28th July 2010

DORCHESTER: New facilities for St Mary's Middle School

Mayor of Dorchester, Councillor Leslie Phillips, paid a visit to St Mary’s Middle School, Puddletown, where he was given a tour of their new facilities.

The new music room is equipped with its own stage, sound and lighting system, and black out curtains, which all enhance class performances on a daily basis.

They also have four new practice rooms, and a large rehearsal room equipped with a complete set of African drums, samba drums and other instruments designed to raise the roof. And as well as electric and acoustic drum sets there are work benches for the laptops.

The school hall has also had a makeover, with an upgraded stage and curtains, a new sound system and intelligent lighting, and room to seat 400 people.

Following his tour, the Mayor was a guest at the school’s Summer Concert.

The programme produced by the school included a mix of orchestra, woodwind groups, brass groups and string groups, complemented by a variety of choirs, soloists, pop and rock groups and dancers.

The styles of music represented were equally wide ranging, with everything from the baroque period and the classical period to the nationalist music of Edward Elgar. Songs from the musicals, including “Cats” and “Grease”, were performed alongside blues, jazz, pop and rock.

Head of Music Natalie Rogers said: “The concert was a huge success.

“The new stage, sound and light facilities in the music classroom have given pupils the confidence to perform.

“No longer are they intimidated by microphones, the stage lights or an audience. They now have an opportunity to become familiar with this environment on a day to day basis.”

DORCHESTER: New facilities for St Mary's Middle School

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