Hayley O’Connelley, the 13 year old trombone star from Durham, who 4BR reported on recently, has won the final of the BTS Young Trombonist Competition.

Wowed

Hayley wowed judges Bruce Fraser (composer), Mark Templeton (principal trombone, LSO) and Bob Hughes (BTS President) with her performance of the set work “Hellas” by Bruce Fraser and her chosen work “Panus Angelicus” by Cesar Franck.

Remarkable

The achievement is even more remarkable as Hayley only found out she was due to compete in the final on Thursday because correspondence had gone missing due to a recent house move. Hayley told 4BR: "I was on the way home last night and was still thinking about having to play, it really hasn’t sunk in yet."

It really was a fantastic performance and was a great testament to Hayley’s hardworking nature that she managed to perform to such a high standard with such a short time to prepareLaura Boyle

Fantastic performance

Music Co-Ordinator at Belmont School Community Arts College, where Hayley attends, Laura Boyle told 4BR: "It really was a fantastic performance and was a great testament to Hayley’s hardworking nature that she managed to perform to such a high standard with such a short time to prepare."

Stephen Malcolm, the conductor of GT Group Peterlee Band, where Hayley plays added: "This really is excellent news, what a fantastic result."

Double joy

It was double joy for Stephen as his daughter Kate (12) who plays for The Felling Band, took the solo title at the Durham County Brass Band Association in Peterlee yesterday too.

Laura said; "It really has been an emotional weekend — probably one of my proudest moments as a teacher so far. The youth in the North East are really beginning to make a name for themselves and this can only be good news for the future."