Coventry School of Music

St John the Baptist. The School of Music was formerly St John's school.

My dad was in a number of bands in the area. I had such a shock when I found this picture of him with Jack Major on the left. My dad is seated second on the left in front of Jack. He was also in the local Police Marching Band as my sister remembers, as he had to get a Police uniform made for him because he was not in the Police. Before this, he was in an RAF Band during the war. RIP, Dad. x x x P.S - A Mr. Brian Llewellyn was my music teacher at Barker Butts when it was the annex for Coundon Court. I was in the last year it was the annex before it shut. I cannot remember him going to Coundon.

I sang with the Coventry Schools' Choir in the 1970s under the inspirational musical direction of Alan Biddle. You had to pass an audition to join. I was at Earlsdon Junior Girls' School where we listened to and sang with the BBC Schools' broadcast 'Singing Together'. Our music teacher was Irene Bliss and she instilled a love of singing that's lasted a lifetime - and encouraged me to audition for the Coventry Schools' Choir, which in those days rehearsed in Percy Street. We had an exchange trip to Germany where we sang with the Jugendsingkreis, which was an amazing experience for a young girl. Later I joined the Coventry Youth Operetta which was run by Joan Betts, rehearsed at My old school - Earlsdon- and performed an annual production at the Butts theatre. I have sung in various choirs ever since. There was also a recorder group and a schools' orchestra at Percy Street, both of which I performed in. Again, I seem to remember auditions for both. My violin teacher at Earlsdon was Mr Moriarty.

Hi, my brother used to play in the corp of drums, I think I might have a couple of old black and white photos do you think anyone would be interested? David

Hi David, forum members are always interested in seeing photos! Feel free to share any you may have

I was a band member playing cavalry trumpet and also played base drum, we met on Sunday at a school near London Road and practiced marching at Little Park Street police car park. I'm trying to think back 60 years. Just thought there may be a photo I could add to my grandkids' history book.

Yes I remember it well, I was in the youth orchestra for 3 yrs playing the cello, we always rehearsed there, maybe the brass section used somewhere else.

Going through the vinyl records we still have I came across "The band of the Coventry School of Music" recorded in 1976. Here is a picture from the reverse of the sleeve with names. Anyone on there ?

I played in the corps of drums too, it was way back 1952 onwards. I remember the regular trip to the Aston Villa ground once for a yearly contest, and a 6 weeks Birthday Show at the Hippodrome with stars like Diana Dors, Beverley Sisters, Jimmy Jewel and Ben Warriss, Semprini and Charlie Cairoli and Paul. Some of you might remember it. Jack and Bob Major did the city proud, kept many a kid off the street and taught them music.

My cousin Mark Howarth (Bass Trombone)

What a find!! My husband and I were members of the band until 1971, so know quite a few of the people in the photo. However it is a surprise to see who isn't there as well. My husband played B flat bass and I played percussion. He was first taught trumpet by Len Pepper, who visited local schools and played in the first ever band group who met at Caludon Castle School. Some of the older lads were young apprentices from the Jaguar Band, but Len's band was classified as a youth band. Their first engagement was at the National Savings Annual Dinner played at the Police Assembly Hall in New Union St. They played the March from Scipio and the March from Alsace. I joined in 1963 when percussion was allowed for the first time in 4th division competitions. I was having lessons at the School of Music and my teacher played in the Coventry Theatre pit orchestra with Len, so we were encouraged to join! Many years later after spending every summer weekend either playing in various parks around the West Midlands or at competitions we decided to leave. We left in November 1971 just after the band had qualified to play in the championship section - it was a bit like football, you had to win a national competition to go up, but unlike football now the championship was the premiership for bands. We were both approaching final exams with our marriage planned for March 1972 so something had to go and unfortunately it was the band.

Looking up my old school Coundon Court, I found a post from Baz on this thread. Mr. Brian Llewellyn did come to Coundon Court. He played viola, taught German and drove (if you can use that word in this context) a Honda 50 moped. He was the person who suggested I learn percussion when the people who were in the school orchestra were preparing to leave school. Regards, Little Nut

As I said on a previous post, I was originally talking about a choir. I had no knowledge of a band or any such thing. We met 1 evening a week at what I presume was a school. I am sure that it was in the area of the Rolls Royce works at Parkside. Definitely not off the Holyhead Road. I am talking about 1957/8. We sang at the Technical College, also the Hippodrome on one occasion. My memory would recall that most members were about my age, 13/14 ish. So it seems that no-one on here has any recollection of a choir. Studying the map, I reckon that it could have been Quinton Road or Mile Lane.