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Musical treat for students

Shannon BeattieNorth West Telegraph
B’Tutta members Marc Malliate, Leigh Giles, Cameron Gregory and Graham Hilgendorf.
Camera IconB’Tutta members Marc Malliate, Leigh Giles, Cameron Gregory and Graham Hilgendorf. Credit: Emmy Etie

Primary school students in Port Hedland, Karratha, Tom Price and Paraburdoo are set to be treated to a musical extravaganza by percussion ensembleB’Tutta.

The group is touring the Pilbara as part of the Musica Viva In Schools program, which aims to inspire students and teachers through live music performance.

B’Tutta stars Cameron Gregory, Leigh Giles, David Lockeridge and Marc Malliate, and they are seen as one of Australia’s leading educational percussion ensembles, given their ability to dissolve barriers by melding inspirations as diverse as Brazilian Samba and the Tokyo subway. Gregory said the show’s basic theme was music was for everybody. “It can be performed, enjoyed, thought about and felt at every level,” he said.

“We last did this tour 16 years ago. That was prior to the mining boom, so it’ll be interesting to see how things have changed.”

The program is supported by Rio Tinto, with general manager communities and communications Linda Dawson saying lack of teacher training was a pressing issue affecting the quality and availability of music education.

“We want to help ensure all WA primary schools across our vast State can benefit from this aspect of the curriculum,” she said.

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