Exciting news! New name, new venue, as Berkshire Music Trust relocates Newbury music centre to Thatcham
Berkshire Music Trust has announced the relocation and renaming of their highly successful Music Centre.
The newly-named West Berkshire Music Centre will operate out of the Kennet School site – a school with which they have a long-standing relationship.
“West Berkshire Music Centre will be a wonderful hub for young people to come together to make music,” said the trust’s senior leader – partnerships, progression and development Ella Foster.
“Our ensembles and lessons provide much-needed spaces for young people to develop their skills and express themselves through music. We could not be happier that our new home will be Kennet School, a school that we have enjoyed a wonderful relationship with over the years.”
With existing ensembles relocating, West Berkshire Music Centre are also launching their Soundstage programme, which supports local musicians on their popular music journey. Activities taking place after-school and on Saturdays, will include one-to-one and small group instrumental and vocal lessons, ensembles and choirs for children and adults, regular performances, all of which create a fantastic community for families to be part of.
Kennet School headteacher Grace Rigg said: “At Kennet we are passionate about music education, and we are delighted to be chosen to host West Berkshire Music Centre here.
“Berkshire Music Trust have always had an excellent relationship with us at Kennet School and we know this partnership will take that one step further.
“We look forward to welcoming musicians from across West Berkshire to Kennet to enjoy music making. This arrangement will be of huge benefit to Kennet pupils and the wider community.”
As well as being their new hosts, Kennet School are to be the Lead School for Music in West Berkshire, as of September.
The National Plan for Music set out ambitious plans for both Music Hubs and Schools to bring music to all, including working with schools such as Kennet to share best practice in their area. Lead Schools for Music have been identified for their consistent high-quality music provision and desire to raise the profile of Music education in their area.
The formerly named Newbury Music Centre was previously hosted at Newbury’s St Barthomolew’s School for more than 10 years. As the Music Hub for Berkshire, they will continue to offer peripatetic lessons to those students learning instruments and singing with them at the school, as they do for hundreds of other schools across Berkshire.
As a music charity, Berkshire Music Trust are able to offer bursaries to students in West Berkshire through the generous ongoing support of the Greenham Trust. They also continue to invite individuals, organisations, charities and foundations to support young people in whatever way they can. For more information on the Berkshire Music Trust bursary schemes or to donate to the charity, please visit their website.
About Berkshire Music Trust:
Berkshire Music Trust is a long-established charity offering musical education opportunities to children, young people and adults across Berkshire, regardless of ability, background or circumstance. They work closely with schools across the county to allow all children access to music and the opportunity to play an instrument. Through local music centres, they offer people of all ages the chance to sing, play instruments and enhance their life-skills through music. Their choirs, orchestras and ensembles perform at prestigious venues across the county and beyond – helping people to develop their team-working and communications skills as well as building their confidence.
Visit https://berksmusictrust.org.uk/ for more information.
