- New arts school could open in town
- Progressive School of Music could open in Cattle Street
- Remember when the group performed at the Albert Hall? Read more below
CENTRAL St Helier could be alive with the sound of music later this year if plans for a new arts school are approved.
The Progressive School of Music, which is based in St Ouen, is hoping that developers will be given permission to create the facility in an old building at 13 Cattle Street.
Applicant Roslyn Investments Ltd has applied to Planning to change the official use of the building from a shop to an arts school.
If the application is approved, the Progressive School of Music plans to create a new branch of its business in St Helier.
Music teacher Leila Begg, who runs the business and is the principal of the school, said she had been planning the move for some time.
‘I have thought about a town school for a long, long time, but have never had the right venue or teachers to go ahead.
‘During the first year we are just going to take the ground floor of the building.
‘We’ll see what the take-up is and then, assuming all goes to plan, we will work our way up the next two floors.’
Mrs Begg, who began teaching music in the UK in 1989 after spending ten years as an entertainer on cruise liners, set up the Progressive School of Music in Jersey in 1999.
The school runs classes for mothers and babies, children of all ages and adults, which include singing, rock music, piano lessons, music theory and adult pop-rock gospel choirs.
And with the possibility of new premises in town, Mrs Begg said she hoped to extend the business’s offering to musical theatre and musical theatre exams when more space is available.
The Progressive School of Music, which is in between Rue de la Croix and Rue de la Forge, will continue in St Ouen as many students live in the west.
‘It will be great for older children too because they will be able to walk there straight from school.
‘I’m hoping and praying that Planning don’t kick the plans down.’
IN November 2013, young Islanders from the Progressive School of Music performed in front of an audience of 4,000 at London’s Royal Albert Hall, taking part in a Guinness World Record attempt.
The 24 children, who were aged between eight and 13, were among 1,300 young people sharing the spotlight at the Barnardo’s Young Supporters’ Concert.
Jersey’s Progressive School of Music was one of 40 schools from across the country taking part in the concert, which was held to raise money for the children’s charity Barnardo’s.
The young performers collectively performed 11 songs, ranging from Hey Jude, Let It Be, and When I’m Sixty-Four by The Beatles to What Shall We Do With The Drunken Sailor? and Whales Swimming Free by Coombes.
As part of the concert, there was also a Guinness World Record attempt for the largest ocarina ensemble.
All the choir members and their accompanying teachers were given an ocarina – a small wind instrument – and learned three tunes to play back to back. They will accompanied by audience members also playing the instrument, with the aim of collectively playing for a total of six minutes in order to break the world record.
