Wallasey Music Centre

Public Performances

As mentioned elsewhere, we stage three concerts each year. Each of these concerts raise funds to help the Centre meet its objectives and obligations.

The Christmas concert helps us keep our Centre solvent, so that we can buy a limited range of instruments (key board and bass clarinets for example), new music stands and so on. This also helps us to subsidise social events for the students (we take a party to a 'musical' pantomime each year). The Christmas concert is held at our home at Oldershaw School in Wallasey.

There is an annual charity concert at the Wallasey Civic Hall normally held each April. We are very pleased that each year we are able to cover all our overheads (principally the hire of the hall) and enable us to make a substantial donation to charity. We aim to support local charities with an interest in children where possible. Recently we have donated £500 each year, which is a considerable sum considering an adult admission only costs £3!

At the end of the summer school term, we hold our Summer Showcase (once again at Oldershaw School) and the proceeds from the ticket sales are used as our contribution towards the cost of using the school for all of our rehearsals. It is appropriate to acknowledge the considerable support that we receive from Wirral Borough Council's music service, and that of the Head Teacher and staff of Oldershaw School, without whose willing and active support, the role of the Centre would be diminished.

Wirral Coastal Walk

Congratulations to all those who participated in the 2007 sponsored coastal walk. The 15 mile walk is completed over concrete or paved surfaces for much of the way and this takes a considerable toll on the feet of those who participate. Despite this, a number of students completed the walk to raise money for the Music Centre. Also participating were the Head of the Centre, Mrs Amanda Keeley and the Chair, Philip Howley.

Other events

2006 saw a repeat of the sponsored practice held some years ago. Each student was asked to get sponsors for them to rehearse each day for a month for a pre-determined time, which included attendance at the Centre each Saturday. We are very grateful to the students for their participation in this event and also to their parents and guardians for their active backing.

Awards For All

This is a national body jointly sponsored by the Arts Council and Heritage Lottery Fund. A grant application was submitted early in 2006 for a substantial contribution towards the purchase of two timpani (also known as 'kettle drums'). To purchase these exclusively from the funds of the Wallasey Music Centre would have been a massive task, so we are very grateful to acknowledge the generosity of Awards for All who have contributed £1,600 being more than 80% of the total cost incurred.

Click on the link below to go to the Awards for All web site.

http://www.awardsforall.org.uk/