Education and Outreach Programme Report October 2020
Given the restrictions due to COVID-19, we had to adapt our plans for the 2020 Festival but that enabled us to achieve the ambitious aim of giving all primary school children in Hertfordshire access to high quality chamber music and associated activities through the Chamber Music Festival.
The HHCMF Schools Concert was recorded by students from the Purcell School for Young Musicians in Bushey performing a delightful programme of music from Handel to Skempton, directed by Mr Paul Hoskins. It includes ‘interviews’ with the students about the music they played and an introduction from our patron Lord Salisbury and our Artistic Director, Guy Johnston.
Every primary school in Hertfordshire was invited to join us for the concert. It was free to view via a link which was sent out to schools or via the Festival website. Teachers were able to decide whether to watch the concert on a large screen or in the classroom. Supporting material, a concert quiz and ideas for extra-curricular work were available for teachers to compliment the concert.
In order that our talented young musicians in Hertfordshire did not miss out on the opportunity to perform at the Festival in the Young Musicians’ Performance Platform, we invited them, through their schools and Hertfordshire Music Service, to film and submit their own performance of a piece of chamber music. The best of these are featured on our Festival website. If you are interested in submitting a recording of your chamber ensemble or know of anyone who would be, please contact us.
“This is fantastic! Thank you so much for sending this all across. Years 5 & 6 will be spending an afternoon watching the concert and completing the associated activities next week.” Brookmans Park Primary
“Thank you so much for this; a lovely resource for us to use with the children.“ Howe Dell Primary
“The children have watched the concert and we created a music assembly linked to it. They really enjoyed it and from this interest we have encouraged our children to put together some work of them playing their instruments at home. The link has been sent home to parents to allow the children to continue to watch it. Thank you again for sharing it with us.” Ascot Road Community Free School
“Thank you very much for your email. We will definitely use this wonderful resource and watch extracts from the concert. “ St Joseph’s Catholic Primary
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