National honour for promising musician Lucy (13)

A CONTEST-winning cornet player was blown away to be invited to join a national brass band.

Accomplished player Lucy Heeley (13) has been asked to join the National Youth Brass Band — her latest accolade in a promising musical career.

The Winterhill School student (pictured) started playing the cornet four years ago and the trumpet last year.

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She now plays cornet with the Chapeltown Prize Brass Band and trumpet with the Chesterfield Symphony Orchestra.

At ten years old she attended a workshop and played a concert with brass superstars The Black Dyke Band — the experience inspired her to aim high.

She auditioned for the National Children’s Brass Band of Great Britain, which she joined two years ago.

Her mentors there urged her to try out for the National Youth Brass Band of Great Britain — and her audition scored her one of the cornet places.

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“I’m very excited,” she said. “I’m looking forwards to meeting everybody.

“A lot of big names from the brass band world will be there and I’m going to play cornet with them — it’s a brilliant opportunity.”

Lucy hopes to join the London Symphony Orchestra one day — after doing her A-levels and attending London College of Music.

Lucy also started entering music contests last year, taking first place in the under-14 section at the Holme Valley Slow Melody Contest.

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She was also crowned intermediate young musician of the year 2017, by Rotherham Music Service.

She also plays piano and will sit her grade three exam soon.

Dad Graham Heeley (49) said: “It’s just something she’s fallen in love with and now she wants to be a professional musician.

“She didn’t think she did as well as she could have, in the audition. She’s her own worst critic.

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“That’s why she’s so good — because she always wants to do better.”

He added: “Her mum and I just marvel at everything she does, because we’ve never played a musical instrument in our lives.

“We’re both very proud of her, as are her music teachers. She’s done so much in such a short time.”

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