East Point Chamber Orchestra: Growing to support new opportunities

The East Point Chamber Orchestra was established in September 2023 after whole-class violin lessons were embedded into the Year 7 and Year 8 curriculum. The orchestra now has a regular membership of about 16 students from all year groups.

So far this year, we are proud to announce that the orchestra has expanded to include woodwind and brass instruments. We are also currently recruiting a percussion player! We expect the orchestra to grow by another 5-7 string members in September 2026. Thanks to a generous donation, all our students are now playing on Stentor-level instruments.

Our recent performances include the Trust Music Competition in July 2024 and the EPA 2024 December Showcase, with future performances being planned for an EPA Summer Showcase, where the orchestra will perform three pieces, including a specially arranged version of the Bach/Marcello Piano Concerto, with Inspiration Trust Director of Performing Arts, John Stephens, as piano soloist.

The orchestra has only been able to evolve with the full support of the Trust's Visiting Music Teacher programme. Our Music Tutor, Gary Ames, leads the orchestra alongside the Head of Performing Arts, Peter Mason. EPA now has a dozen students who learn violin and cello and attend the orchestra each week after school.

East Point is proud to offer the young people of Lowestoft the opportunity to perform in a traditional orchestra and receive basic violin lessons as part of their regular music curriculum. We are also proud to have risen to help meet the 2021/2022 vision of Inspiration Trust for all schools to have an orchestra within five years.

Listening to feedback from the local community, it is encouraging to hear that parents are excited about the prospect of their children learning an instrument and taking part in our range of performing arts opportunities at East Point Academy.