A TALENTED trio from Astley Youth Band gained places at two of the country's top music schools.

Euphonium player and trombonist Tom Berry, aged 12, won a place alongside two current band members, at Chetham's School of Music where a third of their time will be spent studying music in a school day that begins at 8.10am and finishes at 4.30pm.

Samantha Minshall, 11, a tuba player, and 10 year-old cornetist and flugel horn player Bryony Evans, have won places at the Royal Northern College of Music Junior School (RNCM), where they will join fellow Astley player, Mathew Woodward.

Samantha is also a member of the National Children's Orchestra and the National Children's Brass Band. Bryony recently won first prize in the Ramsbottom Music Festival in the age 11 and under solo competition. The girls are also in the brass quintet The Brass Babes.

Astley Youth Band musical director Helen Minshall said: "I am delighted that six of our young musicians will be studying at such a high level in two of the country's top music schools. It is a real achievement and something for everyone in Astley to be proud of."

The five AYB members who won places with the National Children's Brass Band are Kirsten Broadhurst (flugel horn), Mark Harrison (soprano cornet), Sam Dolan (trombone), Simon Minshall (bass trombone), and Samantha Minshall (tuba). Four others - Mathew Woodward (Trumpet), Tom Berry (trombone), Simon Minshall (bass trombone) and Samantha Minshall (tuba) - are in the National Children's Orchestra.