Tenby Town Council is to give Greenhill School's musicians a major boost by pledging a £1,000 donation, as it was announced this week that the Supporters of Greenhill Orchestra (SOGO) would be setting up a charitable trust to increase its fund-raising for the orchestra and music in the school.
At a meeting of the town council on Tuesday evening, Clr. Mrs. Christine Brown told her colleagues that it was in the best interest of Tenby that the council in some way tries to help the orchestra after it was recently revealed that instrumental music tuition at Greenhill School was under threat.
"I feel strongly that because what the orchestra means to Tenby, we should do everything we can to try and help them in the next few months. It's in the best interest of the public," said Clr. Mrs. Brown.
"Parents are putting everything on the line to help. One parent I've heard would have withdrawn their daughter from the school if music tuition was lost, the feeling out there is that strong," she added.
Councillors agreed to donate £1,000 to SOGO, which are currently in the process of setting up as a registered charity.
A meeting held last Friday saw school governors thrash out a two-year budget settlement that will keep music tuition on the curriculum, along with drama.
Greenhill School's headteacher Mr. Chris Noble has this week written to parents to explain the budget issue and how the school was forced to look at all options to see where money could be saved as sixth form funding from the Welsh Assembly Government had been decreased.
"I spoke to parents and students before Easter at an informal meeting to explain the situation we were in, but more heat was generated than light on that occasion," explained Mr. Noble.
"Subsequently, we have been working flat out to ensure that we can set a sustainable budget for two years, from 2009 to 2011. This has been achieved with as little impact as possible on teaching and learning.
"Free music tuition will continue to be funded up to £39,000, supplemented by voluntary contributions from parents and friends," he continued.
"The news of the new budget agreement of £39,000 for the instrumental music lessons was greatly welcomed by Greenhill's music teacher Mr. Paul Rapi and all involved in SOGO," said chair Mrs. Angela Roberts.
"During our regular termly meeting on Monday, a 'task force' was set up and an application for charitable status was completed, as there is still a great deal of funding to be raised so that every young person receiving peripatetic lessons can continue," commented Mrs. Roberts.
"Many thanks to all parents, grandparents, pupils, ex-pupils, musicians, and our local AMs and director of education Mr. Gerson Davies for their loyalty and hard-work.
"We would also like to thank all staff at Greenhill School for their patience as we are sure that there has been some disruption at times," she continued.
The Greenhill orchestra's annual summer concert has been cancelled, but in place a 'Save Our Music' concert will be staged at Folly Farm on Thursday, May 28.
Folly Farm have very kindly donated their theatre as a venue for the concert to take place, while Chevron have provided funding for the programmes, tickets and posters.
SOGO are very privileged to announce that Mr. Grant Llewellyn, musical director of the North Carolina Symphony Orchestra and principal conductor of the Handel and Haydn Society, will be conducting, while well-known local personality Mr. Charles Dale will open the evening.
"We are sure this will be a wonderful evening, but all our hard-work must continue," added Mrs. Roberts.