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Goole Creates

Our North team were in Goole for the first year of Goole Creates – a new project in partnership with East Riding Music Hub, The Hallé Orchestra, and young people from Goole Academy and Riverside Special School.

This year, the project established DeltaSide, an inclusive youth ensemble made up of local secondary school pupils. In workshops led by Hallé musicians Jonathan and Chris, the young people created original music, drawing inspiration from prehistoric Goole and a heartfelt tribute to their teachers.

Our new Community Impact Coordinator for the North, Claire Henderson, shared her reflections from the Downtown in Goole concert:

“It was amazing to see it all come together! With moments of magic from Chris and Jonathan’s direction to the confident singers and pupils from Riverside taking front and centre stage for spoken word and song verse. Each note from all the young people filled the room with such joy!”

For many of the young people, this was their first time performing, trying out new instruments and being on stage with a professional orchestra. We opened the doors to the public, families and supporters to hear the new ensemble concert for the first time. One audience member said:

"Reminds me that music can touch the soul and free the mind. We should have more live music in our lives. Seeing the young children enjoying classical music in such a natural and raw way overwhelmed me."

ENERGY

ENERGY, an orchestral performance devised by Sinfonia Viva and composer James Redwood, brought an uplifting end-of-term experience to Lowestoft for a lively culmination concert.

The performance featured original songs written and performed by two local schools, exploring the show’s central theme of energy in imaginative ways.

The Battery, a vibrant venue on the High Street run by First Light Festival, hosted the performance. Its lively acoustic and community atmosphere made it the perfect setting for the children’s enthusiastic singing.

This project was delivered in partnership with Norfolk and Suffolk Music Hub and marks another successful collaboration with Orchestras Live in the East. ENERGY has previously been brought to life in the North and the Midlands, a testament to its wide-reaching impact and joyful engagement with young people across the country.

Musical Journeys

Musical Journeys is a legacy programme that has grown from our ongoing partnership with Britten Sinfonia in Mid Suffolk.

Project managed by Cohere Arts CIC, the initiative brings high-quality, participatory music experiences to older adults in the community.

Over the course of seven sessions, a team of Suffolk-based, classically trained musicians have worked across three community settings and a care setting. Participants, a mix of returning and new, have come together to listen to live music, learn songs, make music, and share stories in a welcoming, creative environment.

The project culminated in a celebratory sharing event at the end of July at the John Peel Centre for Performing Arts in Stowmarket.