Dear Colleagues,

I wish you well for half term. Always useful to have some time to recharge and reflect as the days start to lengthen.  Today Warwickshire County Council's Cabinet is meeting to hear feedback from the cross-party Councillor task and finish group that has been reviewing educational attainment across the County. There's been clear recognition and understanding of all the positive work and outcomes for Warwickshire children over a number of years, a recognition of what took place during the pandemic. Also, a desire to see what has been taking place and what more might be done to for those children vulnerable to poor outcomes and to narrow the gap with their peers. Councillors are keen to come and visit schools so more on this once Cabinet has considered the issue today.

I thought I'd share some celebrations of young people and music

Warwickshire Students Perform on a National Stage

On Saturday 11^th February, 35 students from across Warwickshire performed as part of the newly formed Warwickshire & Coventry Youth Brass Band at the UniBass Competition at Warwick Arts Centre. UniBrass is a competition for UK Music College and University Brass Bands that enables them to compete against each other for a national award. The Warwickshire and Coventry Youth Brass Band performed on stage before the results of the competition were announced. The performed was very well received by an audience of over 1000 university and music college students and was live streamed around the world to thousands more people. The newly formed Warwickshire & Coventry Youth Brass Band is a unique partnership between Warwickshire Music, Brass Bands England and a number of community Brass Bands from across Warwickshire. The group only had three one day rehearsals in July, November and February this year to prepare for their inaugural performance at UniBrass 2023 under the direction of Simon Hogg, a Warwick based highly respected professional trombonist and conductor. The bands performance was outstanding and enthusiastically received by the audience. The students, ranging in age from 9 to 18 conducted themselves with great confidence and musical ability and were outstanding ambassadors for their schools, community bands and Warwickshire Music. The Bands next course will take place on Sunday 16^th July, when we hope they will be joined by brass players from the internationally acclaimed Orchestra of the Swan as part of the orchestra partnership with Warwickshire Music.   Part of the Band’s performance can be viewed on Warwickshire Music’s YouTube Channel here.

Warwickshire County Youth Wind Band at Warwick Castle

Members of the Warwickshire County Youth Wind Band performed at Warwick Castle to support a fund-raising event for High Sheriff of Warwickshire’s on Friday 10^th February. The band of over 40 young woodwind, brass and percussion players from schools across Warwickshire performed a range of pieces including music from Disney’s The Lion King and Frozen and contemporary works for Wind Band during the evening. Organised by Warwickshire Music under the direction of the Services Delivery Lead, Richard Hart the band plays to exceptionally high stands and their performance was very well received by an appreciative audience at the event. The bands next performance will be as part of the Warwickshire Music Celebration Concert at Warwick Hall, at 7:00 p.m. on 30^th March. The band will be joined by the Warwickshire Youth String Orchestra, County Steel Pan groups and a number of groups from Warwickshire Music’s Area Music Centres. Further details about all of the activities and opportunities provided by Warwickshire Music can be found here.

Best wishes 

Chris Baird

Interim Assistant Director for Education Services.