Elland Silver Youth Band and their MD, Samantha Harrison are still coming down to earth from a fabulous trip to the European Youth Championships in Lille last weekend.

Memorable

And although there was some sadness on Tuesday as members of the band returned to school and college after their memorable performance in coming runner-up in the Development Section, just a point behind eventual winner, Tertnes Skoles Musikkorps from Norway, there was also great pride too.

That was certainly the case in celebrating the fine achievement of principal trombone, Charlotte Horsfield who deservedly won the 'Best Instrumentalist' award.

Little wonder then that a very tired MD was still bursting with pride as she reflected on the band's achievement in France.

Best ever

Samantha told 4BR: "I'm enjoying looking back on one of the best ever banding weekends. What a blast. Our thanks go to everyone connected with Elland Band who made the trip not just possible, but memorable. Each and every person will have memories forever."

Samantha also told 4BR how proud she was of her players who took to the stage at 9.00am on Sunday morning.

"I'm so proud of each and everyone of them as they played from the heart. They have given so much in recent weeks in not just preparing for France but also for the National Youth Championships in Manchester, which they won.

They really are a great bunch not just to know, but to work with. I just want to encourage their love and enjoyment of music. I'm so proud of them all."

Highlight

Samantha also said that the appearance in Lille was a personal highlight. "The performance on Sunday is one of the highlights of my career," she added. "It had all the technical aspects we had rehearsed, but I really felt the kids played from the heart, and we all shared a special connection on stage. It was an incredible feeling. It was magic".

The performance on Sunday is one of the highlights of my career. It had all the technical aspects we had rehearsed, but I really felt the kids played from the heart, and we all shared a special connection on stageSamantha Harrison

Ostend bound

Having won the Intermediate Section at the National Youth Championships last month, Elland Silver Youth will now be looking forward to savouring the European experience once more in Ostend in 2017.