News and Reviews

News: Music Project Brings Alive Magic of The National Forest
March 24 2010

About 100 pupils from three North West Leicestershire schools are taking part in a unique music and dance project which aims to evoke the magic of The National Forest.

The young people from Holy Cross Catholic Primary School, Whitwick, as well as Ivanhoe College and Ashby School in Ashby will firstly visit new woodlands in The National Forest to gain inspiration for creating their music. Jack Ross (project leader) and professional musicians from East Midlands orchestra sinfonia ViVA will then visit the schools to help pupils compose their own songs and instrumental pieces as part of the Fantasy Forest project. Meanwhile, young people from Holy Cross School will also work with Leicester based Addict Dance Company to devise contemporary dance pieces which they will perform as part of the concert on Wednesday March 24 at the Hermitage Leisure Centre in Coalville.

Fantasy Forest is being organised by North West Leicestershire District Council's Cultural Services, Orchestras Live and sinfonia ViVA and follows on from the success of last year's Life in the Forest project.

ViVA Education Manager Marianne Barraclough explained: "The Life in the Forest project was a huge success – supporting the young people in their school project work and giving them the opportunity to compose their own music and then perform on the stage to the general public alongside professional musicians. The added dance element of this year's project will bring the theme Fantasy Forest even more to life and truly evoke the magic of The National Forest which is a wonderful resource right on our doorstep."

Sophie Churchill, Chief Executive of the National Forest Company, added: "The National Forest is still growing, and the young people who live here are vital to its development. They see the trees growing around them, and they will inherit the new landscape we are creating. Fantasy Forest is an exciting and creative celebration of this connection."

Councillor Trevor Pendleton, Portfolio Holder for Community at North West Leicestershire District Council is also encouraging local people to attend this wonderful and truly magical Dance and Orchestral Concert on the 24th March.

The project has been supported by Rolls-Royce plc, North West Leicestershire District Council, Orchestras Live, Thomas Harleys Charities, J R Corah Foundation Fund, TS Shipman Trust, Maud Elkington Charitable Trust, Helen Jean Cope Trust, the National Forest Company, Sir Andrew Martin Trust for Young People, sinfonia ViVA and Arts Council England.

Tickets for the concert at Hermitage Leisure Centre on Wednesday 24th March cost £3 and are available from Hermitage Leisure Centre on 01530 811215 and Ashby Tourist Information Centre on 01530 411767

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