NEW youth band, The Panthers, are looking to jazz things up.
Band leader Peter Lovatt, who has been a member of the community orchestra at St Mary’s Parish Church for six years, launched the youth group last week to provide the opportunity for youngsters learning instruments to play and perform.
He said: “The idea to start The Panthers was to give youngsters the opportunity to play and perform and although there are youth groups for brass instrument players there isn’t for those learning orchestra instruments but we are providing that now.”
At the first session, aspiring violinist Corinne Drew and trumpeter Evie Russ-Griffiths, joined the band.
Mr Lovatt said: “When I joined the community orchestra about six years ago and there were only a handful of musicians then, now we have difficulty all fitting in the same photograph there are that many of us.”
The youth section’s name The Panthers, is inspired by an iconic arrangement composed by Henry Mancini, for the film The Pink Panther.
He said: “We will be playing various jazz numbers including music like that but that title is copyrighted, so we’re The Panthers.
“We will be learning ten pieces in this jazz book and that will keep us going for quite a while.”
The band is open to youngsters in years five, six and seven.
The Panthers meet from 4pm to 5pm on Mondays during term tine, at St Mary’s Parish Hall, Newgate, Barnard Castle. Participation is free.
For more information about The Panthers or to book a place for your child contact Peter Lovatt by email on peterlovatt35 @gmail.com.
