Party in the park for music school’s 10th birthday
FAMILY and friends had the chance to see and hear students of the School of Popular Music on Saturday afternoon when it hosted a party in the park at Delancey.
Hundreds of students took to the stage throughout the afternoon and evening to show off what they had learned, ranging from the very young in groups playing drums and singing, up to teenagers who played in bands.
SOPM director Casey-Joe Rumens said that the early part of the entertainment featured the minis, aged four and five, with the older students being members of the SOPM Academy.
While popular music is at the heart of the school, there were opportunities for students to take up violin and classical instruments, depending on the tutors available.
The event at the park was a special one to mark the school’s 10th anniversary since its inception in Guernsey and Mr Rumens said there were now about 1,000 students across Guernsey and Jersey, where a branch opened about two years ago.
As well as entertainment on the stage, there was a chance for people to have a free short taster lesson at the school’s nearby headquarters.
These had to be booked in advance and by the time the day started there were more than 60 people ready to try their hands at a musical instrument or singing, with ages ranging from children up to 66.
The vast majority of those booked were not music students already, such as Georgie Mollet, 7. ‘I really want to go on the stage,’ she said.
She had come along for her first taste of playing the piano and was introduced to the instrument by Marilyn Pugh.
Georgie has aspirations to write her own songs, too, and mum Linda Tostevin said that if Georgie liked the piano it was possible that full lessons could follow.
The beaming smile afterwards said it all, and Georgie said she was keen to do more.
There was a music festival atmosphere to the afternoon, with food and drink stalls along one edge of the park and activities for the youngsters including a climbing wall and bouncy castles.
But the stage was the main focus of attention and Roslyn and James Jackson were waiting with granddaughter Kyra May, 13, to watch her younger sister, Freya, 8, sing.
‘We’ve never seen her perform before,’ said Mrs Jackson.
‘I think this is a lovely event.’
