It's the musicians that make it all happen

After two years of activity, we now have a steady flow of up to 400 musicians a week coming through the doors of Penwith Music Centre, to rehearse, record, train, teach, compose, discuss, collaborate...and in order for us to develop our potential for projects that will support and stimulate community music, we have now formed a company, Penwith Music Centre.

The Centre is currently consulting with all its users and contacts to find out what our local community would like to see happening here. Ideas proposed so far include:

  • weekend and holiday music programmes for young people not currently involved in music making

  • training programmes for local musicians interested in becoming music leaders

  • a junk percussion band for young people to develop as their own project

  • inter-generational music making - young people and community elders sharing musical memories

 

Penwith Music Centre - it's official!

As of last December, Penwith Music Centre is a company limited by guarantee - and on its way, we hope, to becoming a charity later in the year. Our Mem and Arts for the company have a simple object: ''the advancement of musical education for the people of Penwith in particular and for the public benefit in general''.

Our Board has been appointed to see the Centre through its first months of company status, before we hold an open event later in the year for everyone interested to feed in their vision for what's possible.

Chair: Neil Walden, Deputy Chair of Governors, Humphry Davy School
Trustees:
Andy Hazlehurst, musician and Golowan Festival
Paul Marks Joffe, musician and conductor/accompanist
Simeon Royle, Director of Music, Humphry Davy School
Thalia Marrington, freelance musician
Kathryn Uren, Chair of Governors, Humphry Davy School
Tim Boulton, Director Penzance Youth String Orchestra;Conductor South West Sinfonia

Olivia Khadka, Business Advisor, Creative Skills
Amanda Pickering, Music Development Worker, Penwith Music Centre

If you've any ideas, dreams, ambitions, constructive criticisms - please get in touch at any time, by calling Amanda Pickering on 07751 786315, or by email at apickering@humphry-davy.cornwall.sch.uk.

 

When you visit the Centre, you'll meet a whole team of staff - we've included their photos and biog's below so you can find out a bit more about them!

 

Simeon Royle
Director of Music and Deputy Head Teacher

Originally from Lancashire, Simeon studied singing and conducting at York University before training as a teacher at Goldsmiths College, London. He has taught in Southwark, Surrey and Kent before moving to Humphry Davy School in 2000. Since then he has written the school’s successful bid to become a Specialist Music College, one of only 15 in the country. His musical experiences are wide, varied and certainly curious, ranging from supporting Bob Geldof in Sheffield, to leading bands to perform in the Albert Hall, the Millennium Dome, and in front of Mick Jagger.


Claire Yates
Music Teacher

Having studied classical piano in her teens, Claire discovered Jools Holland and jazz improvisation, and now leads the HDS Jazz Band as well as teaching music throughout the school. She also plays clarinet and accordion.


Dave Richards
Music Tech

Dave runs the studio side of the Music Centre, as well as being a teaching assistant in the school music lessons. Outside school, he is vocalist and guitarist with the band Blackfish, recently returned from the International Pan Celtic song contest, as well as with the Penwith acoustic band The Space Between.


Dare Mason
Consultant to PMC

Dare Mason, of the VIP Lounge in Penzance, advises the Centre on our recording studio facilities. He has extensive experience in the music industry and a strong interest in developing the same skills in others.


Amanda Pickering
Music Development Worker

Amanda works to link the Centre with the local community, developing music networks, projects, and facilities. She also runs her own community music business, BoumBoum Drum Workshops, and plays in West African band Kookoojii and Afro-Cuban band Kabasa.


Anthony Cooper
Music Tech

Ant Cooper plays keyboards, saxophone and clarinet and started his musical career as a musician in the Army with the Paras and then in the Band of the Welsh Guards. He studied at the Royal Military School of Music and has played on many occasions for the Royal Family all over the world. Ant has also played and toured Europe with different rock and blues bands and recorded several albums. He currently plays with a local rock band called Solution www.solutionmusic.com.


Lisa Wakfer
Penwith Music Centre Administrator 2

Lisa Wakfer handles all queries and bookings at the Centre, and works with us every weekday afternoon from 1-5pm. Within the School, she also takes care of all pupils' instrumental lesson bookings. Her musical favourites include Simply Red, UB40 and Queen.

Contact

Here are a few quick contact details for the staff, teachers and technicians at PMC.

Amanda Pickering
Music Development Worker

t. 01736 352151
m. 07751 786315
e. apickering@
humphry-davy.cornwall.sch.uk

Lisa Wakfer
Music Centre Administrator

Please contact Lisa weekdays after 1pm or leave a message and we'll get back to you.

t. 01736 352152
e. lwakfer@
humphry-davy.cornwall.sch.uk

If you're trying to get hold of anyone in particular please contact us here.

Rehearse, record, train, teach, compose, discuss, collaborate

Penwith Music Centre. Registered Company No.: 643966
Registered address: Humphry Davy School and Community Music College, Coombe Road, Penzance TR18 2TG

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