ST HELENS Youth Brass Band are celebrating after winning three top awards at the National Youth Brass Band Championships at Salford University.
In a performance which deeply impressed the adjudicators, the youngsters beat off stiff competition from top bands to win the title of National Youth Brass Band Champions in their section for the fifth year running.
The band had entered and won the top section of the championships for the first time last year, having progressed from winning the Intermediate Section in 1997 and the Advanced Section in 1998 and 1999.
In view of this amazing achievement, the band also received a special award for showing outstanding improvement and promise. In addition, principal cornet player David Geoghegan won the award for the best soloist for the fourth time.
Conductor Lynda Nicholson, whose musical direction was particularly singled out for praise, said that she was delighted with the band's performance. She said: "They have worked extremely hard and fully deserve their success. St Helens can be proud of them".
This is the culmination of an exciting year for the band. After winning last year's championships, they were invited to appear on 'Blue Peter' and also performed in London's Regent Park. This was followed by a highly successful series of concerts in Austria and a performance at Manchester's Bridgewater Hall.
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