Our Music, Our Way
Our orchestral programme in Redcar and Cleveland bringing generations together to create and share inspirational and accessible orchestral experiences.
Our Music, Our Way harnesses the power of collective music-making, putting the communities of Redcar and Cleveland at the heart of the music. The programme focuses on increasing the breadth and quality of cultural provision for the community particularly for children and young people. It takes inspiration from the area’s rich heritage and urban, industrial and rural characteristics.
What we wanted to achieve
Co-creation of new music is at the heart of the programme, alongside providing opportunities for young children to experience live music. The programme provides different participant groups with the opportunity to engage in creative work and perform new music with a professional orchestra at celebratory events they contribute to shaping.
Our Music, Our Way also seeks to reach new audiences for orchestral performances and build a repertoire of new music about life in Redcar and Cleveland, bringing local people together to celebrate the joys of music-making in their community.
What we did
In Autumn 2021, we ran a series of consultation events to gauge interest and develop a sense of what the community desired. These informed the development of a pilot programme in 2022-23 that was primarily delivered by Manchester Camerata, delivering creative projects with schools and care homes.
In 2023/24, an ongoing school’s programme was established with Royal Northern Sinfonia (RNS), composer Michael Betteridge and teachers from Tees Valley Music Service (TVMS). The programme is anchored in two secondary schools and engages different primary schools each year. As part of this, young people co-create brand new music to perform with RNS at a concert in their community.
Since 2025, we worked with TVMS to establish legacy activity programmes to bridge the gap between creative projects, which will continue to evolve. These include:
- Additional music delivery with schools
- Access to bursaries for instrumental/vocal tuition
- Including young people’s new songs in TVMS Snappy Sing programmes to engage more young people in music written by their peers
The partnerships established as part of this project are also evolving into a long-term programme to support the growth of musical learning and cultural capital for young people.
Social value impact
In 2025/26, Our Music, Our Way delivered £197,217 of social impact in Redcar & Cleveland with a social return on investment of £3.88 for every £1 invested.
Social value measurement assesses the positive social, economic and wellbeing outcomes generated by a project and estimates their financial value. Find out more here
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The performance was for everyone no matter their background or attainment, they were all on a level playing field which felt inclusive.
~ School teacher
Outcomes
For young people taking part in creative projects, the following changes have been observed:
- Young people built practical creative skills in music composition, instrumental and performance skills, as well as non-cognitive skills through working together as a team, gaining confidence through sharing ideas and communication skills. Agency and ‘youth voice’ were important aspects of the approach to encourage decision-making and engagement, resulting in stronger learning and aspiration outcomes.
- Young people developed an increased awareness and desire to gain experience of creative careers.
- People felt that music and orchestras were something ‘for them’. Feedback demonstrated that the programme delivered a positive and inspiring experience and provided many first-time orchestral experiences.
Since the beginning of the partnership in 2021, the project has produced:
- New Young Producers activity established in 2026, allowing young people to support concert delivery
- Additional music service delivery engaging 104 primary school aged children across an academic year
- 15 students received bursary funded instrumental and vocal lessons
- 15 new pieces of music created by the people of Redcar and Cleveland
- New audiences engaged with 905 people attending orchestral performances
- 764 participants engaged across 122 workshops
- 9 performances delivered alongside 4 Early Years performances
Before doing Our Music Our way, I don’t think I was as confident. I wasn’t as brave at putting my hand up or doing new things. But since doing the project, It’s definitely helped my confidence. I feel a lot more confident now, and it’s made me feel like I can do more things. I’ve been playing the guitar more and would like to try to do more music things, like joining a band or something.
~ Young Participant
Future plans
Our Music, Our Way will continue to evolve in response to the community's need, with the programme including:
- Creative projects with schools that support the development of music provision and instrumental learning.
- Visits to Royal Northern Sinfonia’s home at The Glasshouse International Centre for Music to support insights into creative careers
- Engaging first-time orchestral experiences for children
- Engaging young people in a Young Producers group to drive the development and delivery of Our Music, Our Way
- Health and wellbeing projects and relaxed concerts for those in care settings or with health needs
- A series of culmination events and concerts in the community to reach and develop new audiences for orchestral music
Our Music, Our Way is co-produced by Redcar and Cleveland Council, Tees Valley Music Service and Orchestras Live. We are grateful for the support of our funders, the Woodsmith Foundation and Hays Travel Foundation.