Young People Encouraged to Take Up a Brass Instrument in “Brass Roots” Project

Staploe Education Trust and Soham Comrades band were delighted to launch their new music project, “Brass Roots” in the final weekend of September. The vision of this collaborative project is to increase the number of young people playing a brass instrument both within the Trust’s schools and the local community.

Last year marked the centenary of Soham Comrades Band and they are keen to return to their “home” of Soham having recently rehearsed further afield. They will once again build a training band, open to beginners of any age who wish to learn an instrument and play in a brass band. 

Staploe Education Trust are eager to offer all students the opportunity to learn to play an instrument, brass and orchestral instruments generally. An aim of the project is to raise enough money to purchase instruments for a full year group in each primary school, and deliver whole-class brass instrument sessions as part of the music curriculum in our schools.   The tuition is to be free of charge and accessible for all.

The Soham Pumpkin Fair marked the launch of “Brass Roots” with an afternoon of wonderful performances from the Soham Comrades Band and a performance from the Staploe Samba Band in the main arena.  Brass Roots was the sole beneficiary of the proceeds raised at the Pumpkin Fair and those involved in the project felt incredibly honoured to have been chosen and supported by the local community.  

During the afternoon of Sunday 25 September an Open Event was held at Soham Village College.  Local residents of any age were invited to come along to find out more about the project, have a go at playing an instrument and watch a performance by Soham Comrades band.  Staploe Education Trust and Soham Comrades band are very excited to start planning the next steps in this project and to raising more funds to buy the instruments needed.

If you have an old brass instrument at home that is no longer played or needed then we would be incredibly grateful to receive it as part of this project.  Please do contact Gemma Perry, the Director of Music for Staploe Education Trust by emailing: gperry@soham-college.org.uk if you think you can help in any way.