Smithills School Senior Band has just returned to the UK following their triumphant tour to North Carolina (above) under the direction of MD Chris Wormald.

Sell out

During their short stay the band performed in eight sell-out concerts to over 6,000 people — many of who made return trips to hear the band in action.

From the opening concert in Shelby to the final evening in Gastonia, the band was showered with superlatives for their performances of over 50 different pieces of repertoire.

Overspill

The peak of their popularity certainly came in Winston-Salem, when the concert was so over-subscribed that a second, adjacent hall was prepared so that over 200 people could see the concert ‘live’ through a four camera video link.

The exceptional support throughout our whole 2014 tour has been more staggering than everMD Chris Wormald

Never before

A delighted Chris Wormald told 4BR: "In 31 years as a teacher and conductor, I have never been in a situation where I was not only conducting and introducing a concert to a most knowledgeable and enthusiastic packed hall, but also doing it while being watched and cheered in a second auditorium."

He added: "The exceptional support throughout our whole 2014 tour has been more staggering than ever."