Ballymena builders, the Patton Group, Belfast's Grosvenor Grammar School and the Ulster Orchestra have teamed up for a creative music project to mark Patton Group's recently completed new building project at the east Belfast school.

Foundation was a music composition project made possible by the Arts & Business Reach investment programme.

The Ulster Orchestra's Associate Composer, Ian Wilson, and musicians facilitated music workshops at Grosvenor for eight AS music students and representatives from Patton Group in the new state-of-the-art music department.

The project's aim was to encourage the participants to look at the theme of New Beginnings and compose a two-minute piece of music in celebration of the recently completed new build.

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Three of the compositions were performed for 120 guests at a reception prior to the Patton-sponsored Ulster Orchestra New Year Viennese Concert in the Belfast Waterfront on Friday 7 January. The pieces were: Hopes by Catherine McGivern; Passage for New Life by Michael Currie; and A New Day by Lynsey Lappin.

"Patton Group's partnership with the Ulster Orchestra is a major element of our Corporate Social Responsibility Strategy which encourages the support of key organisations across a range of activities, such as arts, charity and sports," said Alan Stewart, Group Marketing Manager at Patton Group.

"Having a close association with a leading arts provider also has a positive impact on our employees and creates a sense of pride and achievement internally."

Robin McLoughlin, Head Teacher at Grosvenor Grammar School said: "The Foundation project has been a fantastic experience for our music students - we are immensely proud of their achievements inspired by the move into our new state-of the art school building."

(BMcC/GK)