The Friends would like to thank the John Lewis Partnership for the donation of £1000 from their annual Music Matters awards.
Music Matters is a John Lewis Partnership scheme for supporting music in local communities, which they run once a year. John Lewis and Waitrose branches invite applications from local music groups of all kinds in their area. The purpose of this initiative is to support the projects in which music is used to bring communities together.
Earlier this year we applied for a contribution of money from the Music Matters scheme and recently heard were successful in obtaining £1000 towards to cost of hiring Winchester Cathedral. This is for a Music and Dance extravaganza at Winchester Cathedral on 28 January 2017. The performance will involve around 300 massed strings (players from Hampshire County Youth Orchestra, the String Orchestra and players from the Hampshire schools ‘Listen to me’ project); 40 players from the Chamber Orchestra; 20 dancers from Wessex Dance Academy.
This event will bring together musicians and dancers from all over Hampshire in a musical and dance extravaganza. The participants will come from the entire spectrum of musical abilities and social backgrounds. The Chamber Orchestra comprises some of the most gifted and talented musicians from all over Hampshire, whereas the players from the Hampshire schools ‘Listen to me’ project will have been playing for only a term – at the time of this application, they have not even started to play and have no idea that this event is being organised for them! The dance project will include vulnerable kids from Wessex Dance Academy (young people aged 14 to 18, who have offended, or are at risk of offending and have been excluded from mainstream education) and also offers workshops for the able and talented with professional specialist baroque musicians.
The first half of the concert will be a massed string event to encourage younger players. Some of the musicians will only have begun learning in September. Some will be armed with only a terms experience and they will be able to contribute to what will probably be their first performance, with Winchester Cathedral’s nave & high alter as a backdrop. The music will include Cumulus by the ex-String Orchestra director Spike Wilson. This is written for string players of all levels – including those taking part in the Hampshire Music Service ‘Listen to Me’ whole class teaching programme.
The second half will be the Chamber Orchestra performing a baroque project based on the music of French composer Jean Phillip Rameau. Once again, they will be joined by members of the Wessex Dance academy after a very successful partnership and performance at the Royal Albert Hall in November 2015.
In summary, this music and dance event will be coordinated by the Hampshire Music Service and financially supported by the Friends of the Hampshire County Youth Orchestra. It will incorporate musicians and dancers from all spectrums of society at a one-off event, in one of Hampshire’s most historical and dramatic settings.