Wardle Junior Blast to play at Royal Albert Hall

Wardle Junior Blast performing at Birmingham Symphony Hall

Over 170 children from the borough will make their way down to London to perform at the Royal Albert Hall for the final night of the School Proms on Wednesday 25 November.

Gwen Smith, Jane Conway and Lee Rigg, peripatetic music teachers who teach at Wardle Academy and surrounding primary schools, decided to put all the children they teach into a massed ensemble back in March and were delighted with the success and positive feedback.

The children play under the name of ‘Wardle Junior Blast’ and come from Wardle and Kentmere Academies and St James, Smithy Bridge, St Andrew's, Littleborough, Holy Trinity and St Mary's Primary Schools. The massed band were given the honour of performing in the Royal Albert Hall at the School Proms after impressing the adjudicators during the Music For Youth festivals which took place at the Rochdale Town Hall in March and the Birmingham Symphony Hall in July.

Gwen, Jane and Lee said: “I’m sure it will be an amazing experience for the children who enjoy coming and playing together at Wardle and meeting up with all the other musicians in the local area. We are so proud of all the children.” Gwen added “I feel very privileged to be conducting on this evening.”

Director of Music at Wardle Academy, Julie Morris said: “I feel very proud to be a part of what is going to be an amazing experience for the children. This is something they will remember for years to come. Good luck to each and every one of them.”