Music at Kneller Hall

British Army Royal Military School of Music supports 69 Air Cadet Musicians

On Saturday 1^st November Student Bandmaster's Craig Bywater and Oliver Jeans from the British Army's Royal Military School of Music Kneller Hall, and Senior Aircraftsman (T) James Buckley from Royal Air Force Odiham, Hampshire, supported 69 cadet musicians from London & South East Region (L&SER) ATC at there 4th Marching Band Training weekend held at MOD Browndown in Gosport, Hampshire.

Cadet musicians aged between 13 and 20 from London, Surrey, Sussex, Essex, Kent and Middlesex Wings joined together under the direction of Flight Lieutenant Nicholas Sermon (L&SER Region Band Director of Music) to work towards their musician's badges and a professional career in the music industry.

Craig and Oliver who are in their final year of a 3 year course at the Royal Military School of Music before being posted to one of the British Army's Bands as Warrant Officer Class One Bandmasters, were invited to broaden the cadets knowledge into the life of a musician in the Armed Forces and to encourage the development of each cadets musical ability. James Buckley SAC (T) continued to further the cadet's percussion skills in the drumming section.

During the intense training weekend, Craig, Oliver and James offered their support and professional expertise to each area of the band with the result being a final massed performance both as a concert and a marching band.

Craig said: "It was a pleasure for us both to work with the guys over the weekend. We had a huge amount of interest in the career side of things but most importantly, it was really rewarding to see the youngsters improve over the two days."

Also present on Saturday was Group Captain Hakin (Regional Commandant for London & South East Region), where he spent time chatting with the cadets, staff and Student Bandmasters as well as tapping his feet along to the music. Just before he left, Group Captain Hakin saluted the cadets and staff as a mark of respect as to the dedication and commitment to their work they all continuously put into the Air Cadet Organisation.

On Saturday afternoon the cadets and staff were given an exclusive presentation on the First Diploma in Music (equivalent to 4 GCSEs A*-C) offered through the Cadet Vocational Qualification Organisation, of which is free to all cadets. Following was an Army Careers presentation, before the cadets and staff were given a surprise performance from The Light Cavalry Band, Pop Band ‘Flux' of the Corps of Army Music, where the cadets let their hair down and danced the night away.

Sunday soon came and went with the cadets looking forward to performing to their parents, the staff and also the South East London Army Cadet Force, who were taking time out of their intensive Junior Instructor Cadet Cadre to watch the performance. The icing on the cake came when the cadets played under the direction of Craig and his 2 year old son (Like father, like son) Highland Cathedral, where the emotion and professionalism of the cadets overwhelmed the staff and parents reducing many of them to tears of joy as they watched and listened with pride.

One parent commented "If you were not physically watching the cadets performing, you would have thought that it was one of the professional bands of the Armed Forces performing. To see two of the Corps of Army Music's finest taking time out of there busy training to nurture and encourage the cadets with there music is amazing."

The London & South East Band have already been booked to perform at the ATC Sunday Parade in February, where they will be performing at St Clement Dane's Church (Church of the Royal Air Force) in the Strand, playing for some 1000 cadets and staff.

For more information and to view further photos of the London & South East Region Band, visit: http://www.atcmusic.org/

For further information about a career in the Corps of Army Music visit: www.armymusic.mod.uk