Education ViVA

Identity
Saxon Suite, Soll Leisure Centre, Daventry
Thursday 18 February 2010

On Thursday 18 February members of the Daventry District Youth Forum and Daventry District Over Fifties Forum came together and joined forces with sinfonia ViVA to present a collaborative evening of music at the Saxon Suite, Soll Leisure Centre, Daventry.

The concert programme included Britten's Sinfonietta, Cheero Chacha Chinema a traditional song from Zimbabwe, Hindermith's Kammermusik No.1 Op24 and Three Dances from Stravinsky's The Soldier's Tale. The evening also included new work devised by Lucy Forde and the participants. The concert was the culmination of four days of creative music workshops led by Lucy Forde with sinfonia ViVA musicians Dave Ayre (double bass), Helen Bishop (clarinet) and Tim Gunnell (percussion), a student volunteer Christine Andrews (baritone saxophone) and the participants.

"The team of Lucy, Tim, Dave, Helen, Christine and Marianne bonded so well with all ages and impressed with their professionalism and talents." - Participant

During these sessions the participants explored the repertoire that was performed as part of the concert and worked closely with Lucy Forde and the ViVA musicians to create new music which was performed at the concert. The new work created during the workshops was inspired by the repertoire and the theme of Identity. The workshops also provided the opportunity for the participants to play instruments that were new to them.

"I've never played keyboard before so having had a feel of it, am thinking of doing more!" - Participant

The two groups worked together not only to create music but along the way they challenged their perceptions about each other. The groups worked separately for the first creative music workshop before coming together to form a combined group for the final three full days of creative music sessions.

"It was great to see the different age groups gel together." - Audience member

The final day of the project saw the participants meeting the 15-piece Orchestra prior to the joint rehearsal and performance. The concert was directed by Benedict Holland and the new work created by the participants was interspersed with Stravinsky's Three Dances from The Soldier's Tale.

"A lot of people were very happy with their achievements!" - Participant

The participants were extremely proud to be performing their own work alongside sinfonia ViVA and the other participants at the Soll Leisure Centre on Thursday 18 February 2010. The performance was fantastic with a wonderful atmosphere and lots of families and friends in the audience!

"It was truly a unique opportunity to be involved with this." - Participant

Identity has been generously supported by Daventry District Council, Orchestras Live, Northamptonshire Community Foundation, Northamptonshire County Council, Connexions-Northamptonshire, sinfonia ViVA and Arts Council England.

Images from the project...