Students on song for music festival

Crompton House School brass band at the Music for Youth National Festival in Birmingham.

TALENTED pupils from Crompton House School took part in the world's largest youth music festival.

It's 35-strong brass band performed at the annual Music For Youth National Festival in Birmingham.

Members took centre stage at the Symphony Hall when they played Gay Señorita and London River Overture by Reginald Heath in school brass/wind band section.

They were invited to Birmingham following a successful performance at the regional festival at Rochdale Town Hall in March. The band was also awarded the Outstanding Brass Band Performance at the Oldham Schools Music Festival at the Queen Elizabeth Hall in June.

It is the 17th year that Crompton House has performed at the national festival which featured more than 10,000 musicians over five days ­- music from orchestras and choirs and jazz and pop bands.

The band did not win an award but senior deputy head teacher Jim Upton said: "The pupils played brilliantly. They have worked really hard under the fantastic direction of Jonathan Leedale and they should be really proud of themselves.

"Every time I hear them play I find it hard to believe these are musicians aged from 11 to 18 years old. They are dedicated to their music, and are great ambassadors for the school and Oldham."

Bury and Oldham Youth Orchestra also performed at the festival.