December 2025: Update from BDRS North East Initiative
The following report is from the Centre for Advanced Training (CAT) based in The Glasshouse International Centre for Music in Gateshead. This exciting new opportunity has been made possible thanks to a major donation to BDRS from Michael and Hilary Britton earlier in 2025. To find out more, visit: https://www.bdrs.org.uk/news/major-donation-to-bdrs-launches-new-education-initiative-in-the-north-east
Opening doors for young Bassoonists
Our Centre for Advanced Training (CAT) is based in the Foyle Music Centre, a vibrant hub for music education in The Glasshouse International Centre for Music in Gateshead. CAT is a high-level training programme for young people aged 10-18 with exceptional talent and passion. Spanning Classical through to Popular and Contemporary styles, it’s part of the Department for Education’s Music and Dance Scheme network.
Recently retired Royal Northern Sinfonia’s Stephen Reay offering his wisdom to a CAT student at the bassoon demo.
Every Sunday in term time, students dive into tuition, ensemble work, theory classes and one-to-one guidance. There are chances to collaborate with inspiring visiting artists, such as bassoonist Mathis Stier, saxophonist Jess Gillam or pianist Isata Kanneh-Mason, and perform on stage, building skills and confidence. From pianists to singers and flautists to bassoonists, we welcome all instruments, and the programme aims to give young people a stellar music education no matter their background.
Over half our students rely on bursaries, so support from organisations like The British Double Reed Society is vital. It helps us encourage students to take up the bassoon - an option that might otherwise be too expensive to consider. The funding from BDRS is making a real difference, covering essential repairs to bassoons from our instrument bank so they can be brought back into play, plus providing reeds. They’re also covering an entire term of lessons for up to 4 students.
This support also meant we could offer a demo group session to new bassoon players in November, opening the door for more young people to experience the joy of double reed playing. For many, this will be their first chance to learn on a quality instrument and develop skills that could shape their musical future.
Thanks to the support from the British Double Reed Society, we have been able to give new life to three bassoons that had been languishing in our instrument store. We were also able to invite Stephen Reay and Lawrence O'Donnell (from The Glasshouse’s orchestra, Royal Northern Sinfonia) to come and give a demonstration session to our CAT students. Our new bassoon students will now start an initial course of 10 lessons, and we are very excited to see how they get on.
We couldn't have done this without the support of the BDRS are delighted to be part of their North East Initiative for double reeds.
Marion Craig, Principal Trumpet RNS and Study Leader at our Centre for Advanced Training
This is a brilliant example of how partnership can unlock opportunities and keep music education accessible for everyone. By investing in instruments and tuition, BDRS is helping us nurture talent and grow a vibrant community of double reed players right here in the North East.
