Orchestral manoeuvres

Photo: Anthony Miller

ENTHRALLED . . . children listen intently at North Chadderton School.

IT’S not often pupils can boast a visit from a world-class symphony orchestra and one of the nation’s most famous conductors.

But children at North Chadderton School did just that, after the Halle Orchestra and music director Sir Mark Elder spent the day there.

The move is a first for the musicians, who chose North Chadderton as one of only three schools — the others are in Bolton and Tameside — to visit.

The orchestra performed two concerts as children were given the chance to try their hand at conducting. Sir Mark gave a short masterclass to some youngsters who were then put on the spot before their fellow pupils as they conducted the Halle.

North Chadderton pupils were joined by children from local primary schools to share in the rare opportunity to hear the full force of a live symphony orchestra in school.

Kathryn Hindle, the school’s human resources officer, said: “It was fantastic, amazing. Our students sat between members of the orchestra so they could see how the instruments were played, and a few pupils were invited to conduct.

The roadshow aims to encourage children to learn to play an instrument at school, and puts the spotlight on music in the national curriculum.

Sir Mark said: “I was delighted to have the opportunity to present the Hallé to the young people of Oldham. We may have in our young audience the next generation of Hallé musicians in a few years to come.”

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