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8 MUSIC
Music Junction Project 2018
Mr Chris Butler, Assistant Head Co-Curricular
Music Junction is a ground-breaking
education and outreach programme
run by the London Chamber Orchestra
(LCO). It aims to address a number
of needs which were identified by
the LCO following collaboration
between violinist and conductor
Yehudi Menuhin and Rosemary
Warren-Green, the LCO’s Education
and Outreach Artistic Director. The
project aims to promote confidence,
nurture self-esteem and encourage
participants to develop empathy
and respect for themselves and each
other within their wider communities,
throughmusic making. In the long
term, Music Junction seeks to address
at a community level the challenges
posed by a fragmented society, where
there is often little opportunity for
people fromdifferent backgrounds
and communities to connect in a
meaningful way. By bringing together
children and young people from very
different walks of life, Music Junction
helps to foster a greater sense of
connection between its participants.
On a local scale and within our Music Junction
hub, LCO’s team of musicians have shared their
expertise over the academic year. They have
encouraged and supported the participants
throughout a series of musical activities
including: flash-mobs, creative workshops
which incorporating focused instrumental
learning time, and performances.
In the London hub, workshops have taken
place at three of the schools involved in
the project in the London Boroughs of
Waltham Forest, Havering and Redbridge.
Creative work took place in a series of
workshops hosted by Bancroft’s School
and The Drapers’ Academy and led by the
Music Junction Artist in Residence and the
LCO musician team. More accomplished
pupils mentor beginner and less experienced
instrumentalists. At the heart of the workshop
sessions is the opportunity to work alongside
a composer on a new commission, inspired
each year by a different artistic theme. Each
year the Music Junction participants work
with the artist in residence for the season,
exploring ideas within the workshops, and in
this way contributing to the process of making
new work.
The new piece, commissioned by the LCO,
is premiered in a showcase performance
as part of its concert season. This year the
second performance of Ollie Howell’s Music
Junction piece
Between Emotions
was
performed at the hub’s showpiece concert
at Bancroft’s. It finished what was a fabulous
evening which also included performances
from the Bancroft’s String ensemble, who
played a Vahal Trio, and a brass ensemble
who played a trumpet quartet. Havering
Music School performed an ABBA medley;
the Drapers’ Academy Choir sang two pieces
When She Loved Me
and
This is Me
. We were
also fortunate to see the LCO Music Junction
Orchestra play Bartok’s
Romanian Dances
. The
evening was a sell-out, and it was fabulous to
see parents from our partner schools come
and watch their children play. Ollie Howell’s
piece was beautifully performed by the entire
orchestra and was the perfect way to finish
this amazing collaborative experience. It really
was the ultimate ‘team experience’.
(Photos courtesy of Marc Gasgoine)