The future looks harmonious for music at Greenhill School with the setting up of a new supporters' charity.

Parents, grandparents and parents of future pupils at the school attended the inaugural meeting of Supporters of Performing Arts at Greenhill (SPAG) last week.

"We had about 25 people turn up and have been able to fill the official posts and set up sub-committees to look into events and fund raising and such like," said SPAG chairman, Angela Roberts.

Local Assembly Member Angela Burns is patron of the group, which aims to help raise funds for the award-winning orchestra.

Greenhill has the largest school orchestra in the UK and recently won two first prizes at the National Festival of Music for Youth in Birmingham.

It was previously supported by SOGO (Supporters of Greenhill Orchestra), which raised £10,000 last year to help with expenses such as travelling costs.

It was decided to set-up a new official charity to support all music and performing arts at the school after a funding threat to music teaching at the school in March.

"The quality of music at Greenhill is something that's worth fighting for," said Mrs. Burns.

"When music teaching came under threat of budget cuts earlier this year, there was a huge groundswell of support and it's wonderful that the anger felt at the time has now been channelled into something as positive as this new charity."

Mrs. Roberts said she was particularly delighted that parents of primary school children attended the inaugural meeting.

"They were anxious to make sure that the music department survives, their children are now lugging their huge instruments to lessons every week and they want to ensure that the music department continues to thrive until their children get there. It was very encouraging to have their support."

The next SPAG event is a Christmas concert with performances by the school orchestra, choirs and bands at 7.30 pm on December 17. Tickets cost between £2 and £7. Call 840100 for tickets.