School children selected for regional music festival

Young musicians at Riverside Primary School, Hereford will be performing some of their own musical compositions at a regional music festival this month.

An enthusiastic group of thirteen 9-11 year olds have been meeting after school to work with local composer and member of Herefordshire Music Pool, John Hymas to create their own music pieces.

Most of the children study a variety of instruments at different levels through the council’s music service.  Instruments taught at the school include the flute, clarinet, saxophone, violin, cello, trumpet and steel pans.

Following successful auditions, the Riverside School group performed at the 2007 Herefordshire Young Musicians’ Showcase Concert at the Courtyard, Hereford last month and have now been chosen to take part in the Music for Youth Regional Festival in Shrewsbury on 17th March. 

The festival gives young music makers the chance to perform before a live audience at regional level, helping to spur on greater development and achievement.

The school’s music teacher and organiser of this project, Mrs Lucette Morris, said: “The feeling of successfully completing and performing a creative work is most rewarding for the pupils concerned and for the rest of the school to observe, encouraging new musicians in the process.”
 
Councillor Don Rule, cabinet member for children and young people, said: “Riverside’s children gave an excellent performance at the county’s musical showcase event last month.

“I’m impressed that they’ve been extending their skills and composing their own work.  Taking part in the Music for Youth Regional festival will provide them with the opportunity to meet and work with youngsters from other parts of the region.  I’m sure they will represent the county admirably.

“Performance in drama and music adds so much to young people’s confidence which is bound to reflect in academic achievement.”