News and Reviews

News: FolkLoops
November 2008

Ninety pupils from three Lincoln schools are gearing up for a special concert at Lincoln Drill Hall next month when they will perform their own musical compositions on the stage alongside professional musicians.

The schools have joined forces with East Midlands' only resident orchestra sinfonia ViVA and Lincoln City Council for their second annual creative music project entitled 'Folkloops' which culminates in a public performance at Lincoln Drill Hall on Wednesday December 3 starting at 7pm.

The 9 to 11-year-old pupils from Monks Abbey Primary School and St Faith and St Martin Church of England Junior School as well as music students from Priory Academy LSST have been working with ViVA composer James Redwood and a team of professional musicians from the Orchestra to create their own compositions on the theme of folk music which they will perform using voices, percussion and musical instruments.

The young people have based their work on American and Lincolnshire folk music including Aaron Copland's Appalachian Spring and the medieval tale of Lord Bateman which was made famous by 20th century folk singer Joseph Taylor from Saxby-All Saints in Lincolnshire. The concert will also feature a performance by sinfonia ViVA of John Adams' Shaker Loops which will provide additional inspiration for the young people's workshops.

Marianne Quintrell, Education Manager at ViVA, explained: "We first worked with the two primary schools on the 'Journeys' music making project this time last year and the feedback from both performers and the audience was fantastic. We are therefore really looking forward to returning to see the children again this year for 'Folkloops' and involving musicians at the Priory Academy LSST to add another dimension to this year's project."

"We have an enthusiastic following of people who regularly support the Orchestra at Lincoln Drill Hall so we hope many of them will come along to this performance and experience the contagious energy of an education project which gives young people the opportunity to perform alongside professional musicians."

Sue Blyth, Assistant Headteacher at Monks Abbey Primary School added: "Our involvement in the 'Journeys' project last year has really inspired the children who performed and watched the concert last year to become more involved in music. We now have a weekly group which explores music from all sorts of different cultures and which has involved some of our parents as well who are enjoying music making alongside their children. When I announced that we would be working with ViVA again this year, there was a huge cheer and the children are so excited to be involved in 'Folkloops'."

Simon Hollingworth, Director of Lincoln Drill Hall concluded: "Last year's project was hugely inspiring and I know that the schools are thrilled with their involvement. The new participants from the three schools are in for a real treat."

Media enquiries: Sarah Jenkin-Jones - Tel: 01332 515102/07951 945 665 sarah@jjpublicrelations.co.uk