5,275 Key Stage 2 Pupils joined us at Lighthouse, Poole – and a further 9,749 joined across the country online – to learn more about symphonic music and the human voice. The concerts delve into how vocalists and orchestras work together to tell stories in opera, theatre and the contemporary world.

Presented by an award-winning composer, James Redwood, the Orchestra were also joined by Mezzo-soprano singer Felicity Buckland and conducted by our Calleva Assistant Conductor Enyi Okpara.

Mezzo-soprano singer Felicity Buckland with the Orchestra 

It was a special experience for many schools with one teacher saying that “hearing and seeing the instruments is precious”, another said it created “awe and wonder” for the pupils.

“For the pupils it was undoubtedly opening their eyes to a whole new experience and a world that may never have even known about,” said another teacher. Others said it provided “cultural capital” and “high quality learning linking directly to the Key Stage 2 curriculum”.

The concerts also featured two participatory elements for everyone to use their voices with the Orchestra. The songs were composed especially for these concerts with schools in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole and alongside our partners Sound Storm.

One pupil said “I really liked when we sang our own song because we’ve practised it and I like singing.”

Enyi Okpara, who conducted the concerts said “Singing is such a universal art form – and everyone can sing! We sing to our friends and family. We sing at football matches. We sing in the shower. We sing to celebrate. We sing through our instruments […] so, to have this set of Explore the Orchestra concerts celebrate the joy of singing has been so joyous and so relevant”.

Each year, we tour Bristol Beacon, University of Exeter, Lighthouse, Poole and Portsmouth Guildhall with our series of Explore the Orchestra concerts, reaching an estimated 11,000 children and their teachers in the concert hall, plus more via livestream.

Keep your eyes peeled for more Explore the Orchestra concerts coming your way soon!