Hitchin Brass Band celebrates victory in regional competition

In the competition, the band competed with 14 others from across London and the southern counties. Each band had to play the same test piece, 'A Day in the Life of a Knight', while two adjudicators judged blind from behind a curtain.

The musical piece tells the story of a knight who goes through a fierce battle before falling in love with - and marrying - a damsel who needs to be heroically rescued at the end.

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In addition to their overall victory, Hitchin Brass Band also won the Best Soprano Cornet prize and a prize for the Best Bass Section.

They will now compete at the national finals at Cheltenham in September, where they hope to bring even more silverware back to North Herts.

Andrew Kershaw, the band's conductor, said: "I could not be more proud of the members of Hitchin Band.

"The win means and awful lot to me and the band - especially as it’s my first contest as their conductor - but my overriding happiness is with the fact that everyone took a high percentage of our preparation onto the stage."

In addition to their main competing band, Hitchin Band also runs a Youth Band for beginner and young players, and a Community Band for casual playing and development.

You can find out more about their bands on their website.

Their next performances will be at the Herts Garden Show in Knebworth on Monday, May 1, and at the Hitchin Festival concert at St Mary's Church on Saturday, July 15.