On the 25th November, over 170 children from Rochdale will make their way to London to perform at the Royal Albert Hall for the final night of the School Proms.

Culmination

It will be the culmination of an initiative started earlier this year when Gwen Smith, Jane Conway and Lee Rigg, all peripatetic music teachers at Wardle Academy and surrounding primary schools, decided to draw together a massed ensemble.

The children play under the name of 'Wardle Junior Blast' and come from Wardle and Kentmere Academies, as well as St James, Smithy Bridge, St Andrews, Littleborough, Holy Trinity and St Marys Primary Schools.

Honour

The massed band was given the honour of performing in the Royal Albert Hall after impressing the adjudicators during the Music for Youth Festivals which took place at the Rochdale Town Hall in March and the Birmingham Symphony Hall in July.

I'm sure it will be an amazing experience for the children who enjoy coming and playing together at Wardle and meeting up with all their new friends. We are so proud of all of them and we feel very privileged to be part of a great eventGwen Smith

Proud

Gwen told 4BR: "I'm sure it will be an amazing experience for the children who enjoy coming and playing together at Wardle and meeting up with all their new friends. We are so proud of all of them and we feel very privileged to be part of a great event."

Director of Music at Wardle Academy, Mrs Julie Morris added: "I also feel very proud to be a part of what is going to be an amazing experience for the children. This is something they will remember for years to come."