Following a highly enjoyable buffet evening where a 32 page commemorative colour brochure was launched celebrating their recent successful tour of the United States, Smithills Schools has looked east to Norway for their latest musical partnership.

Reciprocal

It was announced that the Forre Musikkorps Youth Band will join forces with the band for a concert later this month at their brand new £110,000 rehearsal facility, where it is hoped that an ongoing reciprocal association can be created between the two organisations.

Welcome

MD Chris Worlmald told 4BR: "We are delighted to welcome MD Jakob Birk and his band to our school and we look forward to the start of what we hope is a long term association with them.

Smithills is always looking to explore new musical horizons, and Norway is such a wonderful country with a vibrant youth led brass band movement."

Smithills is always looking to explore new musical horizons, and Norway is such a wonderful country with a vibrant youth led brass band movementChris Wormald

Learn

He added: "Forre contacted us some months ago now and said they wished to visit England and spend time with, and learn from, long standing, successful UK school/youth bands like ours.

We offered them a venue and a concert straight away and we believe we will be able to provide them with a wonderful concert."