Date Posted... Apr 30th 2024
Following an exceptional school concert at the Hall for Cornwall last week, we are thrilled to provide an update on the Music Project.
Planning permission has now been granted for the creation of the School’s new music centre and refurbished multi-use hall, fostering musical participation, excellence, and inclusion within the school and the wider community. Scheduled for completion at the start of 2026, the project will offer state-of-the-art facilities for pupils, the Truro community, and beyond. The project also paves the way for improved pupil wellbeing.
The project aligns with Truro School’s rich musical tradition, which delivers around 40 annual concerts and gigs, an annual Summer Festival, individual music lessons for over 250 pupils, and regular notable multi-show performances of major musicals.
Drawing upon the principles of regenerative design, the architecture will make the most of the existing structures on site by retrofitting the Assembly Hall. Internally, natural materials, excellent levels of daylight and a mixed-mode ventilation strategy will combine to create a positive and successful teaching environment. The proposals have been developed with the future in mind and so enable spaces to be reconfigured for different uses.
Laurence Pinn, Director at Tate + Co, said, “We are delighted to have worked in collaboration with Cornwall Council, Truro School and a brilliant design team to achieve this consent. Whilst the building will provide 21st Century facilities, the design echoes the unique character of the historic core of the school. The project will create a new creative hub, connecting the music department with the reinvented Assembly Hall alongside the departments of Art and Design Technology. A generous front door and atrium will welcome the community.”
“With planning permission now granted we look forward to the next steps in the project development. In a week when we have celebrated our pupils’ performances at the Hall for Cornwall and await the arrival of over 90 pupils from local schools for a music workshop with Cornwall Music Service Trust (CMST) as part of the Cornwall International Male Choral Festival, we are thrilled about the opportunities this project will bring to our pupils and the wider community of Cornwall.”
Our recent Hall for Cornwall Concert showcased the exceptional musical talents of pupils across all year groups, reflecting the vibrant arts culture at Truro School.
With performances ranging from Peter Warlock’s Capriol Suite and Chopin’s Étude op.10 no.3 to hits from Foo Fighters and Abba, featuring pupils from Prep through to Upper Sixth, it was a truly eclectic and triumphant evening.
This week sees the culmination of two years of planning and preparation as Cornwall hosts the International Male Choral festival at 30 venues. Involving 50 Choirs at 40 events it is a huge sharing of music and culture with choirs coming from all over the UK and overseas.
Cornwall Music Service Trust and Truro School have, and continue to, collaborate with Cornwall International Male Choral Festival and are hosting an educational outreach project at Truro School on Thursday 3rd of May. It will see children and young people from state primary and secondary schools, alongside Truro School pupils and students receiving a masterclass from the Svanholm Singers, Sweden’s premiere male choral group.
Pupils and students of Truro School, through involvement in community music groups, will also be performing at Truro Cathedral on Saturday 5th of May in an afternoon celebration of Youth Choral music making. These pupils will be “rubbing shoulders musically” with the internationally renowned Prague Boys Choir and as part of the event will receive feedback by renowned adjudicators including the internationally acclaimed Dr Jakub Martinec.
Work on the project will commence over the next few weeks. On Wednesday, fencing will be erected around the old transport yard in front of the Assembly Hall in readiness for the demolition of the old squash courts and outdoor pursuits office.
The Art and DT areas will be operating as normal, with pupils accessing the buildings via the steps from the Burrell Theatre. Clear guidance will be provided to pupils regarding access during this time. Epworth Court is now open and operating as the new Minibus Parking area, with temporary offices for the Facilities and Transport teams housed there.
A huge thank you to all the teams involved in ensuring a successful planning journey and we look forward to sharing before and after images of the demolition work.
Truro School is part of the Methodist Independent Schools Trust (MIST)
MIST Registered Office: 66 Lincoln’s Inn Fields, London WC2A 3LH
Charity No. 1142794
Company No. 7649422