The college has recently donated specialist music equipment to help PLAY-UP, a project aimed at teaching and building a youth music community in West Norfolk and allowing the young musicians to meet one another, form bands, rehearse and play gigs under guidance. The project is currently funded by the Norfolk Music Hub.
The project’s founder, John Kramarchuk, started the group around six months ago. He said:
“I run various music projects for organizations such as Musical Keys, The Garage, Youth West and the Norfolk Music Hub. I wanted to provide a space for advanced musicians to grow and perform throughout the local area.
Initially I paid for the equipment and rehearsal space myself but since then we've had donations from a parent's crowdfunding, support from Youth West and The Garage and most recently the Norfolk Music Hub.
CWA music lecturer, Mike Campbell, visited Supagroup’s rehearsals in the early stages and offered to support us through the donation of equipment.”
The music department donated mixing consoles, bass and guitar amps, electronic drum kits and keyboard amongst the other things.
Mike Campbell said:
“We are delighted to be able to support up and coming young musicians through the donation of often expensive and essential equipment. We have an outstanding music department at the college and we hope that in the coming year we will be able to work collaboratively with Supagroup to build a thriving music community in West Norfolk.”
From L to R: Youth-West Project Coordinator Tracy Ellis, project founder John Kramarchuk, CWA music lecturer Mike Campbell and Centre Manager at The Swan Youth Project Anna Foster joined by CWA students.
Musicians in the project, Louis Pitcher and Izaak Mayes, are in the process of raising £8,000 in total to travel to Costa Rica to carry out humanitarian works. To help them, CWA and PLAY UP are organizing a fund-raising gig at CWA on 23rd Jan at 6pm, featuring two bands from the PLAY UP project and one band from CWA. The musicians perform as the Supagroup and have played four gigs so far and are planning many more in the upcoming year.