Music / bristol music
World-class musicians spread their musical message to schools
Chineke! Orchestra – Europe’s first majority Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic orchestra – spent the morning of Friday November 17 performing to a variety of Bristol’s primary schools, as part of the Chineke! Bristol Outreach Project. Having played The Proms at the Royal Albert Hall earlier this year, a string quartet from the group took time out of their busy schedule to perform to a much smaller, but just as significant, audience.
A Chineke! Orchestra string quartet performing to school children from Redfield School
All eyes were on the instruments as the hall fell silent and the musicians began reciting two very different string quartets to the children at Redfield Primary. Sporting a variety of Pudsey Bear outfits, many tapped along to the beat, as the musicians demonstrated their musical talents through a rendition of Mozart.
This was followed by a telling of the life story of black composer Joseph Boulogne, also known as Le Chevalier de Saint Georges, as well as a recital of some of his music.
is needed now More than ever
An unusual audience for the musicians, more used to performing in venues like the Royal Albert Hall
The Chineke! Foundation is a musical initiative that aims to break down the barriers surrounding traditional classical music. Their motto reads: “Championing change and celebrating diversity in classical music”.
The children got the chance to try being musicians too
However, with a strong education outreach programme, Chineke! is much more than an orchestra, acting as role models to young black and minority ethnic musicians who are looking for inspiration in following their musical dreams. “The idea of Chineke! is to show that black and minority ethnic musicians exist,” says cellist David Kadumakasa, “so where better to come than to a primary school and show children?”
Cellist David Kadumakasa
Working together with St George’s Bristol and the Preludes music project, the Chineke! Foundation has come to Bristol in the hopes that such a culturally diverse city will embrace their hopes for social diversity in music.
Catherine Freda, of St George’s Bristol, certainly thinks so. “Bristol is such a natural fit because it’s so open to new ideas,” she said. “There isn’t such a perceived class divide here, and as a result, young children grow up having a genuine interest in classical music and don’t feel so alienated by it.”
The visit from Chineke! aimed to inspire more BAME musicians
Penny Rawlings, manager of Preludes, highlighted the Chineke! initiative as a means for a more united future. “Cooperation is key to music and as part of an orchestra we teach children to come together,” she said. “We are just starting an orchestra here in Redfield but other schools already have them. It really does promote working together, being part of a team and thinking about others.”
Catch the Chineke! Orchestra yourself at St George’s Bristol on Sunday November 26 at 7pm. To find out more or book tickets, visit www.stgeorgesbristol.co.uk/event/chineke-orchestra-2
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