For the first time in three years, Smithills School Senior Brass Band has appointed a new Principal Cornet, 17 year old Sheena Whitehouse.

Successful

This year has seen Smithills win 2008 titles at the National Youth Brass Band Championships of Great Britain, National Festival of Music For Youth and French Open Brass Band Championships in addition to picking up two youth First Prizes on Whit Friday.

Formerly Assistant Principal Cornet throughout the past four years, Sheena takes over from Joanna Hurst who left this Summer after seven highly successful years at Smithills to begin her new life as an undergraduate in London.

Sheena is equally comfortable playing cornet, flugel horn and trumpet in all of our senior bands at Smithills and never stops practisingChris Wormald

Familiar face

In addition to her many years at Smithills, Sheena Whitehouse is no stranger to helping out bands across the North West and can frequently be found playing for Tottington, Hoover, Eagley and Boarshurst bands.

Versatile

MD Chris Wormald told 4BR: "All of our Principal Cornets over the past seventeen years, from Rob Lomax and James Woodland through to Joanna Hurst and now Sheena have developed into outstanding players and all brought their own particular strengths to the position."

Chris added: "Sheena is equally comfortable playing cornet, flugel horn and trumpet in all of our senior bands at Smithills and never stops practising. She has a great sound on all three instruments and has lead our Community Band every Saturday morning for the past three years too. She brings a wealth of experience to her now role."