The Cory Band has embarked upon an ambitious project in which it will collaborate with a local comprehensive school as part of an Arts Council Wales led community outreach initiative.

The band will work with 120 students at Rhymney Comprehensive School over a 15 week period, culminating in a special concert featuring the pupil's creative work.

Community objectives

As part of Cory's community objectives, the project has already seen tutors such as Glyn Williams, Steve Jones and Christopher Bond visit the school to deliver brass, percussion and composition tuition to students who would otherwise not benefit to music presented in this way.

The project was launched when Head of Music, Michelle Diamond and other staff, accompanied 60 pupils to Cory 's bandroom where MD Philip Harper presented a short concert aimed to clearly explain the aims and objectives the project which also touches on the history of brass bands in the region and their links to the valley's rich abundance of coal mining tradition.

Exciting introduction

Philip Harper told 4BR: "It was great to have so many pupils visit us in the bandroom, and we hope it was a really exciting introduction to this project.

One of our key community objectives is to raise awareness of brass bands locally, and with the expert tutors now in school on a weekly basis, we hope some of our passion will rub off!"

One of our key community objectives is to raise awareness of brass bands locally, and with the expert tutors now in school on a weekly basis, we hope some of our passion will rub off!Cory MD, Philip Harper

Concert

The school has in fact a famous recent alumni in Daniel Thomas, now principal euphonium of Black Dyke, whilst his younger brother Owen is still a pupil.

The final concert to this project will take place on Thursday 29th June, and will be open to the public.

Go to: www.coryband.com for more details.