Smithills School Senior Band under MD Chris Wormald is to undertake a sixth USA concert tour this summer, performing a series of July concerts in New York.

Remarkably, this will be the band's 25th major tour abroad and the ninth different state in America where they will have performed.

Iconic venues

They first visited the USA in July 2000 and on this occasion they will perform different concert programmes for concerts in the United Nations building, Central Park, the SS Intrepid and at Ripley's in Times Square, with further iconic venues still under discussion.

Since September the musicians have already raised over £38,000 towards the substantial costs of the trip, through concerts at Victoria Hall in Bolton, sponsored events, fundraising, bag-packing in local supermarkets and selling their CDs. They also hope to raise a further £16,000 by May.

on this occasion they will perform different concert programmes for concerts in the United Nations building, Central Park, the SS Intrepid and at Ripley's in Times Square, with further iconic venues still under discussion4BR

Excited

Chris Wormald told 4BR: "Obviously the band members are as excited with the prospect of New York looming. For many of the current band this will be their third USA tour in addition to two Disneyland Paris trips and a concert week in Cork, Ireland last year.

None of the current band was even born when we first toured Norway, Japan and New Zealand, but the annual Senior Band tours abroad have always been a particular focus and highlight for us all at Smithills."