Lucy McMorris (9) and Iona O’Connor (8) who have become the first students at St Columb's School of Music to be awarded the Apex Harp Bursary. Included are Nicky Morton, music school founder, Caitlin Gallagher, harp tutor, Mark Doherty, Apex Housing Officer, Donna Matthewson, Apex Director of Housing and Louis Fields, music school founder.Local girls awarded Apex Harp Bursary
Two young girls from County Derry~Londonderry have become the first students at St Columb’s School of Music to be awarded the Apex Housing Association’s Harp Bursary.
Lucy McMorris (9) from Derry~Londonderry and Iona O’Connor (8) from Dungiven have already started their harp lessons which will continue for one academic year at St Columb’s School of Music in Derry~Londonderry.
Joanne McMorris, whose daughter Lucy was awarded the bursary, commented:
Lucy is enjoying her harp lessons so much. Her tutor said she is such a keen and pleasant pupil and is picking it up so quickly. I cannot thank Apex enough for giving her this fantastic opportunity.
Donna Matthewson, Apex Director of Housing, commented:
It’s great to hear that these two young girls are already making great strides in playing the harp as a result of our bursary. The programme is a means to kick start a student’s career in music, giving them the resources and tuition required for them to take up a musical instrument, and we hope they will continue to learn music after their bursary ends.
St Columb’s School of Music was established in 2019 by Nicky Morton and Louis Fields. The school is home to 230 students who learn piano, organ, violin, viola, cello, flute, clarinet, saxophone, guitar, singing, harp and drums from its talented tutors.
One of the school’s founders, Nicky Morton, said:
It is our strong belief that music is for all – everyone can play a musical instrument. We are most thankful to Apex for sponsoring this bursary at the school. Bursaries are designed to provide an opportunity to students, who have a genuine interest in music, but for various reasons, may not be able to afford the price of a year’s worth of music lessons.
For more information about St Columb’s School of Music, visit their website:
