Hosted by Springwood High School, the West Norfolk Wind Orchestra (WNWO) performance was free of charge, with those attending invited to make a donation to charity.

“A Family Christmas Concert took place in the Drama Studio at Springwood and was attended by around 120 audience members,” said our Director of Music Robin Norman, who is the founder of the WNWO.

“The concert was free to attend, with a retiring collection in aid of the Night Shelter in King’s Lynn – we raised over £220 for them.”

Mr Norman is conductor of the orchestra, while WNWO musicians also include members of staff from our school and others across the West Norfolk Academies Trust, of which we are a member.

“WNWO was formed by myself to meet the needs of the local musical community,” he explained. “It is the first community group under a Community Music Initiative, and has grown from 20 musicians to over 40 in the past two years.

“I conduct the group, but we do also have other staff members from across the Trust who play instruments and are involved. This includes staff from Springwood and West Lynn Primary, as well as many of our peripatetic tutors.”

WNWO concerts take place each term at Springwood, and this one had an especially celebratory feel in the run up to the holidays.

“All the pieces performed were either Christmas- or family-orientated, so everything was suitable for children,” continued Mr Norman. “The highlights were definitely ‘The Sorcerer’s Apprentice’ (as used in Disney Fantasia with Mickey Mouse as the apprentice), and ‘Peter and the Wolf’.

“Our next performance is on Sunday 29 March, titled ‘Spectacular Classics’, where we will be performing the epic ‘Pictures at an Exhibition’, as well as other classical favourites.”

“Springwood is really proud to work with our local community on a number of different projects,” he added. “Our Community Music Initiative is there to work with local musicians and to bridge the gaps from the fantastic work being undertaken by organisations such as the West Norfolk Music centre, and higher-level organisations such as the Norfolk Symphony Orchestra.

“The Wind Orchestra is the first group in this, but we will be starting an orchestra in the same vein to help support the musicians in the area. The second group, the West Norfolk Pops Orchestra, will be starting rehearsals in 2026, and we welcome interest in being involved from String, Brass, Woodwind, or Percussion players who are Grade 5 standard or above.”