About the TSDMC
What we do
Music Centre members enjoy playing their instruments together, and improving their musical skills. Orchestras and bands are led by experienced musicians and there are opportunities to play in concerts and weekly rehearsals. There are groups for players of all standards and ages, particularly under 25’s.
The Music Centre Committee is responsible for the Music Centre and its activities. We:
- are the governing body for the Torbay and South Devon Music Centre;
- are the trustees of the registered charity;
- meet regularly to set policies and guide the management of the Music Centre;
- raise most of the money needed to run the Music Centre;
- provide practical assistance at weekly meetings and concerts.
Our Annual Report for the year ending April 2022 is available here.
The Committee meets regularly at the Church House Inn, Marldon.
Ensembles
Fast Forward
An instrumental group for strings, wind and recorders at beginner level, directed at those who have received a term’s wider opportunities sessions at school.
Instruments:
any instrument: guitars, strings, recorders, flutes, clarinets, trumpets, etc.
Grades:
intended for beginners, up to grade 1.
Directed by:
Tom Deam BA(Hons)PGCE DipABRSM
Tom Deam has been playing the Violin since the age of six. He gained an honours degree in Music at Dartington College of Arts followed by a PGCE in Secondary Music at Rolle College. As a performer, he has played in a variety of ensembles including string quartets, orchestras, bands and duos. As an educator, he started out as a secondary school music teacher, but for the last twenty years he has specialised in teaching the violin and leading ensembles. He plays and teaches music of many styles including classical, Irish traditional, klezma and jazz. In addition to his teaching work, Tom is also a Music Development Lead for Devon Music Education Hub.
Email: tomdeam@hotmail.com
Tel: 07908 104410
Single Reed Ensemble
The Reed Ensemble uses all sizes of clarinets from soprano to contra-bass, and all sizes of saxophones. The larger instruments are provided by the Music Centre (the bass clarinet is called ‘Winston’ and the contra-bass is called ‘Connie’). We also have a baritone saxophone.
The repertoire is a wide range of classical, jazz and light music, specially arranged for these instruments by Marina and others.
The Ensemble plays in Music Centre concerts and often gives performances at other concerts and events.
Instruments:
clarinets of all sizes: E♭, B♭, alto, bass, contra-bass; saxophones.
Grades:
3 or over. Previous experience with the larger instruments is not necessary.
Directed by:
Marina Kummer. Marina has taught clarinet, flute and other wind instruments in Devon for many years. She is a graduate of Dartington College of Arts, where she studied with David Rix and Roger Fallows. She is music librarian at the Dartington International Summer School
Youth Strings
The Youth Strings is a more advanced string orchestra, giving more experienced players the opportunity to play standard reportoire without modification.
Instruments:
violin, viola, cello, double bass. Grades: 5 to 8. This group is suitable for players with more experience.
Directed by:
Goska Kosmaczewska BA (Hons) Music and Arts Management
Gośka began her musical journey as a violinist and pianist in a Specialist Music School in Krakow, Poland. She trained as a professional musician in Krakow (Poland), Vienna (Austria) and Dartington College of Arts (Plymouth University) where she completed her Degree with Honours in Music and Arts Management in 2000.
Goska is very experienced music teacher and performer in Devon, Cornwall and Somerset with chamber ensembles and orchestras. She specialises in classical music but also plays in theatre musicals and traditional music.
Brass Ensemble
The Brass Ensemble is suitable for beginners and less experienced brass players. A wide variety of music is played with parts for all brass instruments.
Instruments:
All brass instruments: trumpet, cornet, trombone, baritone horn, French horn, tuba.
Grades:
No grades and higher. Suitable for beginners and experienced brass players.
Directed by:
Hannah Spooner BMus(hons) GradRNCM PGCE (sec music)
Hannah was educated at Torquay Grammar School for Girls’ and then went to study at the Royal Northern College of Music where she studied in the school of Academic Studies with lessons on both trumpet and piano. She got to play with all sorts of ensembles and was a regular member of the College Brass Band which led her to play with some of the top names and Bands in the country. She also got to work with some of the best brass musicians in the world.
Hannah was a secondary music teacher for 12 years and Head of Music at St Cuthbert Mayne School in Torquay for 10 years but is now a freelance musician and teacher. Hannah is Musical Director of the Riviera Concert Brass Band and is also Musical Director of the Torbay Police and Community Choir. She plays trumpet for ensembles and shows around the Southwest and accompanies exams and various other groups. Her ‘claim to fame’ was accompanying the flautist James Galway.
Concert Orchestra
Concert Orchestra is for players who have reached grade 1 standard. Music is arranged to suit individual standards. This orchestra provides a good introduction to playing in a group. The emphasis is on developing technique and expanding repertoire to increase players’ confidence .
Instruments:
violin, viola, cello, double bass, flute, clarinet, oboe, bassoon, saxophone and brass instruments Grades: suitable for beginners and moderately experienced players of grades 1 and above.
Directed by:
Helen Wills. Helen teaches cello and piano, and uses the Suzuki method combined with traditional teaching. Some of her pupils have become professional musicians in their own right. She is a talented arranger.
Youth Orchestra
The Youth Orchestra is suitable for more advanced players, and gives strings, wind and brass an opportunity to play together.
Instruments:
all orchestral instruments.
Grades:
3 to 8. This group is suitable for players with more experience.
Directed by:
Moira Devonport. Moira is a double bass player and has extensive experience teaching music in schools and leading youth orchestras.
Percussion Samba Ensemble
The Percussion Ensemble has access to a wide range of tuned and untuned percussion belonging to the music centre. They play as an ensemble and join in with the other bands and orchestras to learn the craft of the percussionist. Previous members of the ensemble are now professional percussionists, teachers and examiners.
Instruments:
All orchestral percussion instruments including bass drum, side drum, cymbals, drum kit, tuned percussion (xylophone, glockenspiel, etc.) and timpani.
Grades:
0 to 8. This group is suitable for players of all standards.
Directed by:
Colin Bellworthy. Colin has an enormous reputation as a performer and teacher both in the South West and nationally. We are very lucky to have a musician of his standing here in Torbay and South Devon.
Flute Choir
The Flute Choir gives flautists the opportunity to play rare and valuable bass and alto flutes, and encourages the playing of the piccolo. Flute choirs have some beautiful music written and arranged for them.
Instruments:
piccolo, flute, alto flute, bass flute.
Grades:
suitable for moderately experienced and advanced flute players, grades 3 or more.
Directed by:
Ruth Molins, BAJ (hons), DipABRSM
Ruth Molins has been a music educator for over 20 years – her first music job at age 17 being the director of East Devon Youth Flute Choir! She studied music at Cardiff University and flute with some of the UK’s most prominent flautists and has since created a wonderful career as a teacher, performer and composer. Most of her current performing work is as one half of Duo Tutti, with pianist Alex Wilson, giving concerts and workshops all over the Southwest, and their recent album release ‘Dances and Dreams’ is available from the Duo Tutti website.
Getting 2 where we meet
Weekly Friday meetings are held in Torquay Boys’ Grammar School, Shiphay Manor Dr, Torquay, Devon, TQ2 7EL. There is a limited amount of parking. If you are new to the Music Centre, please come first to the information desk in the school hall.
Torbay and South Devon Music Centre are held in Torquay Boys’ Grammar School. schools are either side of Shiphay Manor Drive, which is off Shiphay Lane, Torquay. There is a car park on the left just after you leave Shiphay Lane.
The information desk is in the hall of the boys’ school, on the right hand side of the road about 100 yards from the car park. If you have not visited the Music Centre before, please come here first to make yourself known and find out where the ensembles meet.
Concerts Information
We have a concert at the end of each school term. All students (from Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday sessions) are able to take part in public performances of the works they have rehearsed with their ensembles. Please put these dates in your diary and look out for details of rehearsal times and other arrangements in the newsletter and the news for members page on this website.
Autumn 2026: Torquay Boys Grammar School Centenary Hall 7pm Friday 2nd December – Rehearsals from 4:30-6:30pm in hall and in usual classrooms
Spring 2026: Torquay Boys Grammar School Centenary Hall 7pm Friday 22nd March – Rehearsals 4.30-6.30)
Summer 2026: Torquay Boys Grammar School, Outside the Manor House on the Terrace or in Centenary Hall 6:30pm Friday 5 th July – Rehearsals 4.30–6.30
Times and Ensembles
| 4.30–5.30 | Grades | Director |
|---|---|---|
| Brass Ensemble: All brass instruments | 0+ | Hannah Spooner |
| Concert Orchestra: All orchestral instruments | 1+ | Helen Wills |
| Reed Ensemble: Clarinets/Saxophones | 3+ | Marina Kummer |
| Flute Choir | 3+ | Claire Hindle |
| Percussion Ensemble | 0 | Colin Bellworthy |
| Youth Strings: Violin/Viola/Cello/Double Bass | 4+ | Goska Kosmaczewska |
| Fast Forward: All beginner musicians | 0-1 | Tom Deam |
| 4.30–5.30 | break and tuck shop |
|---|
| 5.45–6.45 | Grades | Director |
|---|---|---|
| Percussion | 1–8 | Colin Bellworthy |
| Youth Orchestra | 3–8 | Moira Devonport |
There are more details under “Ensembles” on this page, their directors and which instruments and types of player each one is suitable for.
Residentials/Musical Experiences
Residential weekends/Music Experiences provide a welcome and valuable opportunity for members to spend time with like-minded friends and to focus on their playing for extended periods. They are also a forum in which young musicians can learn from, and interact with, professional players in an informal environment.
Friends of TSDMC
What we do
The trustees of the Torbay & South Devon Music Centre are responsible for the music centre and its activities. We:
– are the governing body for the Torbay and South Devon Music Centre;
– are the trustees of the registered charity;
– meet regularly to set policies and guide the management of the Music Centre;
– raise most of the money needed to run the Music Centre;
– provide practical assistance at weekly meetings and concerts.
Who we are
The Music Centre is led by a committee which forms the governing body and the trustees of the charity. Other members provide practical support. The committee members are:
Chairman – Lisa Sedgeman
Treasurer – Martin Hill
Secretary – Anne Fairey
Practical assistance
As well as raising most of the money needed to run the Music Centre, the committee provide essential practical assistance at weekly meetings and concerts.
Some examples of the help provided are:
– selling tickets, programmes and refreshments at concerts
– stage management
– running raffles
– administration
We are very grateful to all our friends who make Music Centre possible by their help and support.
Torbay and South Devon Music Centre is supported by:
