CHULMLEIGH Community College’s Music Department was visited on Wednesday, February 7, by Ken Parr (Head of Devon LDP Music Service), Tanya Moore (Music Education Hub Manager for Cornwall), Helen Reid (Music and Arts Executive Officer and Contracts Manager for Somerset) and Lisa Mayo (Head of the Music Service in Gloucestershire), who had asked to visit to look at some of the excellent music work that goes on at the college.

The visitors were welcomed by College Music Captains Meg Kelly and George Yarnley and went on to observe Year 6 pupils in a whole class cornet lesson.

The lesson, led by Mr Loysen (the college’s professional brass teacher) and Mr Cookson (Head of Music), focussed on playing a specially-written fanfare that will eventually involve a performance together with the class of Year 6 violinists.

The guests then stayed to watch CMAc, which is the College’s Music Academy open to all pupils in Years 3-6 in the college’s learning community schools, as well as college pupils.

Student instrumentalists in the CMAc Brass, CMAc Woodwind and CMAc String ensembles, as well as the College Orchestra, are busy preparing for the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra (BSO) Extravaganza at Exeter University, where they will be playing with members of the BSO and student musicians from across the county. A visit from BSO Associate Conductor Will Goodchild is scheduled for after half term.

The CMAc choir sang their way heartily through “Hold Back The River” with singers from four of our partner primary schools as well as the College.

Comments from visitors included: “It is really wonderful to see such a fantastic range of enriching musical activities at Chulmleigh focussing on creativity and ensemble skill.”

“The way things are being done at Chulmleigh is the right way. I would like to see the same in Gloucester.”

“The joy in the young musicians’ faces says it all.”

Alan Quick