This project has been funded by the Integrated education Fund through the PACT V111 grant Making programme, “promoting a Culture of Trust in Schools”.

The first phase of the project focused on introducing some 700 year 6 children to the concept of live performance and enable them to appreciate at first hand the audio and visual impact of a full orchestra. The music was deliberately chosen to express a wide range of mood, culture and genre and yet be accessible to the year 6 age group.

The performance opened with ‘The Entry of the Gladiators’, the well-known melodies of which have come to be associated with circus entertainment, the excitement of the wild west was portrayed by Copland’s ‘Hoedown’ while the spooky happenings of Hallowe’en were illustrated by Saint-Saen’s ‘Danse Macabre’ and the film music genre was represented by music from’ Charlie and the Chocolate Factory’ and the orchestra’s favourite, ‘The Pirates of the Carribean’.

Additional visual stimuli such as our very own circus clowns, Oompa-Loompas and even a grizzly grim reaper enhanced the children’s appreciation of the music. Two sixth form pupils skilfully hosted the show providing appropriate connections between the various pieces and a brief overview and demonstration of the individual instrumental families was led by Dalriada pupils.