Guernsey set to tutor Caribbean youth orchestra

A team from the Guernsey Music Service said it was going to the Caribbean island of Montserrat to tutor a youth orchestra

The Guernsey Music Service is set to tutor a Caribbean island youth orchestra as part of its summer school.

The service said it was the second phase of the project after Guernsey donated over 30 instruments to Montserrat at the start of the year.

A small team from the service will travel to Montserrat to help with its Small Beginnings Youth Orchestra Summer School from 12-22 August.

Guernsey Music Service said the summer school "will enable children from the local community to come together and participate in a rich musical programme".

The Guernsey Music Service said it hoped to establish if a larger scale trip would be viable in the future

Head of the service Tim Wright described the project as a "remarkable opportunity for both islands to forge further friendship through music and culture".

"We are hoping that we can inspire the young people we will be working with in Montserrat and am certain that we will be equally inspired by them," he said.

"We are delighted to be working with the authorities there to show how music and culture can be a driving force for good in uniting our two islands and developing opportunities for the young people of both islands into the future."

Sarah Tucker, Governor of Monserrat, said she was "delighted" to support the connection with Guernsey.

She said: "I hope that not only will all of the children have a wonderful experience at the summer school, but that it will be the start of a strong and enduring friendship between the two islands, enabling shared experiences for our children both here in Montserrat and in Guernsey.

"I look forward to welcoming the team to our wonderful emerald isle."

The Guernsey Music Service hopes to establish if a larger scale trip would be viable.