The children at Kingsfield Primary School in Chatteris were excited today to be told they had received some new instruments courtesy of the Channel 4 television programme ‘Don’t Stop the Music’– headed by classical pianist James Rhodes.

Earlier this summer, James appealed to primary schools to get in touch if they needed instruments and he was inundated with responses. Kingsfield Primary School put in their request in order to give the opportunity for more pupils to learn to play a musical instrument. Their application was successful making them one of the schools to receive instruments from the amnesty.

Head Teacher Joanne Tomlins said: I was so pleased to be told that we were being donated a drum kit recently, as we have begun drum lessons for a number of our children.  My staff and I were surprised however to open the 3 large delivered boxes to find that we are now the proud owners of almost an entire orchestral string section! (...and was informed that that we can still expect the drumkit!) Music is so important for our children in developing their creativity and we will definitely be putting these instruments to good use.

Music Coordinators, Helen Rhodes and Heather MacNeil said: We were delighted to be part of this great scheme as we hoped we would get some instruments that would otherwise, due to budget constraints, have been unavailable to the children. We were thrilled, and shocked to receive the 12 violins and 2 cellos. We are now hoping to arrange a strings teacher to come in so the children can begin to use these. Perhaps we will produce the next Vanessa Mae or Nigel Kennedy!