Orchestras Live - far and wide (July 2011)

Orchestras Live works across England with local authorities, orchestras and other partners to deliver dynamic and artistically adventurous projects with lasting legacies. This regular update gives a snapshot of some of the work we are currently involved with.

In North West Leicestershire… year 4 of the relationship with sinfonia ViVA sees further work with primary and secondary school groups in the north of the district centred on Ashby de la Zouch and Castle Donnington. The project is supported by the National Forest, Rolls Royce funding via ViVA and Leicestershire County Council. ‘Footsteps in the Forest’ runs from 12 September – 11 October 2011, with a concert at Ivanhoe College, Ashby de la Zouch on 11 October at 7pm.

In Bolsover… the 'Heritage Back to the Future' project culminated in two concerts by the Hallé (at a strength of 50 players) at the new Heritage High School in Clowne. Both concerts involved local young and older people performing a new film and live soundtrack created throughout a long-term project with The Mighty Creatives and the Creative Forum. The event was surrounded by informal performances by school students and local music groups, as well as large sculptures created by a local artist. More than 500 people took part as performers, audiences and event managers. The response was extremely positive and delivered an inspirational first time live orchestral experience for a capacity audience.

In King’s Lynn… year 2 of the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment residency concluded with two interactive concerts at the Corn Exchange, the first attended by young people from local schools, followed by an early evening family concert. Entitled 'The Story of Mr John', the concerts were based on Mozart’s Don Giovanni and involved young people from Wider Opportunities groups singing and performing on stage with the OAE. Both concerts were well attended and delivered an inspirational first time live experience for the audiences.

In Harlow… City of London Sinfonia will give two Lullaby Concerts during Musical Minds, an Early Years project funded by Youth Music, with additional support from Orchestras Live, Essex County Council and Harlow District Council. This is a repeat of the animal-themed programme held in Suffolk last autumn and takes place at Meadows Children’s Centre, Harlow on 26 July at 11am & 2pm.

In Suffolk… the next Early Years consortium project will involve workshops, CPD events and Lullaby Concerts in four areas. A new element is the commissioning of music resource boxes for 16 nursery settings to increase the impact and sustainability of music activity through the project. The theme of this year’s project is Magic, and in addition to suitable orchestral repertoire and audience participation the Lullaby Concerts will include a young professional magician. The project is a co-production between Orchestras Live and 6 local authorities. Concerts will take place in Bury St Edmunds on 25 October, Sudbury on 26 October, Halesworth on 27 October and Thurston on 28 October. A related music dimension has been added to Magical Marshes, an outdoor family festival at Aldeburgh, when Lullaby presenter Claire Bloor and a City of London Sinfonia brass trio will hold workshops and a performance based on the magic theme.

In St Albans… the culmination of a training project for Apprentice Arts and Music Leaders will see a shared performance with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra at The Alban Arena on 25 July, including the presentation of devised work by local community groups facilitated by the apprentices and overall project leader Jason Rowland.

In Corby… a partnership with Big About Music, Northamptonshire Music Service and the recently opened Core at Corby Cube delivered a project using urban music as a focus and involving young people from a wide social spectrum. The work culminated in a large-scale performance including members of the RPO at Corby Cube during the Cultural Olympiad weekend on 22 July.

In Dacorum… a Royal Philharmonic Orchestra project led by Tim Steiner working with young musicians in the Dacorum Youth Orchestra and other ensembles culminated in an outdoor a performance during the Box Moor Festival on 10 July. As well as performing, the young participants helped to stage manage the event. Orchestras Live supported the project in partnership with Herts Music Service.

In Ashford… a new partnership with Ashford Borough Council opens with a concert by Aurora Orchestra at the new St Mary’s Arts Centre on 1 October with Ashford-based composer Matthew King’s new work, Velocity, performed by local jazz big band and cello group and Aurora and a performance by a local primary school of work created by John Barber as part of a mini-residency with Gershwin’s American In Paris forming the centre-piece of the programme.

In Charnwood Borough, Leicestershire… a new residency relationship with Orchestra of the Swan and Loughborough Town Hall will feature four concerts in the opening season until May 2012. Education work includes masterclasses at Loughborough Endowed Schools and a continuation of the relationship with Shepshed schools initiated by Orchestras Live last year. The opening concert takes place on 17 October.

In Chelmsford… during the 2011/12 M&G concert series, we are again working with Essex On Tour to support a series of chamber recitals hosted by voluntary promoters, linked to a subsequent City of London Sinfonia concert at the Civic Theatre, Chelmsford on 20 November. This will build on a similar audience development initiative last year, with the aim of increasing the number of new people attending the orchestral concert as a result of experiencing a recital.