A youth band made up of budding young musicians from across Bath and North East Somerset has taken first prize in a prestigious national competition.
The Symphonic Wind Band won the Wind Bands Award at the National Festival of Music for Youth, held at the Symphony Hall in London in July, beating 12 other bands.
The Symphonic Wind Band is made up of some of the finest young musicians from the area, aged 12 – 19, who meet at the Bath and North East Somerset Society for Young Musicians at the West Wing, Hayesfield School, on Saturday mornings.
Its conductor is Rainer Dolz from Bath & North East Somerset Council’s Music Service.
Councillor Michael Evans (Conservative, Midsomer Norton North) Cabinet Member for Children’s Services, said: “Congratulations to everyone involved on their hard work; it’s particularly impressive as this is only the second time the band had entered a competition.”
The prize includes a day’s training and mentoring from by the Royal Marines Band at its base in Portsmouth, as well as free tickets to see the Massed Bands in action at the 2016 Mountbatten Festival of Music at the Royal Albert Hall.
You can find out more information about the Symphonic Wind Band and many other ensembles and music centres at www.banesmusiconline.co.uk.
Auditions for senior groups will be held in September, see website for more details.