A couple of months after Andover Town Band won their first ever contest as a senior band, there are new trophies to clean at the band’s Mitutoyo's premises in the town.

Awards

Andover’s training band — comprising 20 players under the age of 18, adult learners and just a handful of experienced adult players recently won the 'Best Training Band' Award at the annual Wessex Brass Training Band Festival — beating seven local bands along the way.

And that wasn't all.

They also picked up the ‘Best Overall Band’ Award, ‘Best Performance of a Hymn Tune' and a number of individual awards, with Jan Walukiewicz, claiming the ‘Best Instrumentalist’ prize and 7 year old Erin Young winning the ‘Youngest Player’ Trophy.

The band played so well, demonstrating everything that they have learned in the last yearMD, Steve Large

Played so well

Musical Director, Steve Large admitted to being quite overcome by the band's achievements at the contest.

He told 4BR: "The band played so well, demonstrating everything that they have learned in the last year. But to come away with so many prizes and so many smiles was more than I could ever have hoped for. It brought a lump to my throat."

He added: "It is nothing less than they deserved. The young, and not so young players' dedication and passionate commitment shines through."