Pupils of all ages are set to get a taste of live music as Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra (BSO) tours its popular educational events across the South West in January and February.

‘Explore the Orchestra’ – designed for primary-aged pupils – visits Bristol Beacon [17 Jan], Portsmouth Guildhall [23 Jan] and the University of Exeter’s Great Hall [31 Jan]

A live concert designed for GCSE Music pupils visits Bournemouth [4 Feb], Bristol [3 Feb], Plymouth [10 Feb], Cullompton [11 Feb], Gloucester [6 Feb], and Yeovil [5 Feb].

 

This month, thousands of pupils – from six to 16 – will get a first taste of live music, as Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra tours the South West with its popular series of free concerts for pupils.

 

Explore the Orchestra – primary pupils (Bristol, Exeter, Portsmouth)

The BSO’s ‘Explore the Orchestra’ event – designed for primary-aged pupils – visits Bristol, Exeter and Portsmouth, in late January. Pupils have prepared for the concert in classroom lessons – and they’ll have the chance to perform body percussion and sing in a mass interactive performance on the day, alongside composer James Redwood, writer and actor Lynne Forbes, and the full orchestra, under the baton of its Calleva Assistant Conductor Enyi Okpara.

The event introduces children to a range of sea-themed music, with famous works from films, operas, and more. The series of concerts are free to schools, and the BSO has created resources for teachers with Continued Professional Development [CPD] sessions to support learning.

The events take place at: Bristol Beacon [Fri 17 Jan], Portsmouth Guildhall [Thurs 23 Jan] and the University of Exeter’s Great Hall [Fri 31 Jan].

Explore the Orchestra is generously supported by the Skyrme Hart Charitable Trust, Dave & Jan Pointer, Sir Neville & Lady Simms, Christine & Jim Dipple and one anonymous supporter.

 

GCSE Music events (Bristol, Devon, Dorset, Gloucestershire, and Somerset)

A series of chamber-scale live performances, tailored to secondary school pupils tours the South West from early February.

Created to support the GCSE Music curriculum, a group of seven musicians will perform ‘set works’ from the current GCSE syllabus.  Presenter Patrick Bailey will help the pupils dissect the works to deepen their understanding of how and why they were created.

The BSO is providing additional in-school workshops and CPD session for teachers in Somerset schools, in partnership with The Octagon, Yeovil.

The tour visits: St Michael’s Centre, Stoke Gifford, Bristol [Mon 3 Feb]; Bournemouth School for Girls [Tues 4 Feb]; Westlands Centre, Yeovil [Wed 5 Feb]; Gloucester Guildhall [Thur 6 Feb]; Lipson Cooperative Academy, Plymouth [Mon 10 Feb]; Uffculme School, Cullompton [Tues 11 Feb].

The BSO is grateful to its music education partners across the South West in the coordination of both Explore the Orchestra and GCSE Music events: Devon Music Education Hub; Dorset and Somerset Music Hubs (as part of The Octagon Music Hub); Make Music Gloucestershire (as part of the GSW Hub); The Octagon Theatre, Yeovil; Soundstorm Music Education Agency, the South Coast Music Partnership, Portsmouth Guildhall, University of Exeter, West of England Music and Arts and Bristol Beacon.

Bea Hankey, Joint Head of BSO Participate, said:
“Generations of concert lovers have enjoyed their first taste of live music thanks to Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra’s educational events – and we’re thrilled to bring these to life for thousands more pupils this year, in concert halls, schools and community centres across the South West. Bringing music into people’s lives is why the BSO exists: there’s nothing like the look on children’s faces when they hear a full symphony orchestra in flight for the first time – or the focus, as ideas come to life for GCSE Music students, when a life’s passion is ignited. Interactive and full of fun, we can’t wait to share our live music with pupils across the region this winter!”

 

‘Explore the Orchestra’ takes place at Bristol Beacon [17 Jan], Portsmouth Guildhall [23 Jan] and the University of Exeter’s Great Hall [31 Jan] – see bsolive.com for booking details.

GCSE Music concerts take place in Bristol [3 Feb], Bournemouth [4 Feb], Plymouth [10 Feb], Cullompton [11 Feb], Gloucester [6 Feb], and Yeovil [5 Feb] – contact hello@bsorchestra.co.uk for availability.

[ENDS]