Voices of Bolsover: A musical journey from past to future
This project is a community-focused series of mini-concerts and workshops, co-produced with Music in the Round.
Over the course of 2024, we worked with our partners in Bolsover District to work with local people of all ages and use creative music-making to explore the past, present and future of former mining communities in villages of the “Cultural Corridor”.
What we wanted to achieve
The village of Doe Lea is the site of a sculpture inspired by the area's landscape and rich mining heritage. This sculpture, named ‘The Dancing Flowers of Doe Lea’ became the starting point for the project.
We wanted to engage with local stories and aspirations by thinking of the past and looking to the future of these villages today.
With our partners, we worked to increase access to orchestral music and build on the local community's pride. The project also aimed to allow young people to use music as a creative voice and to straighten intergenerational dialogue across different groups using poetry and music composition as vessels of creativity and storytelling.
Working with Orchestras Live has been transformative for pupils at Bramley Vale. To be able to work alongside musicians who engage and inspire has changed pupils view of music.
The immersive nature of the programme and the naturalness of the interactions has made a life-long impact on the children and the ripple effect has been seen in families and the wider community.
Bramley Vale School has reassessed the importance of music within our curriculum as a result of the positive impact of working with Orchestras Live.
Rob Rumsby, Head Teacher, Bramley Vale School
What we did
In 2024 we went to Bolsover on the edge of the Peak District, to continue creative conversations that began in 2022 in Doe Lea. We worked with new and existing partners to celebrate the power of community through joyful and collaborative music-making in a year-long programme across the Cultural Corridor – a number of adjacent villages in the District.
In February 2024, we were joined by the Consone Quartet, choir leader Elinor Moran and music leader Andy J Smith at the Doe Lea Centre, Glapwell Centre and Bramley Vale Primary School, focused on mini-concerts with co-composition and singing together. The sessions led to the formation of a new community choir for Glapwell.
In May 2024, we continued to work in Doe Lea and expanded provision to New Houghton Community Hub and New Houghton Community Centre with the Bridge Ensemble. We spent three days exploring music as a consultative tool to engage with community groups over the May half-term.
In November 2024 we returned and Andy worked with writer Lynn Ludditt, two adult writing groups and pupils from Palterton, Bramley Vale and Duckmanton Primary Schools, exploring their perceptions, hope and dreams for their villages and communities through poetry and co-composed music. The culmination concert on 27th November brought everyone together in a celebration of their fantastic work!
The sessions involved inter-generational story-telling for all people of all ages. For many, this was the first time they had sung or played an instrument as part of a group. For some, it was a chance for them to share their musical prowess!
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It was excellent, good and magical. I enjoyed every little bit of it.
Bramley Vale School student
Outcomes
The project demonstrated the significant impact orchestral music can have in strengthening community connections and broadening access to creative expression.
Across Doe Lea, Glapwell, New Houghton, and neighbouring villages, the multi-faceted approach enabled residents of all ages to take part in workshops, mini-concerts, and collaborative music-making.
- Co-composition and singing activities led to the creation of a new community choir in Glapwell, providing a sustainable platform and legacy project.
- Interactive performances at local hubs brought children, young people, and older adults together, many experiencing group music-making for the first time, building confidence and encouraging dialogue through joyful intergenerational exchange.
- The project included adult writing groups and pupils from three primary schools, exploring community hopes and identities through poetry and music.
This bottom-up approach to music-making gave participants a sense of achievement, showcasing their work alongside a professional orchestra and reinforcing the role of inclusive arts in building community pride and cohesion.
Read the Bolsover District Cultural Corridor Impact Report here
“I just wanted to say thank you for the invitation this afternoon to see the sensational music concert and the fruits of much hard work. It really was fabulous. Music has a way of moving emotions and today's performance did that and more. It brought several tears to my eyes! A big well done to all involved.”
~ Lisa Draper, Duckmanton Primary School
Future plans
Building on the success of the 2024 programme, our focus is to expand opportunities for creative participation while sustaining the legacy work in the villages and schools we have worked with.
Further collaborations are planned with adult writing groups and schools to continue exploring community stories through a multidisciplinary approach to music making.
Strengthening partnerships with Bolsover District council and local hubs will ensure wider reach across villages, while future projects will build on the model of co-creation and intergenerational dialogue to deepen community cohesion and further explore the past, present, and future of former mining communities in Bolsover District.
Partners, performers and venues
Community Partners: Bolsover District Council - Cultural Corridor, Doe Lea Centre, Glapwell Centre, Bramley Vale Primary School, Palterton Primary School, Duckmanton Primary School, Ladies of Letters, New Houghton Community Hub, New Houghton Community Centre.
Creative Partners & Musicians/performers: Music in the Round with Consone Quartet, Bridge Ensemble & Bailey Quartet, Andy J Smith (Music Leader), Elinor Moran (Workshop Leader and Animateur), Naomi Atherton (Music Leader), Lyn Ludditt (Poet and writer).
Venues: Doe Lea Centre, Bramley Vale School, Glapwell Centre, New Houghton Community Hub, New Houghton Community Centre, Palterton Primary School, Duckmanton Primary School.
Funders: Scops Arts Trust, Bolsover District Council.