Drumming News :
Coldplay drummer Will Champion has returned to his alma mater, Peter Symonds College in Winchester, to officially open a state-of-the-art music centre named in honour of the college principal, Sara Russell.
The £5.4 million Russell Music Centre, a major investment in creative arts education, boasts modern rehearsal studios, recording spaces, and cutting-edge professional software. Champion, who was born in Hampshire and grew up in nearby Southampton, visited the college during a break from Coldplay’s global tour.
“It’s lovely to be back,” he said. “It’s grown enormously since I was here. At that time, the music provision was good but still quite small. Now they have this wonderful new building, which is full of amazing professional grade equipment, just beautifully designed and perfect for young people.”
Champion spent time with current music students during the centre’s grand opening, discussing their aspirations and exploring the new facilities. The building is designed to give young musicians practical, industry-level experience, positioning them for success in what the college described as an “increasingly competitive field.”
Students were clearly impressed by the upgrade. “It’s amazing,” one student said. “I’ve never seen anything like it.” Another added: “The difference was noticeable coming in here from our last building. It’s just so nice to have all this incredible equipment and an incredible foundation for going towards careers in this in the future.”
Champion also highlighted the broader cultural significance of music education. “It’s not just about what it provides for students in terms of confidence and creativity,” he said. “It’s also about our music culture—it is the envy of the world and it’s something we should be taking advantage of. I think the more that we can embrace it, the better.”
The Russell Music Centre marks a milestone in Peter Symonds College’s commitment to enriching the student experience and nurturing the next generation of musical talent.
This story is an overview of an original story published by BBC News, you can read that article HERE
