Members from the Abraham Darby Academy in Telford returned home last Sunday having participated in the National Concert Band Festival, regional qualification heat in Cheltenham.

Platinum

The Academy’s Junior Jazz Band under the direction of student Ryan Richards claimed a Platinum Award which has resulted in them being invited to attend the National Festival itself to be held at Birmingham Conservatoire next April.

The Junior Jazz Band performed ‘Hit the Bricks’, ‘My Funny Valentine’ featuring flugel soloist Ashley Marston and concluded with ‘Abracadabra’.

Varied programme

Also gaining a Platinum Award and Birmingham invite was the Academy’s Senior Jazz Band under the joint direction of Dougie Bill and Tom Gledhill, with a varied performance which saw them commence their performance with ‘Alianza’, ‘God Bless the Child’ featuring Ryan Richards on solo trombone, ‘Gospel John’ and ‘Sing, Sang, Sung’.

I am proud of all the Academy Bands, and their awards were well deservedHead of Music, Rachel Morton

Gold

To complete the award winning day the Academy Showband under Head of Music, Rachel Morton, achieved a Gold Award and will now wait to see if they can gain their place at Birmingham next year.

Rachel told 4BR: "I am proud of all the Academy Bands, and their awards were well deserved."