Lymm boy wins place in national brass band

AN ELEVEN-YEAR-OLD musician from Lymm has successfully auditioned for a place in the National Children’s Brass Band of Great Britain.
Jamie Reid, from Lymm, is one of just sixty youngsters chosen from throughout the UK to participate in the band.
Jamie, who started learning brass at Cherry Tree Primary School in Lymm and now takes music lessons provided by Accent, the Warrington and Halton Music Education Hub, also recently came fifth out of 18 in the under-16 category of the Fodens Solo Brass Band Championships.
Janice Pounds, who leads the Accent Music Education Hub, said today: “This is a fantastic achievement and we’re all really proud of Jamie.
“He began learning guitar aged six, was soon playing in the Warrington Youth Orchestra and at age eight he joined the whole-class brass band project we run for primary schools.
“Jamie practises four hours a week on top of rehearsals, two ensemble sessions and his individual lessons. He plays the euphonium very well indeed but he has also achieved grade 3 cello. He’s taken part in Accent’s whole-class keyboard project and on top of that he plays a little electric and acoustic guitar with his dad. He’s a very talented young man and his audition for the National Children’s Brass Band of Great Britain is just the latest success in what we hope and expect will be a great career.”
The council’s executive board member for leisure, community and culture, Cllr Kate Hannon, today congratulated Jamie. Cllr Hannon said: “This is a wonderful achievement and we wish Jamie well.
“I know that Jamie gives back to his community – for instance during the summer holidays he plays for other people including at old people’s homes and day centres.
“Jamie is a credit to Warrington. We’d like to congratulate him and to thank his family and teachers for their help and support.”
Jamie comes from a musical family. His father plays guitar and is interested in rock music, and Jamie’s older brother plays French horn in Warrington Youth Orchestra and at Lymm High School. Jamie’s mother played viola and sang in the choir at her school.
Proud mum Lisa Reid said: “We’re proud of Jamie and we’re really glad he has had the opportunity he’s been given at school. If he’d not done the Year 4 whole-class brass project, we simply wouldn’t have realised how good he was.
“I think music in schools is really important and I’d like to see more children involved. Thanks to support from the Music Education Hub, all pupils are offered easy access to music tuition, and the instruments are provided free on loan.”
Further information on the National Children’s Brass Band of Great Britain can be found here. For further information on Accent the Warrington and Halton Music Education Hub please call the team on 01925 442097.