Forty young musicians from Corsham Windband Association (CWA) enjoyed an inspiring residential music course at Braeside Education Centre in Devizes on Friday 23 and Saturday 24 October, combining musical development with friendship, teamwork and plenty of fun.
Organised during the autumn half-term holidays, the two-day event brought together children aged 7 to 13 from eight primary and six secondary schools, representing CWA’s Beginner Windband, Training Band and String Group.
Under the musical direction of Dame Sonia Blandford, Simon Carr, Jo Knight, Deborah Chebly and Kelly Meakin, the young musicians explored a wonderfully varied repertoire, ranging from Vivaldi to film and television themes, rock and pop, blues and African music, as well as a special edition by Jane Finch.
The residential course benefited from the enthusiasm and expertise of an outstanding team of musicians and educators. Music graduates Jenny Sykes (MA, Royal Northern College of Music) and Harriet Kirkwood (BA, Leeds University) joined A-level music students Eddie Durant and Felix Jobling in supporting the younger performers. Specialist tuition was provided by Julie Bryan and Bethany Eldridge (woodwind), Becky Nottingham (drum kit, African drums and percussion), Amanda Jacobs (percussion) and Dawn Newstead (drama). Together, this dedicated team helped create a stimulating and supportive environment in which every child could develop their abilities and confidence.
The weekend culminated in a concert celebrating the impressive progress made by the young musicians over just two days. But the experience extended far beyond musical achievement. The residential course encouraged independence, cooperation and new friendships, demonstrating how making music together can help young people overcome personal challenges.
The enthusiastic feedback from parents reflected this wider impact. One described the weekend as “a fantastic opportunity”, while another praised the final concert, saying: “I’m so impressed with all their progress!”. Perhaps most movingly, one parent explained how the experience had helped her son make new friends and her daughter overcome her fears about staying away from home overnight.
Set in the welcoming surroundings of Braeside Education Centre, the event perfectly reflected CWA’s commitment to inclusive, non-selective music education, bringing together young people from different schools and backgrounds to achieve high standards of music-making.
As Corsham Windband Association celebrates its 45th anniversary in 2026, this successful weekend provided another wonderful example of its continuing dedication to nurturing young musical talent.
A huge thank you to the entire team, the families who supported the event and, above all, the forty young musicians whose enthusiasm made the weekend such a success!