East Ayrshire schoolkids treated to live orchestral music

Feb 6 2009 by Ian Russell, Kilmarnock Standard

MORE than 1000 local schoolchildren will experience live orchestral music for the first time at the Grand Hall next week.

Part of the MusicQuest finale concerts and workshops, the project for children designed by the Prince’s Foundation for Children and the Arts is drawing to the close of its second year in a series of five regional finale concerts.

On Monday one of these will take place in the Grand Hall with youngsters from schools around East Ayrshire, including Galston, Gargieston, Nether Robertland, St Andrew’s and Kirkstyle Primary Schools, present.

The boys and girls will participate in a ‘hands on’ workshop delivered to them at school by members of the Philharmonia Orchestra earlier in the day.

In the afternoon they will be at the Grand Hall for the finale concert and will see the musician they worked with in the morning perform live on stage as part of the orchestra.

MusicQuest brings together four major organisations: The Prince’s Foundation for Children & the Arts, Classic FM Music Makers charity, Yamaha Music UK and The Philharmonia Orchestra for a unique three year project which introduces children right around the UK to classical music and encourages teachers to use music in their everyday teaching practice.Š

MusicQuest also runs a competition which explores pupil’s compositional skills. First prize is

£10,000 worth of musical instruments supplied by Yamaha Music UK and £1000 will go to five regional runners-up. Winning entries will be announced in April.