Testimonials

Boys Make Noise

Project 21 & Carl McGregor

Workshops and Concert with Catshill Middle School, Bromsgrove.

Carl McGregor and his Project 21 group carried out for the David Morgan Music Trust a “Boys Make Noise” project in Catshill Middle School (a school that had recently been in special measures) in 2007.  It comprised four workshops and culminated in a concert on 13 June with the school’s boys singing group.

The project was most successful at giving the 30+ boys in the group the opportunity to discover just how exciting it is to sing and perform together. Carl McGregor and his musicians were an inspiration to the boys and engaged them in forms of music which were new to them with great success.

The actual concert where numbers rehearsed in the workshops were performed to a capacity audience in Bromsgrove’s new Arts Centre, Artrix, was the greatest of successes.   The boys had learnt to sing musically, in tune and with confidence – it was challenging for them and fun!  There were many leaders from Worcestershire’s music education team there as our guests and they were most impressed at the inspiring results that Project 21 obtained from the boys.

I would endorse with enthusiasm any opportunity that might occur to work with Carl McGregor and his Project 21 musicians.

Jim Page
Chairman
David Morgan Music Trust
80 New Road,
Bromsgrove B60 2LA

Telephone: 01527 8784136

E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Carl McGregor – Musical Director of Project 21

I have known Carl for about 15 years through his family’s involvement with Heath Park Business and Enterprise College (formerly High School).

In this time I have had the pleasure of teaching his younger brothers, as well as working closely with Carl himself.

Carl worked at Heath Park for some time as a part time teacher/instructor of music, at a time when my second in the music department was on a long-term illness.  He worked really well in this situation, teaching classes of 11-14 year olds and putting in a lot of extra time with older, musically talented, students on extra curricular projects.

At that time, he particularly helped with the development of singing within the school, and arranged for soloists and groups of singers to perform in various events in the West Midlands area.  He has very good motivational attributes and can really focus students into developing their talents.

In 1999, Carl had an idea to use the musical talent within our school to create a CD showcasing the talents that we have.  This developed to include past pupils as well as the up and coming newcomers.  Carl planned the whole project, securing funding of £10.000 to ensure top quality recording facilities/production.  He organised all the vocalists and supervised all the recording sessions.  He also used his band, Project 21, as well as some other musicians that he seems able to call on “at the drop of a hat”!  These superb musicians laid down the backings for the tracks, making the whole album sound professional in quality.  The completed CD was “released “in 2000, entitled “Millennium Miracles – a Celebration of 25 years at Heath Park High School” and sold within school and the other contributors.

Project 21 has performed in school on a number of occasions.  Some of these have been concert performances and some have been as part of Christmas Celebrations.  On every occasion they play at an extremely high standard and are very professional in their attitude and approach to working in school.

Carl is a very good organiser, as well as being an excellent musician.  He has many musical skills, specialising in drumming and singing. His friendly disposition makes him easy to work with and very easy to get on with.

Alan Asbridge
Head of Music
Heath Park B&E College
Prestwood Road
Wolverhampton
WV11 1RD

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