Outreach Work
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All of us who sing in The Bach Choir do so for the joy that comes from the opportunity of using the one instrument common to us all: the voice. Singing wonderful music together can elicit experiences and arouse emotions that are not to be found elsewhere. To grow up with music and singing as part of our lives, and to perform before an audience, creates confidence and a great sense of shared achievement and pride.
The past school year has seen the beginning of an exciting new Outreach Programme. In collaboration with music education charity The Voices Foundation, we have built partnerships with several schools in the Borough of Westminster and the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, with support from the charity in the form of training for class teachers in these schools. In October 2010 we held the first of a series of choral workshops for 8-10 year old children in each school. During these, the children learn choral techniques and experience the fun and reward of singing together - often for the first time. This has been a dynamic and stimulating collaboration between Choir, schools and teachers, and would not have been possible without the dedication of those Choir members who have given their time to sing, conduct or provide piano accompaniment for workshop sessions. In joining together we have been inspired by the children's energy and enthusiasm for learning. It has simply been a thrilling journey.
Part of our programme includes school visits to our own rehearsal venue. In January of this year, over 130 children from our participating schools came to a Bach Choir rehearsal to join in singing with the choir, and to experience training under the baton of our Musical Director, David Hill. This was exciting and successful for us all, and has strengthened enormously the bond that is building between singers - both older and younger!
Our first children's concert on June 17 2011, in Westminster Cathedral Hall was a huge success. Watch a vodcast to find out what went on!.
We have now welcomed a new intake of
8-year-olds, and two new schools joining the project. They are sharing in the culmination of the first two years of the project in the summer of 2012, with a major live performance at the BBC Proms on 5 August in the Royal Albert Hall. For this event, The Bach Choir has specially commissioned a work, The Angry Planet, from leading contemporary composer Bob Chilcott.
Watch a video about The Bach Choir's work with children in preparation for The Angry Planet
Download a flyer about The Bach Choir's Outreach Project 2012
David Hill and The Bach Choir are delighted to be playing a part in bringing the undisputed benefits of shared music-making, both social and educational, into the lives of children. Singing is something that can and should be open to all, and our outreach work is driven by a vision of building a love of singing in young people who could go on to become the choral singers of the future, armed with a hobby for life.
View The Bach Choir's Child Protection Policy
For further information on how you can support The Bach Choir's Outreach work, please contact our General Manager, Ben Park, on 020 7127 4677 or email genman@thebachchoir.org.uk.
Find out more about The Voices Foundation
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