News

One of our long-serving players is sadly leaving us. Katie Mackay has played with Bilsdale Silver Band for 10 years, most recently occupying the seat of Principal Cornet.

Katie has strong family connections with the Band, with mother Alison and sister Lucy both playing cornet, and father John playing trombone for more than 30 years!!

Katie attended Prior Pursglove College, where she achieved Grade A in Fine Art, and Grade B for both Music and English Language / Literature A Levels. She has successfully gained a place at the University of York to read Music in 2008.

Before she takes up her place at University, she is taking a "gap year". On 5th January 2008, she travels to the south-east African country Malawi to take up a 7-month teaching placement at a rural primary School.

The Maveya Primary School serves a massive population of the Lujeri tea estate in the beautiful Mulanje area of southern Malawi. The school has 900 pupils with 60 - 80 children in every class; it is very badly resourced, and the help of volunteers is badly needed and much-appreciated. Katie expects to teach a wide range of subjects across the curriculum, and plans to set up a recorder group - with a beautiful little set of instruments kindly donated by a family friend.

"This experience is certainly going to be very demanding, but I am so looking forward to being out there, doing something so worthwhile!", said Katie.

You can also get more information on Gazette Live and The Northern Echo.

The Band wishes you every success, Katie, and looks forward to your return!