- Video game music from Little Orpheus is one of 5 pieces offered to GCSE pupils
- The Orchestra’s pop-up production studio to benefit around 3,500 Key Stage 4 pupils
- 10 regional education hubs from Cornwall to Swindon have signed up to the project
The project, which is supported by the Cornwall Music Education Hub, is presented by BSO Associate Musician Patrick Bailey, who unpicks the 5 GCSE ‘set works’: Mozart’s Clarinet Concerto in A (finale); Kodály’s Intermezzo from Hary Janos; music from The Chinese Room’s award-winning Little Orpheus video game; Schwartz’s Defying Gravity; and a choice of JS Bach’s Orchestral Suite No.2 (finale) or Brandenburg Concerto No.5 (finale).
The second part of the concert features a composition specially written by Patrick Bailey for the pupils and focussed on ideas schools have submitted, based on rhythm, harmony and melody.
The BSO’s pop-up digital studio — which has enabled the Orchestra to livestream full symphonic concerts around the globe during lockdown — was used to record the performances for thousands of pupils throughout the South West, accessing the world-class professional ensemble from their home or classroom.
Lucy Warren, Head of BSO Participate, said, “The BSO is beloved by generations of music lovers for its engaging schools concerts, so we’re thrilled to be able to continue this work with a diverse, informative and exciting programme during lockdown and reaching more young people than ever — and at a time when it’s needed more than ever before. The Orchestra’s digital transformation over the past year has enabled it to livestream symphonic music around the world; and it’s essential that we continue to reach the next generation of musicians here in our home region in the South and South West.”
Schools and colleges will be able to access the material via their regional Music Education Hub; 10 hubs spanning the South West have signed up for the programme.
To find out more about the work of BSO Participate
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