A SOUTH Essex band has won a silver award in regional heats of a national music festival.

Harmonie, a symphonic wind band, won the award at the East Anglian regional final of the National Concert Band Festival.

The event, held at the Colchester Institute, attracted wind bands from a wide area.

The band rehearses every Wednesday night at the Warehouse Centre, in Rayleigh, and since September has spent part of each rehearsal preparing for the festival.

Harmonie is now working on its Christmas repertoire. There will be a concerts on Friday, December 9 at the Emmanuel Church, in Laindon Road, Billericay, and on Saturday, December 17 at the Salvation Army Citadel, in Clarence Road, Southend.

The band is always keen to attract new players of brass, woodwind and percussion.

For more details, visit the website www.harmonie.org.uk

Published Wednesday, December 7, 2005