Shropshire band comes out on top in brass band contest
Musicians from Shropshire have seen off strong competition from the home of brass bands in Greater Manchester.
Ifton Colliery Band, based in St Martins, near Oswestry, were victorious in the third section of the annual Rochdale Brass Band Contest.
Louise Simons, player and treasurer, said: "The band played a piece called Music for the Common Man. It was absolutely stunning and walked away with the first prize. Our principal solo cornet Graham Taylor also won the best soloist prize. The adjudicators' marks made it clear this was a brilliant performance of a testing piece and the band really produced some amazing sounds."
She said the band is now concentrating on its remembrance concert on November 7 in Ellesmere and its "epic" Christmas concert to be held in Ifton Miners' Institute, St Martins, on December 17.
Tickets are £5. Call 07957 469519.
