YOUNG musicians from Smithills once again showed they are top brass when it comes to providing entertainment on the country's premier stage -- the Royal Albert Hall in London.

Members of Smithills School Senior Brass Band, which incorporates students from Bolton Sixth Form College, were invited to perform the final evening of the Schools Prom Concerts 2001.

Smithills director of music Chris Wormald once again led the band. He said: "It was great for us that Smithills started the evening off with Fanfare For The Common Man and the National Anthem from up in the balcony.

"Then later in the programme we performed once again down on the main stage. Army of the Nile was followed by my own arrangement of Hymn to the Fallen, from the film Saving Private Ryan, before finishing with the closing section of Stravinsky's Firebird ballet music. What a night it was. The hall was packed with 7,000 people.

"Following a dramatic and near-deafening opening from our excellent percussion section it was our principal cornet player Selina Govan, aged 17, who really began the night on her own in Copland's Fanfare for the Common Man.

"And at the end it was our award-winning Solo Euphonium player Jessica Bowman, also 17, who began the Stravinsky with incredible accuracy, sound, atmosphere and expression -- it was quite breathtaking."

The band gave its performance after getting up at 3.45am to arrive in time. They did not arrive back until 4am the following day.

However, having made it back into school that morning, the band once again had to spring into action for a concert at the Reebok Stadium.

Present at both appearances were the Mayor and Mayoress of Bolton, Cllr Kevan Helsby and Mrs Mary Kilcoyne.