A primary school in Cumbria is hosting a ground-breaking live link up with the BBC Philarmonic orchestra this week as part of a programme to encourage more children to learn how to play musical instruments.
The event has been organised by the county council's Cumbria Music Service and will be hosted at Sedbergh Primary School. The two-day project will involve 40 Year 6 pupils from Sedbergh, Dent CE Voluntary Aided Primary School and Ravenstonedale Endowed School in a challenge to come up with a new three-minute composition based around some melodic ideas from Brahms Symphony No 1. On the second day they will then link up live with the BBC Philarmonic in Manchester to perform the piece.
Outline for Tuesday June 3rd:
11-12pm –Introductory session where Nigel Jay, a violinist with the BBC Philarmonic, will get to know the pupils and see what instruments they have brought along to the workshop.
1-3pm - Main workshop sessions aimed at developing the composition.
Outline for Wednesday 4th:
10-11am - Recap and rehearsals on the composition with Nigel Jay 11.30-1pm - Live satellite link for video conferencing session between the school and Manchester studio. Pupils will play their composition for the orchestra and an audience of other pupils in Manchester. Then the pupils will see a rehearsal of Brahms Symphony No 1 by the orchestra led by principal conductor Gianandrea Noseda.
At the end of the rehearsal session there will be a Q&A session with some key BBC Philarmonic musicians.
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