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There's music in the air

The Bristol Plays Music workshop 2015 Graham Fowlie

Press release issued: 13 June 2016

The University of Bristol Student's Union (Bristol SU) will be alive with the sound of music when over 100 local primary school students take part in an orchestra day tomorrow [Tuesday 14 June].

The Primary Cluster Orchestra Day, a collaboration between the University of Bristol and Bristol Plays Music, will be led by Phil Dixon, a teacher of music and music technology and composer-in-residence from St Mary Redcliffe and Temple School and University of Bristol alumnus (MA 2002). 

Mr Dixon, together with University of Bristol trainee (PGCE) music teachers, will be working with the schoolchildren on three BBC Ten Pieces - Mussorgsky: Night on a Bald Mountain; Smetana: Vltava and Tchaikovsky's 1812 Overture.

The BBC Ten Pieces project, launched in autumn 2014, aims to inspire a generation of children to get creative with classical music and encourage them to develop their own creative responses to the pieces through music, dance or digital art. 

Dr Marina Gall, Head of PGCE Music at the University of Bristol's Graduate School of Education, said: "Music enables young people from all backgrounds to be inspired and have fun. The day will be a great opportunity for the children to experience playing within a large orchestral setting, and for our secondary music teacher trainees to develop their skills in working with younger children."

Adam Jones from Bristol Plays Music, added: "The Primary Cluster Orchestra Day with the University of Bristol forms an integral part of our Sounds Inspiring Festival, an annual celebration of the musical talent inherent in Bristol's young people. This will be a fun day of music-making and a great opportunity for primary school pupils to gain valuable experience away from the classroom."

The orchestra day will finish with a performance for parents and carers.

Further information

The six Bristol primary schools taking part in the Primary Cluster Orchestra Day are:

Horfield CEVC Primary School; St Bonaventure's Catholic Primary School; Ashton Gate Primary School; Brentry Primary School; Air Balloon Hill Primary School and St Nicholas of Tolentine RC Primary School.

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