SCHOOL musicians will join forces with one of the country's top bands for their biggest concert of the year.

The band at Tudhoe Grange School, near Spennymoor, County Durham, is rehearsing for a joint concert with the Reg Vardy Band.

The groups have performed together every year since being awarded Northern Arts Council grants, from the National Lottery, in 1996.

Tudhoe Grange School Concert Band, which has grown in membership from eight pupils to 120 since it was founded by head of music Adrian Biddulph in 1983, has enjoyed local and international success.

It has played on television and radio, several members play with Durham County Youth Wind Ensemble and part of the group has held a music exchange with a school in Boston, US.

The Reg Vardy Band, formerly Ever Ready Brass Band, was founded in 1926 as Craghead Colliery Band.

In 1960 the band achieved Championship Section status, which it has maintained ever since, has been Northern Area Champions 26 times and finalists at the National Championships at the Royal Albert Hall, London, 35 times in 41 years.

It landed first place for entertainment at the Brass In Concert Championships last November.

Tickets for the concert, at Spennymoor Leisure Centre, on Saturday, May 22, at 7pm, are available from the school or leisure centre or via the school website www.tgsb.net

Published: 13/05/2004