Sedgley school teacher reaches semi-final of song contest

Dominic Ward is one stage away from the final in two categories he entered for the UK Songwriting Contest, the world's longest running songwriting competition.

The contest is the first the 51-year-old has entered. Mr Ward teaches religious education and psychology at St Dominic's High School For Girls in Brewood.

Mr Ward, of Brownswall Road, said: "I found the contest on the internet and entered six categories before finding out I was in the semi-final for two.

"It was quite something, and I didn't realise how big the competition was before I had a look after. It's exciting to have reached this far."

Mr Ward was first introduced to music by his family at the age of eight, playing the household piano.

He later went on to learn the guitar, putting the influence down to Dylan on The Magic Roundabout.

He can now also play the banjo, drums, whistle and flute.

When he was younger, Mr Ward played in a four-piece band with his brothers, making jazz and blues music.

He later was in a duo called Maeran, which played music similar to Simon and Garfunkel.

Today, Mr Ward says he is busy teaching and spending time with his wife Liz and two children.

However, he still plays at music concerts at surrounding parish churches.

The two categories he entered for the contest were 'instrumental' and 'other'.

For instrumental, he entered a piece of music called Woodland Carol, which features folk music and portrays a conservation between trees in a wood.

For the other category, he composed a piece called Puer Natus, a medieval Latin Christmas hymn which features the line 'a child is born in Bethlehem'.

Mr Ward said: "I'm not quite sure what will happen next if I make the final, it's just nice to have your music judged by some highly qualified professionals."

Winners of the competition in the passed have been signed up by record producers. On the judging panel this year is Sting's producer Kipper Eldridge.