Top brass talent take silverware

WINNERS . . . (back, from left) quartet winners Harrison Heeley, Maria Swingley, Toni Heywood and Jenny Brown. Front: Junior soloist Jodie Russell and intermediate soloist Charlotte Heaven

Oldham’s young brass band players set a shining example at the British Open Slow Melody and Quartet Championships.

Six members of Oldham Band (Lees) were winners, gaining trophies and hundreds of pounds worth of free tuition.

The contest, which attracted bands from all over the country and Europe, was held at Dukinfield Town Hall.

In the intermediate slow melody final, 15-year-old Charlotte Heaven, who is taught by Foden Band’s principal cornet player Mark Wilkinson, beat off stiff competition with her performance of “Softly Awakes My Heart”. Jodie Russell retained the junior slow melody contest she won last year. Both won £300 free tuition.

The quartet of Jenny Brown, Maria Swingley, Harrison Heeley and Toni Heywood won the junior quartet title, and share £300 worth of tuition.