YOUNG musicians in Bradford are set to breathe new life into two vintage clarinets thanks to a generous donation.

Bradford Council’s music service has been gifted a pair of the woodwind instruments by an Oxford woman who wanted them to return to their Yorkshire roots.

Liz Cairncross contacted Bradford Music Education Hub to offer up the instruments which she explained had belonged to her mother who grew up in Ilkley and was taught to play by a musician in Bradford.

Gratefully taking Liz up on her offer, music staff were thrilled when the two clarinets arrived in the post a few days later, along with a glimpse into their history. Tucked in the package along with the clarinets was a 32-year-old letter from Granny to Isabella.

Granny, who is Liz’s mother, explains in the letter, from 1988, that the clarinets were bought for her when she was a child, by her father who had also arranged lessons for her...“with a very nice Yorkshire man from Bradford, who was the leading /first clarinetist with the Carl Rosa Opera Company”.

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Isabella never took to the clarinet, so they were returned to Granny who then passed them to her daughter, Liz, who then decided they should head back north.

The two instruments, which are a B flat clarinet and an A clarinet in the same case, are being refurbished by Bingley-based woodwind and brass repair company Windstruments before they will be played again by young musicians in the Bradford district.

Mrs Cairncross said: “My mother (Granny) would be so pleased to know that they will be used in this way.

“I remember her playing in our kitchen with the dog sat outside howling away. She passed them on to my niece (Isabella) who never made much progress and passed them to me as I play the flute in a band in Oxford.”

Tony Johnson, Head of Bradford Council’s Music and Arts Service, said: “We are extremely grateful to Liz for her very kind and thoughtful donation. New, young musicians will benefit greatly from her generosity.

“It was also wonderful to see the letter to Isabella from Granny. It gave us a sense of the history of the clarinets and their history with the family and Bradford.”

Councillor Imran Khan, Bradford Council’s portfolio holder for education, employment and skills, said: “It is a lovely gesture to donate the instruments to the young people of Bradford and I want to say a huge thank you to Liz for her thoughtfulness.

“Music education has been proven through countless studies to be incredibly beneficial to young people. It can help build confidence, boost wellbeing and have a positive impact on academic performance. We are fortunate in Bradford to have a dedicated and hardworking music service staff offering a diverse range of musical projects and programmes for the young people of the Bradford district and these instruments will be put to good use by them I have no doubt.”

More than 10,000 children and young people receive regular instrumental or vocal tuition from the council’s Music and Arts Service staff who deliver lessons in more than 80 per cent of schools every year.

The Service also provides out of school music activities for children and young from beginner bands through to flagship ensembles like the Bradford Youth Brass Band, Bradford Youth Wind Orchestra and the Bradford Youth Orchestra as well as rock bands, string and percussion ensembles.