"Herts and Beds"
Breaking the Boundaries
Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire Music Service's collaborated in a unique musical venture that brought together young people from Dunstable and Hemel Hempstead, culminating in a public performance at Whipsnade Wild Animal Park on November 27th 2005.
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This project, funded by Youth Music involved two secondary schools; Kings Langley Secondary School and Northfields School, Dunstable together with feeder schools for each secondary (from Hertfordshire: Two Waters School and St Paul's Primary and from Bedfordshire, Kings Houghton Middle School ).
The Secondary schools targeted Year 10, and the Primaries Years 5/6. There was also be a unique mixed ensemble "Weekenders", created especially for this project, that brought together rock musicians and orchestral musicians of a more advanced level, from both counties combined.
The artistic direction, workshop leaders and teams of professional musicians came from Nuance, a newly formed ensemble of professional musicians from different genres that combines the skills and expertise of both orchestral and non orchestral musicians. This project involved jazz musicians, singers and orchestral musicians working together.
The project gave opportunities to a large number of young people (150) to take part in a creative project involving pupils from primary schools, secondary schools and accomplished musicians reflecting a range of musical backgrounds. Some of the pupils had a lot of musical experience, some had no formal musical experience at all.
Speaking ahead of the performance, Robert Gordon, Hertfordshire County Council’s Executive Member for Schools said: “This will be a very special event. Working in partnership with our neighbouring music service in Bedfordshire, has enabled us to provide a wonderful opportunity for young people from both counties to work together with professionals to create and perform a unique piece of music.”
The results of the workshops were brought together in larger joint workshops and the final public performance of the work, a 30-40 minute “through-composed” piece entitled “Beneath the Surface.” This was received a standing ovation from the packed hall at Whipsnade Wild Animal Park.
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