Sony Music donates thousands of pounds of instruments, equipment and workshops to Harris Academy Greenwich
Harris Academy Greenwich has become the first school in the UK to be awarded an international music grant by Sony Music and the Fender Play Foundation.
The package includes thousands of pounds worth of instruments, music equipment and workshops with Fender. Harris Academy Greenwich was selected following their students’ win at the Battle of the Bands competition run by music education charity Restore the Music, where Sony Music A&R Preye Crooks was part of the judging panel.
To celebrate the win, Sony Music arranged for the singer and songwriter Cat Burns to spend a morning with students and staff at Harris Academy Greenwich. She listened to them perform their own music and covers from a range of different genres, then answered their questions about her career including her evolution from busking on the Southbank to achieving the biggest debut hit in 2022 and top single by a female artist with her song ‘Go’.
Jack Docherty, Head of School at Harris Academy Greenwich, said:
“The students were amazed to be asked by Sony Music to perform in front of Cat Burns, an artist they love and respect, and we are grateful to her for taking the time out to visit our academy so close to her performance at the BRITS.
“Music is a huge part of our academy, and we are forever grateful to the charity Restore the Music, whose support over the past eight years has helped make this happen. We are thrilled with this further show of support from Sony Music – their generosity, with the Fender Play Foundation, will secure an incredible level of music provision for our students.”
Polly Moore, chief executive of Restore the Music UK, said:
“We are thrilled to be a part of the Beyond the Instrument initiative and stand alongside partners Sony Music and Fender Play Foundation to deliver a well-resourced music programme, which builds on the impact of a RTM Grant award. External investment in school-centered music provision is sorely needed and this initiative is a perfect collaboration of music partners aligning to deliver one single vision: more music for more kids.”
PHOTO CREDIT: NICI EBERL