal Academy Hall, during which they received the Gold Award.

Jane Conway, Musical Director, said: “Every member of the band has worked extremely hard over the past few weeks and thoroughly enjoyed the experience of performing at the NCBF. It was a great honour to have performed at the Royal Academy of Music, an experience we will never forget.”

Janet Emsley, Director of Performing Arts, said: “The Wind Band has done really well to be invited to perform at the Royal Academy, it has taken a great deal of hard work and dedication to achieve the level of playing that they are displaying at present.

"The experience of playing in the Duke's Hall, where the bust of Sir Henry Wood is situated, will remain with them for a long time.

"They thoroughly deserved the Gold Award and hope to build on this achievement.”

Wardle High Junior Wind Band reformed in 2007. Since its reformation the band has grown from twenty to fifty members. This is the second year that the band has taken part in the National Concert Band Festival.