Music Junction 2018

For the third consecutive year, musicians from Bancroft’s have joined with those from local schools and with musicians from the London Chamber Orchestra (LCO) as part of the Music Junction programme.  The programme culminated in a sell-out concert at Bancroft’s on Thursday 17 May.

Music Junction is a ground-breaking education and outreach project run by the LCO. It aims to address a number of needs which were identified by the LCO following collaboration between Yehudi Menuhin, violinist and conductor, 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 through music 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 from different 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.

Over the course of the year, on a local scale and within our Music Junction hub, LCO’s team of musicians have shared their expertise, encouraged and supported the participants throughout a series of musical activities including flash-mobs, creative workshops incorporating focused instrumental learning time, and performances.

In the London hub, workshops have taken place using facilities 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 led by the Music Junction artist in residence and the LCO musician team at Bancroft’s and The Drapers’ Academy. More accomplished pupils mentor beginners and those less experienced.  At the heart of the workshop sessions is the opportunity to work alongside a composer on a new commission. Each year, Music Junction participants work with the artist in residence for the season, exploring ideas within the workshops and so 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 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.  The LCO Music Junction Orchestra play Bartok’s Romanian Dances. The evening was a sell-out, and it was fabulous to see parents from all the partner schools come and watch their children play.