Andante
ESO SCHOOLS’ PROGRAMME
Our first Childrens’ Concert was in 2002. It took the form of performing music such as Peter and the Wolf and the Toy Symphony to children from local primary schools.
Other concerts followed, and took on a new format in 2012 when we worked with a group of schools including Little Waltham and Newlands Spring. Concerts became more interactive, with a facilitator or our conductor explaining the story behind the music and what the orchestra was doing. Some children got to volunteer to use our props and act out various roles. In 2012 we also had children from the Gifted & Talented registers to play in the orchestra.
In 2019, the format changed again and in this year we held our first Young People’s Orchestral Workshop. We invited young instrumentalists from all the primary and secondary schools in Chelmsford and the surrounding area to come and join us at St John Payne School, playing alongside our members to rehearse and perform some fantastic music.
We have found that to help schools participate we need to obtain sponsorship specifically for the concert. In 2007, Making Music generously provided funding and we were especially fortunate that the finance group M&G contributed substantial funding to the orchestra’s childrens’ concerts from the very beginning until 2019 as part of their community sponsorship programme.
YOUNG PEOPLES’ WORKSHOP 2024
Our annual workshop took place this year at St John Payne School on Sunday 5 th May. This time we decided to have just one session for all players so that the less experienced players could also enjoy the full orchestral sound.
And full it was! Over 60 young people (many of whom were joining us for the second or third time!) and their parents, as well as Essex Symphony Orchestra members were there for a fantastic morning of music. We began with some fun warm up exercises which broke the ice and got everyone laughing.
Then we started our playing with the first movement of Joseph Bologne’s Symphony No.1. Rob, our conductor, helped everyone to fit their parts together, observing dynamic markings so that those with the tune rose above the accompanying instruments.
Then followed Mars from Holst’s Planet Suite. The rhythm and build up of this piece was very exciting, culminating in powerful tutti chords at the end that tested everyone’s counting skills!!
After a break for refreshments, we continued with the Finale from Stravinsky’s Firebird. This had the challenge of time signature and key signature changes, which were managed with aplomb!
Our morning finished with a performance of all three pieces. It was wonderful to hear the progress that had been made by everyone in just a few short hours! It was enjoyed by players young and old(er!) alike and by the parents who saw their children grow in confidence and achieve such a fantastic result.
The ESO is passionate about encouraging young players to join orchestras so, as always, we followed up the event by providing parents with details of local youth ensembles and orchestras that their children might like to join.
We’ve had some great feedback from participants. Favourite things include:
‘the palpable improvements in tone/phrasing/articulation following directions from the
conductor’
‘so many musicians in one room and the sound made’
‘the people, the atmosphere’
‘the fact that there was a specialist sitting with each group’
‘playing music with everyone and being with like minded children’
So thank you children, parents, ESO members and visiting players for coming
together and making another memorable day! Same again next year?