News and Reviews

News: Connection - A musical celebration with Sinfonia Viva and Daventry schools
Royal & Derngate, Northampton
25 May 2010

300 children from seven Daventry schools, plus young people from Daventry Music Centre will perform alongside one of the country's leading professional orchestras – Sinfonia Viva – at a celebration concert at Royal & Derngate in Northampton on Tuesday 25 May. Connection is part of the year-long 'Connected to Music' project in Northamptonshire.

Launched in September 2009 and led by Orchestras Live, 'Connected to Music' is one of five Music Partnership Projects in the country, funded by the DCSF and involving over 300 children and their teachers. Over the past eight months, the project partners have worked tirelessly to ensure that the children and young people involved have the highest quality musical experience. Group learning, composing and performing are at the heart of the project and the skills and resources of partners have combined to create something that is greater than the sum of its parts.

At the heart of the project is the 'Creative Ensemble' that includes musicians from Sinfonia Viva and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, instrumental and classroom teachers from the seven partner schools and Daventry Music Centre and two talented young instrumentalists from Daventry. Since October 2009, the Creative Ensemble has worked with the young people on a regular basis to create, practice and perform a wide range of music. The Connection concert is an opportunity to celebrate achievement, and gives 300 children the experience of performing with Sinfonia Viva on the Derngate stage.

'Connected to Music' is an outstanding example of partnership working. Orchestras Live has brought together two leading orchestras, a major venue and the County Council alongside its own expertise to create a project that is having a profound impact on those taking part. Already, more than 60 children have taken up musical instruments and the project is having a positive impact on levels of attainment and behaviour within the schools.

Councillor Andrew Grant, Northamptonshire County Council's cabinet member for children and young people, said: "The Connected to Music programme is a fantastic opportunity for schools to develop their music teaching and to use it to raise standards and achievement across the whole school curriculum. The concert is a wonderful opportunity for the schoolchildren to experience the excitement and beauty of a live orchestral performance."

Notes to editors

1. For further information, please contact Louise Wildish, Connected to Music Project Manager, on 07870 763568 or Jan Ford, Partnership Manager, on 07889 286125.
2. Daventry schools performing on 25 May are: Southbrook Junior School, Ashby Fields Primary School, The Grange School, Daventry Abbey VC Junior School, Falconer's Hill Primary School, Danetre Secondary School and William Parker School, plus Daventry Music Centre.
3. Connected to Music is a DCSF/DCMS-funded Music Partnership Project that aims to develop a new model of music education that connects young people's music learning in the classroom, particularly those participating in Wider Opportunities programmes and in transition years, to a wide range of live orchestral music experiences both inside and outside the classroom. It will empower teachers and professional musicians to inspire young people to achieve the highest possible standard and fulfil their potential.
4. The project partners are: Orchestras Live (lead partner), Northamptonshire County Council, Sinfonia Viva, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and Royal & Derngate.
5. Orchestras Live is the national development agency for orchestral music, facilitating and delivering a huge range of performances and learning and community projects involving some of the country’s leading professional orchestras and partnering over 70 local authorities in England. It’s mission is to inspire, motivate and empower the widest range of people through excellent live orchestral music. Orchestras Live is an Arts Council England Regularly Funded Organisation.

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