A young trombonist from Shipston has won a top award for his solo playing at a recent national brass band contest.
Rawdon Donovan, aged 17, is the principal trombonist of Shipston Town Band and was awarded best soloist at the Wychavon Festival of Brass held in Evesham.
Rawdon’s performance of the Anthony Newley and Leslie Bricusse classic Feeling Good beat competition from 11 bands from around the UK at the De Montfort School (TDMS), on 2 November. The contest was adjudicated by leading brass musician Dr Brett Baker.
Rawdon said: “I was surprised and delighted to be named best soloist at the contest, it is a lovely piece of music and I really enjoyed performing it with the band. It is especially an honour to be chosen for this by such a renowned musician!”
Shipston Town Band’s musical director Alex Bland added: “Rawdon is a huge musical talent and he worked so hard to give a magical performance on the day. Not only did he inject a huge amount of musicality and emotion into the performance, he also committed the entire piece to memory and performed in front of a packed hall without a note of music in front of him. The band and I are hugely proud of Rawdon and thrilled to have him as our principal trombonist.”
Rawdon, who is a pupil at Bloxham School, near Banbury, is currently studying for his A-levels.