TOWNELEY High School, Burnley, celebrated its new status as a specialist school in performing arts with a day of music.

Students and staff enjoyed performances from professional artists with each year group entertained in a newly-refurbished drama studio for 45 minutes each by three different groups.

Year Seven pupils were entertained and educated by a Tuba quartet from Manchester, Tuba4te, led by Towneley's musician in residence and ex-student Steven Williams. They played a selection of music from classical to jazz while explaining the mechanics of playing brass instruments and demonstrating different techniques.

Year 10 and Year 11 provided Cuban rhythms to accompany one the North West's top young Jazz groups 6Pac who showed how each instrument is played.

Years 9 and 10 were entertained by the country's leading trombone quartet Bones Apart who played different styles from medieval music on hosepipes and Waltzing Matilda with a didgeridoo, to soap themes and pop songs. They challenged students to blow bubbles in a glass of water without taking a breath for the duration of one song, to show how trombone players need to breathe while playing their instruments.

6Pac returned in the evening to play two sets during a staff social at the Inn on the Wharf.