Make Music Day 2024: A Celebration of Young Musicians on the Isle of Man
On Friday, the 21st of June 2024, St. John's, Isle of Man, became a hub of musical excitement as four primary schools—Willaston Primary School, Anagh Coar Primary School, Ballasalla Primary School, and Jurby Primary School—came together to celebrate Make Music Day. This special event showcased the talents of Year 5 and Year 6 students participating in the Isle of Man Music Service's Soundstart program, a Whole Class Ensemble Teaching project that introduces children to brass, woodwind, and percussion instruments.
The day, organised and led by Mrs. Galka, began with an energetic morning practice session where the children honed their skills and learned new pieces for their afternoon performance. Under the guidance of Dr. Chloë Woolley from Culture Vannin, the students also had the unique opportunity to learn the British National Anthem, the Manx National Anthem, and two traditional Manx tunes: Bee dty Host (Hush Thee) and Fer ny Clien Click (The 'Click' Song).
The afternoon performance was a grand occasion, with an enthusiastic audience that included the Lieutenant General Sir John Lorimer KCB DSO MBE and Lady Philippa Lorimer MBE, representatives from the Soundcheck charity, Kerry Sharpe MLC The Isle of Man Children's Champion, senior officials from DESC, and the students' proud parents, carers, and teachers.
Special thanks go to Mrs. Singleton, Music Service Lead, and the dedicated music service staff: Mr. Young, percussion teacher; Mr. Sullivan, woodwind teacher; and Mr. Reynolds, brass teacher, for their hard work and dedication. We also extend our heartfelt thanks to the Soundcheck charity for their invaluable support, to the primary school teachers for their unwavering commitment, and to Dr. Chloë Woolley for her Manx expertise. This event would not have been possible without their collective efforts.
The Make Music Day project exemplifies our mission to nurture young musical talent and foster a lifelong love of music in our students. We look forward to many more successful collaborations in the future.
To view the full photo album, click HERE
