In the 35th of a series of articles, David Bird discusses the work of Redbridge Music Society and introduces Redbridge Music Service, whose students will be performing in Wanstead this month
During its current 75th anniversary season, Redbridge Music Society is focusing especially on two of its long-standing aims – promoting and supporting young musicians, especially those residing within the borough, and bringing a diverse range of musical styles and genres to the people of Redbridge. These aims will certainly be realised when the students of Redbridge Music Service put on a recital in the Churchill Room of Wanstead Library this January.
Redbridge Music Service, based at the John Savage Centre in Hainault, is the jewel in Redbridge’s musical crown, and throughout the many years of its existence, it has nurtured numerous talented young musicians, a large number of whom have gone on to become professional musicians.
Redbridge Music Service is the lead organisation of the Redbridge Music Education Hub and has a reputation for exceptionally high-quality music education. All music hubs establish local plans involving opportunities for students to progress and create music together, especially through live performances. To this end, Redbridge Music Service provides a wide range of instrumental and vocal tuition in schools throughout the borough – even at nursery and reception level – with instruments being available for hire from the service’s instrument centre. Redbridge Music Service also provides opportunities for its students to perform music together, and every year presents over 50 local concerts, ranging from concerts at the John Savage Centre to public recitals, such as this Wanstead performance, and other events at Redbridge Town Hall. Every two years, there is also the well-renowned Redbridge Schools’ Choral Festival at the Royal Albert Hall.
Being involved in musical activities and gaining performance skills is very beneficial for a young person’s development and learning to play a musical instrument can significantly improve cross-subject developmental qualities, such as self-confidence, imagination and creativity, memory and co-ordination skills and communication, team and social skills.
Redbridge Music Service encourages its students to explore music from a wide range of historical periods, genres and traditions and this will be very evident at the recital at Wanstead Library, when the students will perform an eclectic mix of music and musical styles. Their recital is now a standard annual feature in Redbridge Music Society’s calendar and is always a popular and well-attended event. Please come along and support our borough’s exceptional young musical talent!
Students of Redbridge Music Service will perform at Wanstead Library on 23 January from 8pm (tickets on the door: £8). For more information, call 07380 606 767. Redbridge Music Society is supported by Vision RCL and affiliated to Making Music.