Fresh from their recent joint concert with Black Dyke, Smithills School Senior Brass Band under MD Chris Wormald have again emerged from the National Festival of Music For Youth with a second successive sponsor’s award as well as the most ringing of endorsements from the adjudicators.

Pace setters

Chris Wormald told 4BR that speaking from the stage at Symphony Hall in Birmingham, Music For Youth mentor Eric Tebbett stated that 'Smithills continue to be the pace setters for all school brass bands in the country and many more bands, far older and more experienced. They continue to set the standards for others to emulate. They are quite brilliant.'

Chris added that Eric Tebbett also stated that Smithills performance of Mahler’s 'Resurrection' had moved him to tears and had been as much a 'spiritual experience' as it had a musical one4BR

Spiritual experience

Chris added that Eric Tebbett also stated that Smithills performance of Mahler’s 'Resurrection' had moved him to tears and had been as much a 'spiritual experience' as it had a musical one.

Trio of arrangements

The band's prize winning performance featured three arrangements by Chris: 'Birdland', which the judges praised for its meticulous preparation, balance, control and 'sheer brilliance' of the performance, 'Cry Me A River' and 'Resurrection', which Chris told 4BR, the judges described as, 'faultless, exceptional and a truly spiritual experience'.

Smithills were presented with a prestigious Allianz Award to compliment their Peters Edition Award of 2009.