An exciting and affordable youth project that is bringing Brass Band music to a younger generation.

Shepway Brass Academy was formed in late 2013 by our Honorary Life President, Christer Aberg.

The Academy is open to students aged from 8 to 18 who reside in South East Kent.

From small beginnings the Academy has already grown to incorporate four different groups.

For those completely new to playing a brass musical instrument we have both the Beginners and Developing Bands. These bands provide a supportive environment to learn to play an instrument as an individual, and share the learning experience with students of a similar level as part of a band.

The Developing Band feeds through to the Training Band, where those who have developed their own skills can start to build playing as a group. The Training Band take on more challenging musical parts and continue to develop playing as a group, sometimes performing alongside the Academy Band at public events.

At the top is the Academy Band who are now becoming accomplished musicians. This group take on more complex music enabling them to enter contests and create performances.

All of this would not be possible without the support and dedication of a team of Brass Band enthusiasts, many of whom play in other Bands. The Academy Musical Director is Paul Driscoll, a local primary school teacher and musician who, as well as being part of the Shepway Brass Academy from the start, also plays with the Rochester based BAE Systems Band.

If you're interested in being part of the Academy, please do not hesitate to get in touch with either the musical director, Paul Driscoll or the Secretary, Karen Hickman.

The Academy rehearses during school term time only every Saturday morning in the Community Hall of Christ Church CE Primary school, Brockman Road, Folkestone CT20 1DJ . These sessions are organised into four slots:

Beginners Band: 0900 - 0930
Developing Band: 0935 - 1020
Training Band: 1025 - 1110
Academy Band: 1115 - 1245

Each session costs just £2.00 per week and this includes the provision of a brass instrument (subject to availability).