LAST night in the first of a series of of BBC Young Musicians '98 programmes, the producer used Smithills School as an example of what can be achieved musically at a comprehensive school.

Anyone who attended Saturday night's concert in aid of the Life Education Trust, a charity supported by the Rotary Clubs of Bolton, needed no convincing that Smithills have found the formula for progress in schools' music.

The massed brass, woodwind and percussion of the Senior Concert Band filled the stage. Their rich sounds, particularly in Incantations, were enhanced in this acoustically excellent hall.

The school's Junior Choir sang with great enthusiasm and were obviously enjoying themselves. Seven trumpets, five trombones and 10 reed instruments were very much together in the Senior Big Band and the soloists earned their applause. The Senior Percussion ensemble in "New Age" costumes, brought a Brazilian flavour to the evening with some vibrant drumming.

With at least half of its members adults, the Senior Choir produced a well-balanced performance. The celebrated Senior Brass Band was at its best in traditional brass band pieces and its encore, Death or Glory from the film Brassed Off was a gem.

Chris Wormald, the school's head of music, conducted the three biggest bands with great style and was an amusing compere. How well the school's performance was appreciated was illustrated by the fact that £700-worth of CDS were sold at the interval. Doreen Crowther

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.