Success For Local Young Musician
Yatton young musician Olivia Bird, 13, has successfully auditioned for a place in the National Children’s Brass Band of Great Britain an achievement made all the more remarkable as she has only been playing for 3½years.
Now a pupil at Backwell School, Olivia previously attended Yatton Junior School where in October 2013, as a member of the school choir Spotlight Sparklers, she took part in a concert arranged by Yeo Valley Lions Club which also featured Lions Brass 4 Youth, a brass band for young people which is based in Clevedon and sponsored by the Lions Clubs of the South West.
Olivia was so enthused by hearing the band and meeting them backstage that she immediately enrolled to learn to play the cornet in the Starter Band, having never previously had any musical experience.
Such was her progress that by January 2016 she had been promoted to the main band, only just over 2 years after she first picked up an instrument, and in May 2016 she was selected to switch to play the soprano cornet.
At the Band’s recent end-of-year concert and prize giving Olivia was presented with the Players’ Player of the year award, followed closely by news of her success in being selected for the National Children’s Brass Band of Great Britain.
David Hollister, her tutor and the Band’s Musical Director, said ‘I am very proud of Olivia’s achievement and Lions Brass 4 Youth considers this another great success for the organisation’
Past President Kevin Moore of Yeo Valley Lions Club said ‘We congratulate Olivia on her success and are delighted that her interest all stemmed from the very successful concert we ran in Yatton Village Hall. The continued success of Lions Brass 4 Youth also reflects the support given by Lions Clubs in the South West of England and particularly by those in North Somerset’
Olivia Bird
