Youngsters from the Shepway Brass Academy recently treated their audience to a fabulous performance at their 'Best of Brass Concert' in Folkestone.

The concert, featured all four groups within the Academy; ranging from beginners who have only been playing for a few weeks to more experienced young musicians.

Special guests

Playing alongside them were special guests Snowdown Colliery Welfare Band, led by Musical Director Andy Collins, who performed pieces from their own repertoire as well as joining the young people in the Academy's Intermediate Band for some of the numbers.

The Intermediate Band performed several well known film themes, including a Disney film medley, 'Sister Act' and 'The Lion King', as well as 'Great Scott it's Ragtime', 'Swinging with the Mountain King' and a 'Jamaican Rumba'. The junior bands played a variety of numbers suitable to their experience, including 'Dee Cee Blues'.

So important

One parent, Steve Loader, commented to 4BR: "Shepway Brass has become so important to us as a family, having watched our son grow from a fledgling cornet player to a confident young musician under the tutelage of MD, Paul Driscoll.

Concerts are a real family event and, in this case, it was a wonderful opportunity for the youngsters to play alongside the musicians of Snowdown Band."

Shepway Brass has become so important to us as a family, having watched our son grow from a fledgling cornet player to a confident young musician under the tutelage of MD, Paul DriscollParent, Steve Loader

Great experience

Shepway Brass Academy's Musical Director, Paul Driscoll, added: "I'm very proud of the performance the youngsters produced, and it has been a great experience for them."