A Co. Armagh music school is set to play its final note after 18 years with the owners to retire.
Richhill School of Music (RSM) will close at the end of June 2024.
The school was established in 2005, by Leslie and Sharon Brownlee, who saw a need for music tuition in the area.
Since then, the school has offered structured tuition from qualified staff, working with students of all ages and abilities. Tuition was offered for a wide range of instruments including guitar, violin, piano, brass, woodwind, singing, drums and music theory.
An advantage for parents was that different family members could be tutored simultaneously.
Speaking to Armagh I, Sharon and Leslie said it has been a “delight” to see hundreds of pupils progress in their musical abilities and talents.
Many pupils have gone on to become music teachers and some have come back to tutor in RSM.
They said: “After eighteen thoroughly enjoyable and busy years at RSM and after much thought and reflection we have concluded that it is time for us to announce that we are retiring from RSM and the school will therefore close at the end of June 2024.
“A special thanks to Kerry who has tutored with us for the whole eighteen years!”
The school meets in the old Presbyterian church on Irish Street, which hosted the Richhill congregation until 2003, when they moved to bigger premises on the Corcreevy Road due to the congregation having outgrown the building.
Explained Leslie: “The building became vacant and needed extensive renovations. Six individual rooms were created for music tuition, still keeping a large concert space. Our architect, David McMaster, kept the integrity of the old meeting house including the lovely stained glass windows.
“Every Christmas we held a concert and we also had summer concerts too. This gave the pupils an opportunity to perform for friends and family.”
Leslie added: “It’s also been brilliant just to see some people come whose family had bought them a music voucher and knowing very little or nothing about music. They were able to learn an instrument and progress and come back as a tutor.”
However, Leslie says, “under our leadership RSM is finishing, but if someone comes along and thinks it’s the perfect building set up for music tuition they’re more than welcome to get into that discussion”.
He added: “We would just like to personally thank all the parents, friends and pupils who have supported us down through the years and for all the tutors who have made it all possible.”
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