By Harry Bullmore

YOUNG people’s music charity B Sharp finished the summer term in style, staging a series of performances across Bridport and Lyme Regis that showcased the work of their local young, creative and trained musicians.

The charity’s new ‘Bridport Jams’ kicked things off. They performed a selection of songs that the session’s participants, aged between 11 and 19, had written and developed themselves with leadership from B Sharp’s young team of music leaders.

Band member Imi Neylan, 14, said: “It’s boosted my confidence a lot. I now find it easier to perform, and I’m more comfortable meeting new people.”

B Sharp music leader and drummer for local dance band ‘Mr Jean’, Matt Hartnell, described the project as 'inclusive and fun'.

He said: "This is a great start to a new project, and we already have such a great mix of young musicians. We anticipate the Bridport sessions to grow in size to match our equivalent project in Lyme where there’s numbers of 45 each week. We will be starting back in September, so get in touch if you would like to join us.”

The next day, Lyme Regis’ more established ‘Hub Jams’ saw a host of young musicians present a wide range of skills in their own end of term performance, treating the audience to a piece which they had produced in B Sharp’s weekly sessions.

Finally, B Sharp unveiled its new venture, with a taster of their ‘Early Years’ work.

Music leaders Jacques Verhaeren and Jon Pogson have been working with Uplyme Pre-school, teaching children how to experiment with sounds, rhythm and voice.

They then shared their new-found music-making talents with friends and family in a small end of term performance.

Pre-school manager Annie Thurgood said: “I would just like to thank B Sharp on behalf of Uplyme pre-school for coming along with your music sessions. We are really grateful for the joy and entertainment your music leaders have brought to the children and staff! It is a breath of fresh air.”

said: "B Sharp is undoubtedly a great place where musical and social confidence and talent is nurtured and seeded. It allows transferable skills to be built, talented musicians and bands to flourish, and offers a great number of young people a window of opportunity in the world of music. Many of these individuals choosing to return to and work with B Sharp, giving something back to their local community."

If you would like B Sharp to come and work with you in your setting or you would like to join any one of their projects as a young musician or take part in their work experience and trainee scheme, go to www.bsharp.uk.com or email franwilliams@bsharp.uk.com.

Written By Harry Bullmore