Corby Business Academy was represented by 38 of its students at the National Festival of Music for Youth on Saturday 15^th March 2025.

These students, who were part of the academy’s Concert Band and Big Band, performed three sets that were received with applause and appreciation from the audience and the adjudicators at Northampton School for Girls’ Spinney Theatre.

The Concert Band’s programme started with Maurice Ravel’s Boléro, followed by Palladio, and concluded with Jacques Offenbach’s Can Can.

The second performance from Corby Business Academy showcased a trio of talents from Year 10 in Stevie Harrison, Emilio Politano, and Michella Quaye. They performed Made by Design, which was written by Harrison to vocalise her efforts to understand her little cousin who is challenged by autism.

The Big Band, conducted by Mr Brad Turnbull, delivered the final performance of the evening when they played Stevie Wonder’s ‘Superstition’ as well as two other standards.

The Director of Music, Mr Clive Wears, said: "Our students had another wonderful opportunity to display their skills at the National Festival yet again this year. They have always enjoyed performing at the Spinney Theatre, and they certainly earned more admirers there with their efforts on Saturday. The passion and commitment that our students bring every week to our rehearsals continue to help them succeed, and we are very proud of all their hard work."

Both the Concert Band and the Big Band will be performing next at Corby Business Academy’s annual summer concert (date TBC) as well as the Big Band performing at a Jazz Café in Northampton on Wednesday 2^nd April with professional jazz singer Lianne Carroll.