Wardle Academy take home first and second place prizes in band contest

Wardle Academy Youth Band at Butlins’ Mineworkers’ Brass Band Contest

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Wardle Academy Youth Band brought home a first place and second place prize after competing in the Butlins’ Mineworkers’ Brass Band Contest.

The band made their way to Skegness on Friday afternoon for the annual event at which they have successfully competed for the past five years.

The Youth Band, conducted by Lee Rigg, had the honour of performing in the opening gala performance that evening in front of an audience of around 2,000 people.

Band members were able to spend Saturday taking advantage of Butlins’ facilities; swimming, go carting and watching films, before they began their final rehearsal in the evening.

The Youth Section began on Sunday morning with the Junior Ensemble section in which the younger members of the Youth Band, under the direction of Sean Conway, were hoping to retain their first place title for the third year running. The band delivered an impressive programme that included the '1914 March', 'Prismatic Light' and 'Hey Jude'. The adjudicator commented on their “great band sound”.

Next up was the Youth Section in which the older members of the Youth Band, directed by Lee Rigg, competed. Their programme included ‘Dear Lord and Father’, ‘Sing, Sing, Sing’ and ‘Borris Godunov’ with the adjudicator commenting, “what a sound, many senior bands would love to be able to play like this”.

After all the competing bands had performed the results were announced: in the Junior Ensemble Section, Wardle Academy were awarded first prize, in the Youth Section, second prize.

Julie Morris, Director of Music, said: "The Youth Band were a credit to the academy, not only in their playing, but in the way they conducted themselves throughout the weekend. On the opening evening they put on a fantastic performance in the Gala Concert to an audience of around 2,000. We had many people approach us about how fantastic they were. The results were an added bonus to a great weekend."