Talented young musician Samuel Shelly has been announced as the winner of the 2016 Nock Deighton Young Composers Competition.

Samuel was introduced to brass bands by his grandad, Keith, and encouraged to write music by his friend Andy.

He currently plays percussion in Cannock Citadel Salvation Army Band and is also a member of the Salvation Army's West Midland Youth Band and was recently presented with the trophy by Neil Fury, Chairman of Ironbridge Gorge Brass Band Festival (above).

Matka

His composition, 'Matka', is inspired by a metaphorical journey of achievement — in this case his own in developing his musical skills.

Samuel told 4BR: "Matka is the Finnish word for journey and the music begins slowly and then speeds up with the percussion section driving it along and keeping the tempo going.

There is a flowing melody which is played as a solo by the euphonium before it is developed further before concluding with a loud bang from the bass drum to indicate that the journey is finished."

Journey

Samuel added: "The piece has inspired me in loads of different ways: sharing my own talent, reaching my goals and developing my skills.

Being from a Salvation Army background, I mainly base my pieces around a hymn tune or two. I want the listeners to find something about themselves through the music and hope it takes them on a journey too."

I want the listeners to find something about themselves through the music and hope it takes them on a journey tooSamuel Shelly

Following a line

Samuel now hopes to follow in a line of Salvationist composers such as Paul Sharman, Kenneth Downie, Peter Graham and Dean Jones who have made a mark on the brass band world, as well as past winners such as Daniel Hall whose works such as 'Colours in the Rain' have been performed by the likes of Tredegar and Grimethorpe Colliery Band, and who is now part of the leading Prima Vista Musikk publishing stable.