The Band Members and staff together with over 30 parents and supporters travelled early on Saturday to the Royal Academy. The Showband were awarded a National Platinum Award in the School Wind Band Festival after their performance of Philip Sparke’s To a New Dawn and a new composition entitled Elements by the American composer Brian Balmages.

The Showband award was also followed by a National Gold Award for the Academy’s Jazz Band in the School’s Big Band Festival under the joint direction of Dougie Bill and Tom Gledhill. The Jazz Band as ever provided a varied performance which saw them play Alianza by Erik Morales, Body and Soul composed by Johnny Green and arranged by Dave Wolpe, Fowl Play by Kris Berg and Swing, Swing, Swing composed by John Williams arranged by Mark Taylor.

This National Platinum Award for the Showband followed the Regional Platinum Award which was obtained at the Regional Festival which was held in Cheltenham last December.

Rachel Morton, the Academy’s Head of Music said “that she was extremely proud of all the Showband members in achieving the Platinum award, and coupled with the Gold Award was particularly welcomed and well deserved. I was also especially pleased that following a period of rebuilding within the Showband for a couple of years now that to achieve another well recognised National award was testament to the dedication of the students and recorded the progress that had been achieved. I was also extremely pleased with the Gold award given to the Jazz Band which also reflects the very hard work that has been undertaken by the Band together with the continued musical direction of Dougie Bill and Tom Gledhill.

The Jazz Band will be performing at a 20th Anniversary Jazz evening which will be held at the Academy on Saturday 28th April, commencing at 7.30pm with tickets priced at £5 and available from the Academy on 01952 386000 or the Supporters of Music at Abraham Darby Academy on 01952 400686 or 07798 843458.