Education ViVA

Jam Night and sinfonia ViVA
12th Dec 2008
Chapel-en-le-Frith

sinfonia ViVA was approached by Orchestras Live, Derbyshire County Council Youth Service in the High Peak and the High Peak Arts Development Officer to develop a project which involved bringing young people taking part in music making activities in Chapel-en-le-Frith together with musicians from the Orchestra to perform original music as a team.

"It was like magic coming off the paper and I couldn’t believe how good it sounded." - Participant

Young People from Chapel-en-le-Frith Youth Centre worked with music workshop leaders Jo Wills and Guy Wood as well as their music worker, Dan Oakley and two ViVA musicians between October and December 2007 to develop and extend songs they had previously written as well as working together as a team to create a totally new piece.

"Talking to people who listened and having the opportunity to be treated like a musician and not like a teen with a hobby. I also enjoyed teaching Chris and Matt [ViVA clarinettists] Donkey and Rock (they know what I mean)." - Participant

During the workshop sessions, Jo Wills and Guy Wood discussed orchestration options with the young people and following the final creative workshop they took the material away with them to orchestrate for the larger sinfonia ViVA ensemble.

"I learned how to play with an orchestra – practising with a lot of musicians – knowing when to come in and learning to do what you are asked to do." - Participant

The full team then came together with an extra eight ViVA musicians on Saturday 8 December to add some additional sparkle to the pieces. The Orchestra worked with the young people to further explore the orchestrations which had been put together by Jo and Guy. Throughout the day the young people worked alongside the ViVA musicians to develop new ideas to add into the pieces. During this day the final versions of the pieces were decided.

"Awesome – it was such an awesome atmosphere, like you were on top of a mountain." - Participant

The full group of Jam Night and sinfonia ViVA musicians came together on Wednesday 12 December for a final rehearsal and performance at the New Mills Youth Centre as part of the High Peak Youth Service Oscars evening. The audience included friends and family of the participants, invited guests and young people and youth workers from across High Peak.

"The project developed self confidence and inclusion for all the young people who attended and there is now a real work atmosphere at Jam." - Music Youth Worker

This project was made possible through the generous support of Derbyshire County Council Youth Service in the High Peak, High Peak Borough Council, High Peak CVS and Orchestras Live. ViVA receives funding from Arts Council England and Derby City Council.

Images from the project...