Hallé inspires young Saddleworth musicians

Saddleworth School hosted an uplifting, inspiring evening of music-making featuring its students and primary school musicians from Dobcross, Diggle and Greenfield.

The culmination performance was the final chapter of the Hallé 'Adopt-a-player' scheme, where a musician from the Hallé Orchestra visited each school to deliver performance and composition workshops to young musicians based on Stravinsky's exciting ballet music 'The Firebird'.

The three-week long project included weekly workshop sessions for students where they composed their own music based on ideas and themes from Stravinsky's ballet music - the workshops were expertly delivered by Hallé musicians; Andy Maher (French Horn - Saddleworth School sessions), Liz Rossi (Violin - Diggle Primary sessions), Jinny Shaw (Oboe - Dobcross Primary sessions) and Chris Emerson (Viola - Greenfield Primary sessions).

Garrath Beckwith, curriculum leader of music, said: ”It was terrific to see our young talented musicians being inspired and working closely with these outstanding professional musicians who perform day in day out with one of the finest symphony orchestras in the country, if not Europe.

“Alongside the workshop element of the 'Adopt-a-player' scheme all participating students were invited to see and hear the Hallé perform live at the Bridgewater Hall, the Hallé orchestra's home in Manchester.

“This was the first time many of our young musicians had visited this glorious concert hall and for some the first time they had heard their local premier symphony orchestra perform live.

“Students were blown away by the orchestras performance of the varied programme and Saddleworth School musicians left the concert feeling exciting, inspired and eager to see the orchestra perform live again in the not too distant future.

“Before the concert our group of year 7 and 8 musicians were treated to a pre-concert talk by Hallé tuba player Ewan Easton MBE.

"Ewan is an outstanding musician and educator who made time to give an inspiring musical Q&A session for Saddleworth School musicians, discussing the role of musicians in orchestras and bands that held our talented youngsters captivated and eager to ask questions about life in the Hallé.

“The final culmination performance featured 100 students performing together on stage - all under 13 years of age.

"This is a real testament to the musical work going on with young people in the Saddleworth area - the creative performances each school gave as part of the larger scale performance showed real commitment, thought and skill.

“Each school performed a small section of the larger scale piece of music that was effortlessly stitched together with interludes featuring the superb Hallé orchestra quartet.

"The large audience of family members and friends were treated to a fantastic evening of culture - thank you for your ongoing support of all things musical at Saddleworth School.”

He added: "A special thank you to Oldham Music Service, Greater Manchester Music Hub; Liz Rossi, Jinny Shaw, Chris Emerson and Andy Maher of the Hallé Orchestra and Halle Connect - the Halle Orchestra's education team, and the superb staff at Dobcross Primary school, Diggle Primary school and Greenfield Primary school who all made this fantastic opportunity a reality.

"It's been a hugely worthwhile music education scheme that will inspire future generations of musicians in the Saddleworth community and beyond.”

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