Worthing Philharmonic Orchestra is delighted the dedication and inspirational leadership of Aedan Kerney, head of music at Boundstone Community College, has been made an MBE in the New Year Honours.

Mr Kerney's association with our orchestra goes back many years and the participation of his pupils in wonderful performances is greatly appreciated by Worthing audiences.

In recent years, Boundstone pupils and members of the adult choir have sung in Brahms' Requiem, Carl Orff's Carmina Burana, Mahler's Second Symphony, The Resurrection, Mozart's Requiem and Puccini's Messa da Gloria.

These are all complex and demanding works and it is a tribute to Mr Kerney that his pupils excelled in these pieces.

We are looking forward immensely to further contact with Boundstone when we perform Beethoven's Ninth Symphony, The Choral, on February 8.

-Chris Cooper (secretary), Worthing Philharmonic Orchestra