The future of schools music in Pembrokeshire is facing a serious threat from proposals to axe instrumental lessons in the county's leading musical school.

Tenby's Greenhill School, whose award-winning orchestra is the largest in any school in the UK, is considering making a £59,000 budget saving by not buying music tuition in from Pembrokeshire County Council.

News of the plan has sparked off a huge storm in the school and beyond, with a Facebook group Help Keep the Music in Greenhill gaining over 300 members in its first day and pupils and parents turning out in force for a protest meeting yesterday (Monday) evening.

"This would be ripping the heart out of the school," said Angela Roberts, who chairs Supporters of Greenhill Orchestra (Sogo), which last year alone raised £10,000 to provide extra support  to the school's musical groups. "The reaction is one of absolute horror."

The implications of Greenhill not paying for music tuition would not just affect the 167 pupils involved. It is feared it could call the death knell on the school orchestra and other ensembles, and would mean that members would not be able to play in county, Three Counties and national groups, which would then suffer as a result.

And there are concerns that other schools could then follow suit, leading to the collapse of Pembrokeshire's musical reputation and job losses within the ranks of the peripatetic music teachers.

Private funding - either from parents or fund-raising - could be the only option open to allow the tuition to continue, and Greenhill's headteacher, Chris Noble, has pledged a personal donation to this if it is necessary.

Mr Noble, who is retiring at the end of the summer term, told the Western Telegraph: "I would also be prepared to spend part of the first year of my retirement helping to fund-raise."

He explained that the need of the budget cut has come because a further £271,000 will be required in the next financial year to enable the school to deliver its statutory services. "We have built up a surplus of £108,000, which means we have a £163,000 funding gap to fill," he said. "We have looked for non-statutory expenditure which can be reduced, and instrumental lessons, which are received by 167 of our students, come into that category."

He revealed that the school's working budget was not expected to be finalised until after Easter, and an ultimate decision on the music funding has not yet been made. "We have done a considerable amount of re-jigging our figures, and we will continue doing that," he said. "Music is one of the glories of Greenhill, and the fact that so many parents and pupils feel so strongly about this situation shows how effective the provision is. Let's hope that we can do something about it."

News of the proposal has been met with 'disappointment' by Pembrokeshire County Council, where cabinet member for learning, Councillor Huw George said: "Greenhill is recognised as a centre of excellence for music throughout Wales.

"If this decision is taken, the school will be depriving pupils of opportunities to participate in music at the highest stage, and that is a great shame