Sadly, the after-school brass group will no longer be running at Backworth Park Primary School from this half term.
Backworth Park was the first school we approached in 2016 and we were enthusiastically welcomed by the then Head Teacher Carol Crerar and we started with 23 children from years 4, 5 and 6!
Over the years we performed at many school events, at Whitley Bay Christmas Lights switch on, at Seghill Christmas Lights switch on, at Whitley Bay Playhouse, at the Wansbeck Music Festival twice.
The brass group came to an abrupt end in 2020 with the covid lock-down but restarted in 2022.
It is difficult to count the total number of children who have participated in the brass group, but it must be nearly 100. From the smiling faces and feedback most of them enjoyed it and got a lot out of it. Of course, some tried it and found it wasn’t for them, but that’s part of learning too!
The current group of children were looking forward to performing at the Newcastle Big Gig at the Vertu Arena in June, but the school has decided to stop running the after-school brass band, for reasons we are not able to go into here. It is a great shame that the school does not feel able to continue, but we wish all the children and staff well.
Special thanks must go to the staff who have supported the brass band over the years, including Carole Whittle who has been a member of the brass group and helped run it since we started in 2016.