A group of youngsters in Leicestershire are starting to make a big noise in brass – and we are delighted to be playing our part.
Warwick Music Group has donated both instruments and pledged to an inspiring group of children and adults to develop a new community band in Leicester.
And now their vision has become a reality – with the formation of The Brass of the Saff.
In just four months, the group has raised £8,673 from 133 backers through crowdfunding with Warwick Music Group awarding £360 towards their music medals costs and Normans providing a discounted rate on 30 pBones and 30 pCornets that have recently been delivered.
The band, which meets at Marriott Primary School off Leicester’s Saffron Lane, has been set up by community interest company Drum and Brass who used the CrowdFund Leicester site set up by Leicester mayor Sir Peter Soulsby, to publicise the appeal.
The enthusiasm for the community band rocketed when in April 2018, 30 primary school children from Marriott Primary School went to the National Youth Brass Band Championships of Great Britain in Warwick.
Against the odds and with just a few months of preparation they came home with the award for Band Showing Most Potential.
Each of the new pInstruments is individually named – after supporters of the appeal.
Says Darren Lea, our Development Manager whose role is to strengthen our links with arts and education organisations: “It was an absolute pleasure to visit the band and meet the players when they took delivery of their new pInstruments. They’ve got fantastic enthusiasm and it’s really bringing the children and the community together united by the enjoyment of playing – and hearing – brass music.
“As someone who started to learn to play brass at the age of seven and from a musical family, I’m well aware of the power of music. Our support for them underlines our passion to introduce children to music – and especially to playing brass.
“Our pInstrument range of durable, lightweight brass instruments manufactured in plastic is ideal for a band of this type. We’re now looking forward to watching their progress and hearing them grow.”
The Brass of the Saff is now busily preparing for their next big gig: The National Youth Championships in Warwick on March 30th.
