Education ViVA

Choosing Chums
Tuesday 28th June 2006
Assembly Rooms, Derby

On Wednesday 28 June 2007 the Assembly Rooms was filled with the incredible sound of over 1300 voices. With songs and orchestral music themed around friendship, citizenship and relationships the participating students were encouraged to consider their transition from primary to secondary school.

"I had a fantastic time - it was one of the best experiences of my life. Thank you so much for inviting us. I hope I get to sing with you again." - Choir Participant

The two performances featured a choir of 199 students performing alongside sinfonia ViVA, directed by choral animateur and conductor David Lawrence. The concerts included songs from the wonderful Choosing Chums including The Rules of Friendship, Mates are Great and Buddy Boogie. The young participants were amazed that they were able to meet the composer of Choosing Chums, Rebecca Lawrence, as she also presented the concert.

"[It was fantastic to have] the chance to participate in an important venue with the composer and professional musicians. The children were completely overawed!" - Choir Teacher

"[I learned] that you don't just sing, you sing with feeling." - Choir Participant

Prior to the performances, David Lawrence led singing workshop sessions in each of the six choir schools involved in the project. The students and teachers worked with David to develop their singing technique and rehearse the pieces for the joint rehearsals and performances. David's visits inspired many of the children and the teachers enjoyed participating in and observing his sessions.

"ViVA were superb, and David is a wonderful musician with a great sense of humour, but so professional. Staff and children alike very much enjoy working with him." - Choir Teacher

The audience for the performances included over 1100 people including students and teachers from 15 city and county schools and friends and family of the choir participants. Prior to the concert the audience schools were given the challenge of learning three songs relating to the theme of citizenship and performed these songs with energy and enthusiasm alongside the choir participants and sinfonia ViVA.

"[It was] fantastic because the music encouraged you to sing along." - Audience Participant

"[The quality was] exceptionally high, superb music choices, a professional orchestra, a balance of humour and serious commentary." - Audience Teacher

The orchestral repertoire included Bernstein's West Side Story Suite, Intermezzo and Sedguilla from Bizet's Carmen and Danza de Jalisco from Copland's Three Latin American Sketches.

"ViVA were brilliant. As much as I offer children excerpts from standard pieces to identify musical instruments and try to use the appropriate language to identify timbre etc, nothing beats someone in front of you, playing." - Choir Teacher

Rebecca Lawrence introduced each of the pieces, as well as narrating the story of Choosing Chums. During the introductions, some of the musicians were asked to demonstrate key themes and melodies that would feature on their instruments in the next piece. This provided the children with the opportunity to hear some of the instruments playing on their own as well as giving them particular things to listen out for in the performances of the pieces.

"It was excellent the way Rebecca introduced each section of the orchestra. It was like piece of a jigsaw being brought together for the children. They were fascinated!" - Choir Teacher

Feedback showed that prior to Choosing Chums 43% of the participating children had never been to the Assembly Rooms, Derby's biggest venue, and 55% had never been to an orchestra concert. The project successfully provided the young participants with a positive first experience of classical music, 100% of participants enjoyed the concert and 90% said that they had enjoyed it so much that they would like to attend an orchestra concert again in future.

"It was an amazing experience for us all and I feel privileged to have been asked to be involved." - Choir Teacher

"Thank you so much for letting our school take part. I'll remember it forever. I'd love to take part in something like this again - you've really inspired me! Thank you!" - Choir Participant

"It really put a smile on my face." - Audience Participant

The project was generously supported by Rolls-Royce plc, Derby City Council, Eastern Orchestral Board, ACE and ViVA

Images from the project...