A former Smithills Schools alumnus is certainly making a name for himself in the professional musical world.

Highly successful

Former pupil Ben Ellin is now a highly successful composer and conductor and recently took to the podium to conducting the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra at the Royal Festival Hall on Gustav Holst’s ‘The Planets’.

First principals

His former music teacher and Smiths School MD Chris Wormald told 4BR: "Ben was the first principal tuba of our Senior Brass Band from 1992-1997 and our first principal clarinet of the Senior Concert Band.

He also went on to be the first Smithills member of the National Youth Brass Band of Great Britain and then the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain as Principal Tuba."

Paid off

His time at Smithills certainly paid off and Ben now regularly conducts in Los Angeles, St Petersburg, Rome, London, Manchester and recently, Huddersfield!

Chris added: "It shows how time moves on though as Ben got married last year and will become a father for the first time later this Autumn!

we are all really proud of Ben, and the fact that he comes back to the school to visit as often as he does speaks volumes about him as a personChris Wormald

Proud

Needless to say, we are all really proud of Ben, and the fact that he comes back to the school to visit as often as he does speaks volumes about him as a person."