It can be hard to put into words sometimes what a community focused orchestral approach means in practice and what it feels like to take part in or experience as an audience member.

Each time I attend a project culmination in Withernsea for our Classically Yours programme in the East Riding of Yorkshire, I’m reminded of the joy, sense of pride and appreciation that the community has for bringing orchestral work to their town.

Building the programme with the community
Over a number of years we’ve been developing our Classically Yours programme, testing different approaches and building on what we’ve found works. Following the retirements of Jan Ford and June Mitchell who devised Classically Yours, Nicola Dixon at East Riding Council and I have been shaping a new post-pandemic phase. It’s been energising to get back to delivering a larger programme of activity this year.

In Bridlington, we’ve been working with The Hallé to offer their relaxed concerts for those with dementia and health conditions for the first time. The shorter informal concert format presents a range of pieces alongside opportunities for audience participation and the chance to talk with the musicians and ask questions about their work and the music. Although audiences were modest, feedback from those that attended was overwhelmingly positive.

New ideas and partnerships for 2023
In preparation for our Paddington’s First Concert family offer during the summer holidays, Sinfonia Viva have been working with East Riding Music Hub to provide a Big Sing resource pack for the key song from the show, which schools across East Riding are learning and will perform as part of the Hub’s Big Sing events this term. The arts team will also be delivering preparatory audience engagement work through the library service too.

Our model in Withernsea remains broadly similar – the change has been the deepening of relationships and trust with our key partners within the community. Long term partnership building is our key driver, each time building on the last project, challenging ourselves to make improvements and move the work forward.

Starting off as participant groups, Withernsea High School and Ladies Choir have developed close ties with Manchester Camerata over the years. Building our creative project work stems from the conversations we have with them, thinking about musically what they would like to explore and what they would like to contribute artistically to the final performance. After setting the theme, this year Music and the Movies, we use this as the creative springboard for parallel creative projects, one with young people and one with care settings. Each project co-creates their own new piece of music for the concert programme and each year this reaches new people with Classically Yours as participants and audiences.

This year, we wanted to build more links with one of the nearest towns, Hornsea, to bring a different range of participant groups into the programme and increase the reach of Classically Yours along the East Yorkshire coast. Hornsea Speech and Language College partnered with Withernsea High School and Hornsea Choir joined Withernsea Ladies Choir for the first time. Working in a larger project provided space for choir conductors and music teachers alike to meet and work together creatively, an important outcome that helps to support that vital local network of musicians who sustain and deliver musical activity year round. Members of the choirs supported Camerata musicians with the workshop delivery in care homes before bringing to life the words and music in the performance, alongside those from care settings who are able to participate as performers.

Each participant group are both performers and audience, they give and appreciate each other’s musical contributions and enjoy the chance to appreciate Manchester Camerata’s performances. The programme is seamlessly pulled together by Manchester Camerata, weaving the community pieces and orchestral repertoire into an effective artistic arc which is presented with warmth and humour by conductor and musicians.

From the young musicians and dancers, to members of the choirs and people from care settings, some with disabilities, this intergenerational concert model brings a wide range of people from the community together, visibly demonstrating that people from all walks of life can make and enjoy brilliant orchestral music together. I’m looking forward to next year already!