Education ViVA

Perspectives
Tuesday 15th November 2005
de Montfort Hall, Leicester

Perspectives culminated in an exciting performance at the DeMontfort Hall, Leicester on Tuesday 15 November 2005.

"I really enjoyed being able to play with a professional orchestra on stage in front of an audience." - Participant

Perspectives was inspired and informed by the music of Black composers working in the Western classical tradition and non-Black composers drawing on Black musical styles. The project featured the works of six composers from different parts of the world: Fela Sowande, George Walker, Philip Herbert, Adolphus Hailstork, Morton Gould and Le Chevalier de JJO Meude Monpas. These composers featured in the final performance and provided inspiration for the creation of original music in the workshops in schools.

"It was fantastic. I had the best time ever!" - Participant

91 participants and their teachers from two primary and two secondary schools in Leicester participated in the Perspectives project which took place during October and November 2005. The participants aged between 9 and 15 years old were from Beaumont Leys School, Catherine Junior School, St Paul's Catholic School and Rushey Mead Primary School.

"It was a great experience for all of us, and it wasn't just the children who learnt a lot." - Teacher

The project was lead by composer and workshop leader, Juwon Ogungbe and musicians from sinfonia ViVA. During the workshops, Juwon introduced the participants to highlife music, and showed how Fela Sowande, one of the composers featured in the concert, was influenced by this style in his music.

"They were happy in the knowledge that their own ideas were valued enough to perform live." - Teacher

Each group received two days of workshop with Juwon and two ViVA musicians. During these sessions each group created original music including a song and an instrumental piece using instruments they were already learning and percussion.

"The participants were able to take ownership of the musical ideas to tell their own stories." - Workshop Leader

In the penultimate workshop session all 91 participants and ViVA musicians came together to create one whole piece using each of the sections created during workshop. On the day of the performance the participants had a final rehearsal at DeMontfort Hall prior to the evening performance.

"Some very reticent children blossomed in the spotlight - one amazing transformation really stands out." - Teacher

The performance featured the premiere of the original work created during the workshops alongside performances of the pieces which provided the initial inspiration for the project.

"I just want to say thanks again because it was a great experience and please visit us or contact us when you're in Leicester again. We'd all love to do more work with you." - Participant

Images from the project...