New Centre of Musical Excellence Opens

Published in Band News on 2013-07-02 by Empty Chairs

More news from Lanner and District Silver Band

A brand new, purpose built Centre of Musical Excellence is to be officially opened in Lanner on Saturday 6th July 2013. The facility has been built by the Lanner and District Silver Band on land they have owned since 1967 with funds from a £200,000 grant from the SITA Cornwall Trust, the sale of their previous bandroom and a tremendous amount of volunteers.

Band Chairman, Lee Rouse, told Empty Chairs, “For the last few years, the band has taken massive steps forward, particularly with the development of our training band, the Lanner Brass Academy. However, success brings its own problems and we found that the rehearsal facilities we have used since 1983 were becoming less and less adequate. We are lucky that we kept ownership of the original land and bandroom that we used prior to 1983 and has been used by the local scout troop since then, it is here that we have been able to build our new headquarters. We worked with the scouts and other local groups to design a facility that the band, the scouts and other community groups could use. We are utterly delighted with the results and the fact that it is all bought and paid for secures the band’s future, I still have to pinch myself to make sure I’m not dreaming.”

Band Secretary, Jeremy Gilbert, has been heavily involved in organising the opening ceremony, “The official opening starts at 10:00 with a fanfare. From 12pm we will have an open house where visitors can come and see the facility whilst enjoying some live music from a number of local groups.”

The band’s Musical Director, Stuart Chappell added, “Cornwall has an enviable reputation for producing high quality brass musicians and several of today’s well respected professional brass players have started their careers in the Cornish Brass Band movement. It is our aim that we will identify some future protégés and start them on their career emulating these lofty heights. However, our main focus will be within the community. For many years, the Lanner Band organisation has provided an outlet for music making in the communities across West Cornwall and in so doing have entertained countless thousands of visitors to the County as well as equal numbers of locals.”

Band President, Leon Youlton, will thank the SITA Cornwall Trust at the opening ceremony. “It is astounding that the whole construction has been completed virtually one year to the day that the band was informed that its application for the £200,000 grant was successful, without the help of SITA Cornwall Trust it would simply not have been possible. Particular tribute must be paid to Richard Rowe who, in addition to being a very talented cornet player, is also a member of the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors. Richard has project managed the construction of the Centre for Musical Excellence. It is due to the massive amount of his own time that he has devoted to the project that we have a building of such high quality and has been completed so quickly.” Mr Youlton added, “We have recently learnt that SITA Cornwall Trust has announced its 2013 flagship fund which will be £250,000. We wish the applicants good luck with their applications and if the successful applicant can achieve as much with the grant as we are with ours then it will money very well spent.”

Members of the Band have been putting in a considerable amount of effort into the building to help save on costs and this, together with the band’s other commitments this year has meant that they have not been able to organise the village’s carnival this year. It is hoped that the band will be able to reintroduce this in 12 months time. The whole band is very excited about the future and is looking forward to welcoming visitors to their new Headquarters next weekend.

The venue will be available for hire and is suitable for a wide array of uses from conferences to concerts or simply for that private meeting space in a quiet location. Full details will appear on the bands website in the near future.