Lord Mayor Cllr Carolyn Parry and Spires Academy music teacher Richard Naylor with pupils on the school's Rock Band project

by Adam Williams

A free recording studio session has been awarded to a school’s Rock Band project.

Year 9 and 10 pupils at Spires Academy were presented with a certificate by Lord Mayor Cllr Carolyn Parry, following a special performance on Thursday lunchtime.

The group, who have been practising since last September under the guidance of music teacher Richard Naylor, will produce a special CD at Sound Technology Recording Studios in Canterbury in June.

Cllr Parry donated the session to the school after hearing about the project from Spires performance leader Robert Palmer.

He said: “Since Mr Naylor joined the school last September, we have been running a proper session with this group of pupils as part of our commitment to performing arts.

“They have already performed concerts in school for parents and in special assemblies and are a real energetic bunch.”

The group performed their own versions of Leonard Cohen’s Hallelulah and a track by metal band Slipknot called Vermillion Part II. Cllr Parry was extremely impressed with the hard work.

She said: “This is such a great opportunity for all involved.

“To have a project like this in school provides people with a great opportunity to develop their talent.”