TALENTED youngsters from two North Wales counties banged the drum for music at a gala concert. 

North Music Cooperative North Music Cooperative, which runs two sister organisations in Denbighshire and Wrexham, staged the show at the William Aston Hall on the Wrexham Glyndwr University campus on Mold Road.

The hall was packed with family, friends and music lovers who were treated to a programme of bands, ensembles and soloists playing music ranging from classical pieces by favourite composers to pop songs and a roof-raising performance by a Samba band.

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The group, from Victoria CP School, Wrexham was only established this term as part of the National Music Plan to inspire pupils to play music and to give them the opportunity to perform.

Pupils Eli Winter and Solin Caviliber said they had only had four practice sessions before taking to the stage.

Nine-year-old Eli said: "We meet every Friday with Mr Baxter. Learning to play the drums is quite hard, especially keeping to the beat but it's great fun too."

Solin, also nine years old, added: "The drums are different sizes and types and there are other instruments as well like tambourines and whistles. I've loved playing them."

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Victoria CP School headteacher Debbie Eccles said 60 youngsters at the school, which has over 460 pupils, had taken part in the First Experience project and 35 of them were taking part in the concert.

North Wales Music Cooperative chair Cllr Mark Young said: "It was an exceptional concert. Tonight the musical stars of North Wales have shone very brightly indeed and it is heartwarming to see that there is so much talent in our midst.

"Such an achievement has been made possible with the support of national and local Government we are working hard to inspire and develop future generations of musicians across all our schools and from September this programme will be significantly extended.

 

The Leader:

"So when we stage another concert next year we hope to share with you the musical successes of another year's endeavour."

The sign-language choir are based within Dynamic Wrexham which provides term-time activity for young people as well as school holiday activity programmes.

The choir has members aged between 14 and 25 and have performed widely in the past two years including before matches at Wrexham's Racecourse Ground. 

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The Welsh Government has pledged to increase funding for music tuition in schools and present at the concert was Mari Lloyd Pritchard, the National Music Service Co-ordinator.

She told the audience: "It is an honour and real pleasure to be here tonight. It is an exciting time for music education in Wales with Welsh Government investment in music.

"Massive energy has gone in from the team in Wrexham and Denbighshire in delivering this plan and they have done excellent work from the word go and there is evidence of that here tonight."