Drogheda Brass Band School of Music Student of the Year Conal O'Maolain (centre) receives the Jim Kierans Memorial Trophy from Barry Maher (left), director of the school of music, and Karl Davis (right) of sponsors Beverage Business Solutions.

Drogheda Brass Band’s Student of the Year concert recently took place in the newly renovated Droichead Arts Centre. The night, sponsored by Beverage Business Solutions, featured the band’s School of Music and highlighted the ability of the students and teachers in the band. All students played to a packed hall of proud parents before being presented with their grade certificates following excellent results last summer.

The concert was opened by the senior band fresh from winning the North of Ireland Brass Band Championship before the real stars of the night took centre stage. The band’s newest members, taught by Aoife Crowley, were first to play. It was the class’s concert debut having only joined the band two months ago. The group, aged 7 to 10, played a really entertaining set, the highlight of which, Bb Blues, brought huge applause from the captivated audience.

Next on stage was the Grade 1 Brass group who entertained the audience with five pieces including On My Own featuring Hannah Plunkett, Rebecca Murray and Aisling Reilly, School Anthem written and performed by Rebecca and Orla Murrey and Ireland’s Call played by Ailish Newton and Una O’Shea.

The audience were then treated the brass trio of Sally Bogue, Evan English and Michaela Plunkett. Each student, accompanied by Kevin Donnelly on keyboard, performed nerveless solos to the delight of the audience.

The last group on were the Grade 5 Brass group and they produced a very stylish performance under the baton of Mark Nutley and Sarah Flood. The group played three quartet pieces, the highlight of which was Pie Jesu.

Each teacher nominated candidates from their class for Student of the Year award. The nominees were Rebecca Murray, Conor Higgins, Hannah Plunkett, Sally Bogue, Eoin Tunstead, Amy Townley and Conal O’Maolain. After much deliberation Conal O’Maolain was announced as the winner and was presented with the Jim Kierans Memorial Trophy by Karl Davis of Beverage Business Solutions.

Director of the School of Music Barry Maher thanked teachers and parents for their continuing support before the stars of the night rounded of the concert in spectacular style, playing Spooks Parade, a piece arranged and conducted by the band’s deputy conductor Stephen Murray.

The group will be back on stage on Dec 17^th for the band’s Christmas Concert in the Droichead Arts Centre.

View the full picture gallery here: #mce_temp_url#