Following victories in the finals of the National Festival of Music For Youth by both the school’s Senior Brass and Senior Concert bands at Symphony Hall last month, Smithills School and MD Chris Wormald have received their seventh invitation since 1995 to perform at the Royal Albert Hall Schools Proms this November.

First Night

By winning their ninth 'Outstanding Performance Award' the Music for Youth organisers have chosen to invite their three time winning Senior Concert Band to open the first night of the 2008 Schools Proms on Monday November 10th.

Many bands people in particular may never have the opportunity to play in the Royal Albert Hall, so for our youngsters to be back playing there again is fantastic and a great honourMD, Chris Wormald

Prestigious Honour

Smithills first performed at the Royal Albert Hall with their Senior Brass Band back in 1995. It is the Senior Brass Band which has been invited to London on every occasion since, with the exception of 1997, so this year marks the return of the school’s Senior Concert Band after an absence of eleven years for only their second appearance.

Remarkable

MD Chris Wormald told 4BR: "When I was first appointed to Smithills in 1990 it was a goal just to create an ensemble of any type to the standard of entering Music For Youth. To do what we have since that time is truly remarkable.

"Many bands people in particular may never have the opportunity to play in the Royal Albert Hall, so for our youngsters to be back playing there again is fantastic and a great honour."