Take A Bow 2010
Musicians on Call in New York
International
Recently LSO Discovery has begun to spread its wings, taking some of its programmes on tour with the LSO, especially to the Orchestra's residencies in New York, Daytona Beach, Salle Pleyel and the Aix-en-Provence Festival.
Activities such as children's concerts, early years workshops, pre-concert talks and masterclasses with local music students regularly take place.
Aix-en-Provence Festival
The LSO has developed a very significant education and community programme working closely with the Aix-en-Provence Festival:
Community Opera 2011
The Community Opera was a creative collaboration bringing together LSO musicians with 80 people from the diverse communities in Marseille and Aix including Slam poet teenagers, an Arabic Choir and Video Artists to develop their own response to Mozart’s La Clemenza di Tito. Responding to the challenge set by Mozart, the community participants created their opera in just 18 days, led by LSO animateur Mark Withers and Sybille Wilson.
The final piece was performed at the Bois de l’Aune on the evening of Friday 15 July.
> Find out more
Youth Orchestra 2011
by Caro Barnfield, Project Manager
During the LSO Residency in Aix-en-Provence nine players coached and played alongside their young colleagues in the Orchestra Academy between 18-27 July. Animateur Mark Withers lead the rehearsals before handing over to François-Xavier Roth. Rehearsals culminated in three concerts in Aix-en-Provence, Monaco and Marseille, the repertoire including Charlie Piper’s Twittering Machine: This piece was premièred by the LSO in 2008 and was commissioned following Charlie Piper’s participation in the Panufnik Young Composer Scheme.
by Mark Withers, animateur
The Youth Orchestra is a project that is very special for me and my colleagues from the LSO. We spend our lives playing in an orchestra and it is a privilege to share what we have learnt with such a talented groups of young musicians - and then to see these same musicians flourish under the direction of an inspirational conductor. The 2010 Orchestra provided us with some memorable moments and with an exciting group of musicians, some of whom have been collaboration with us for this year's Festival since January of 2011, who we are sure will be seen in orchestras throughout France and far beyond for many years to come.
> Find out more
Junior Orchestra
The Junior Orchestra comprises 125 young people from Aix and Marseille of all ages and abilities. They have worked in two intensive periods in April and May on an arrangement of La Traviata and created their own soundtrack to a classic Laurel and Hardy film. Under the direction of LSO animateur Mark Withers with eight LSO players they performed to a packed audience on 8 May.
Sound Explorers
Sound Explorers introduces 5-7 year olds to classical music in a relaxed and fun environment. Led by LSO animateur Vanessa King, five LSO players performed a short concert based on a popular children’s story; 300 children and their teachers attended.
Blog
During April 2010 four players from the LSO made the trip to Aix-en-Provence to coach the young players, coming up against ash clouds and TGV strikes in the process. Read more about their epic journey on the LSO on Tour blog.
Musicians On Call
Musicians on Call provides home visits for those who can’t reach the concert hall and the opportunity to experience the outstanding music of LSO musicians, as well as meeting the players in the relaxed and comfortable environment of their own homes. The recipients are nominated by their friends or relatives, and duos from the LSO visit as many homes as possible.
Take A Bow
Take A Bow first took place at the Barbican in London, and involved 100 young string players from East London taking the stage alongside the LSO Strings and music students. Specially written music allowed everyone, whatever stage they were at, to perform together.
Take A Bow has recently taken place during recent LSO tours to Paris and the Aix-en-Provence Festival. LSO musicians led coaching sessions beforehand, and the children performed to capacity audiences of their relatives and friends.
