Year 1 Bridge students sit-in with the LPO

Posted by Rhuti Carr on 18 February 2011 | 0 Comments

Tags: London Philharmonic Orchestra, Jessop Primary, Ashmole Primary, Year 1

Where is the perfect place to hear Berlioz’s Symphonie Fantastique played by the amazing LPO? Front row at the Royal Festival Hall or perhaps at the Proms? Well actually it’s sitting at the foot of the principal cello or perhaps between a couple of trumpeters. That is how a group of Year 1 children experienced their first orchestral sit-in at Henry Wood Hall this week.

The sheer size and scale of a symphony orchestra in full swing is impressive enough to anyone, but to be up close, sitting amongst the orchestra was an amazing experience for all the children. A couple of girls helped the tuba player count his bars rest, another, sitting between two cellists, copied their energetic bowing, a group at the back were quite shocked when the bass drum started playing and everyone sitting near the violins were amazed by how fast their fingers could move!

Asked afterwards how the performance had made them feel descriptions included ‘fantastic’ (rather apt considering the piece!) ‘excited’, ‘happy’ and best of all one girl from Jessop Primary School said ‘ it makes me want to play my violin and join in’. Everyone was so enthusiastic about what they had just seen and heard perhaps more concerts should be experienced this way!