Wardle Academy Youth Band crowned national champions

Wardle Academy Youth Band Crowned National Champions

Wardle Academy’s Youth Band were named the 2015 National Youth Brass Band Intermediate Champions of Great Britain at the National Youth Brass Band Championships, held at the Royal Northern College of Music on Sunday (19 April).

The brass band, conducted by Lee Rigg, achieved the gold award and was named the winner of the intermediate section, taking away a trophy, banner and certificate of achievement from Brass Bands England.

The ensemble had to play a 20-minute programme, including a test piece, Plus Ultra, by Andrew Stevenson who was in the audience and commented on how the band played his piece exactly has he imagined it.

The winning programme included ‘Old 100th’, ‘On the Quarter Deck’ and ‘I’ll Walk with You’. Adjudicator Ewan Easton described their performance as “excellent with wonderful control in all areas” and John Doyle stated “I was impressed from your first note to your last” and “your dynamic contrasts were breath-taking, thank you for making me smile”.

The group of under 18-year-old musicians were up against twelve other brass bands from across Great Britain but the Wardle Academy Youth Band came out on top and are now invited to represent the country and compete in the European Championships 2016 in Lille, France.

Director of Performing Arts at Wardle Academy, Janet Emsley said: “The band was amazing. Just when you think they can’t do any more, they go to the next level.”

Musical Director of the band, Lee Rigg said “I'm absolutely over the moon. All the credit goes to the players - not just for Sunday, but their commitment, passion and enthusiasm over the past few weeks.”

It proved a day that Mr Rigg wouldn’t forget in a long time, as he claimed a historic 2015 National/Butlins’ ‘Double’ adding to his recent British Open/National ‘Double’ achievement with the famous Black Dyke Mills Band, of which he is a member.

The band was also English champions in 2014 therefore they will also represent the country in the European championships in Freiburg, Germany on the 3 May this year.