Every year, Chetham’s dedicated Outreach team inspire and engage over 10,000 participants both on and off-site, bringing the specialist expertise of the UK’s leading music school to a wide-ranging audience. The goal of Chetham’s OOutreach is to widen access to music and promote the positive impact of music on overall health and wellbeing.

Studies show that music listening and music making can have a profound effect on health and well-being with a report published by Youth Music in 2019 finding that 85% of young people aged between 7 to 17 in England felt that music made them ‘feel happy’.

The Outreach programme depends on financial support to deliver its vital work in communities, so the new partnership with Huawei is a major boost to Chetham’s long-running activity. Over the last year, the Outreach programme has engaged more than 70 schools and 10 community groups, including 40% of schools in areas with the highest rates of child poverty in Greater Manchester.

The new Huawei supported project will enable Chetham’s to build partnerships with 10 primary school across Greater Manchester, engaging more than 1,000 children and allowing those involved to access classical music in an exciting way using the theme of great inventions of past 50 years.

Tom Redmond, Artistic Director and Joint Principal of Chetham’s School of Music, said: “We’re so grateful to Huawei for supporting this project which will enable us to provide free access to music for schools, families, and communities across Greater Manchester. This is important, life changing work. Projects like this support our mission at Chetham’s, to share the magic of music and learning with as many people as possible.”

Victor Zhang, Huawei Vice President, said: “I’m delighted to be able to announce our support for Chetham’s School of Music in Manchester and the Royal College of Music in London. Music, like technology, is about inspiration, creativity and passion. It is more vital than even that young people are able to experience this and reach their potential.

“The pandemic has been especially challenging for children across the UK, and doubly so far those who have been left isolated and disconnected by a move to remote learning. Businesses like Huawei must embrace the opportunity to inspire talent, and we are fully committed to continuing to invest in young people all across the UK.”

Additionally, Chetham’s are delighted to be working with Huawei to host their annual Winter Concert on 14 December at The Stoller Hall, featuring performances from Chetham’s students of festive classics. The concert will use Huawei’s connectivity technology to enable a live concert link-up between Chetham’s musicians with performers at the Royal College of Music in London.

From next year, Huawei will also be supporting Chetham’s as a Corporate Member. Corporate Members at Chetham’s enjoy invitations to exclusive concert openings, behind the scenes tours of our buildings and collections, talks with leading musicians and entertaining opportunities in our incredible event spaces.

Please contact Hanaa Skalli, Director of Development on hanaaskalli@chethams.com to find out more.

The Bernstein Beat involved a full orchestra of players, all aged 18 and under. Hosted by Nina Bernstein Simmons, and devised by Bernstein’s three children, the event invited audiences of all ages to discover and enjoy the unforgettable rhythms and rich Latin flavours of Bernstein’s music. Extracts included music from On The Town, Trouble in Tahiti, Candide and West Side Story, with audience members invited onstage to discove the ‘hamburgers’ and ‘hotdogs’ that make up those incredible patterns. “We first performed The Bernstein Beat in 2008 as part of Bernstein’s 90^th anniversary celebrations, and it was one of those especially memorable events – whether you were onstage or in the audience,” explained conductor Stephen Threlfall, Chetham’s Director of Music. “Led by Nina, local children, young players and audience members all combined in exploring the infectious rhythms, melodies and orchestral colours which are an intrinsic part of his Bernstein’s genius as a composer. Some of those involved were experiencing his music for the first time, others returning to old favourites, but everyone was instantly captivated by his music – and even had chance to join in at a few crucial moments! It’s particularly appropriate that the concert was performed by an orchestra of young musicians. The music was demanding but hugely rewarding – I’m sure they won’t forget it in a hurry!”

That might be particularly true for the young brass player who took up the Shofar, a ram horn flute which influenced Bernstein’s early compositions – and who received a private lesson from Nina herself in how to extract its sound!

Two days later,  Nina took to the stage a second time – on this occasion, introducing her father’s 27 ‘Anniversaries’ for piano. “They are miniature musical gifts,” continued Stephen; “each dedicated to a different one of Bernstein’s friends, relatives or colleagues, from Stephen Sondheim to Nina herself. Framed by anecdotes from Bernstein’s life, presented by his daughter, they form a remarkably intimate look into his personal life.”

Each Anniversary – some lasting barely a minute – was performed by a different piano student from years 7-10, following a rare screening of the 2005 documentary film A Total Embrace, which pays tribute to Bernstein’s life and music. “The whole evening was a chance to get closer to the brilliance and charisma that Bernstein brought to his life and work,” Threlfall continued. “We’re absolutely delighted that Nina Bernstein Simmons was be with us in person to lead our celebration of her father’s work.”

Away from Manchester, the celebrations continued. Five pianists also travelled to Leominster to perform Bernstein’s Anniversaries in their Music in Quiet Places series; and to Jersey Academy of Music where they performed alongside young singers and instrumentalists from the school and local area.

The students were interested in the course for various reasons, from exploring potential career options to understanding prior experience of using music to communicate with elderly relatives.

Consisting of a series of evening sessions, students learnt about the origins and ethos of music therapy, engaged in practical improvisation work to begin to see how music can have a positive impact on someone with, for example, learning difficulties or dementia, reflected on the relationship between therapist and client and explored the psychology involved.

The course culminated in students working with music therapists in a variety of places, including care homes, refugee centres and special schools, incorporating sessions for both individuals and groups.

Not only did students come away from every session inspired and excited by what they’d learnt, they also impressed the music therapists they worked with, who were full of praise for them…

It was wonderful to involve students from Chetham’s recently in some of my music therapy sessions.  They were sensitive and attentive to what was happening, and we chatted in between sessions about why what they were witnessing was significant for the individual receiving therapy. It wasn’t long before I was throwing them in the deep end, asking them to play alongside students with varying learning and developmental difficulties – I think they forgave me for it though!

It was great to have the students participate in my work at this care home.  They were enthusiastic and keen to apply the principles they had learnt during the school-based workshops in ‘real life’ music therapy settings.  Both students eagerly took up the challenge of making music with people living with dementia in many different ways, and their presence brought exciting new musical ingredients and possibilities into the sessions!

We had a great session with three youngsters who have autism; having the three Chetham’s students there was super, as they could model some solo playing!

Having the Chetham’s students in school with us was great. They each brought along their own musical skills and very bravely jumped in at the deep end to make music in sessions, to my clients’ great delight!

Congratulations to all the students involved!

Afterwards, students and older people, including a 93-year old former cellist from St Petersburg, swapped stories; “I loved the music, but I really enjoyed talking with the young people”, commented a member of the audience.

“The most enjoyable afternoon!”

“To watch such talented youngsters….”

“To close my eyes and listen…reminisce.”

These were just some of the appreciative comments from an enthusiastic audience on Friday 6 October, following a performance by instrumentalists from Chetham’s.

As part of the school’s Community Music programme, designed to take live music to people who might otherwise have little access to it, six Year 10 students visited Belong Morris Feinmann in Didsbury, a new specialist home for dementia and for older people living independently in apartments.

They presented a varied programme, from jazz standards on saxophone and keyboard music by Bach, to a dazzling violin showpiece by Kreisler. Two familiar songs – The Way You Look Tonight and Moon River – performed by the whole group, added a touch of nostalgia and got the audience singing along.

After the concert, the students mingled with audience members and heard their stories of dance bands and concerts they attended in their younger days. Needless to say, they’d love us to visit again soon!

Then, on Friday 13 October, the Community Music programme continued with a workshop led by Ros Hawley, clarinettist and specialist in music and health. She shared her experience of working at the Seashell Trust in Cheadle, which supports children and young adults with complex learning disabilities and additional communication needs. Students from Chetham’s engage in music at the Seashell Trust several times a year, the first visit being planned for later this term.

This term’s Baronial Baroque concert took place on Wednesday 9 November in the school’s historic Baronial Hall.  Chetham’s students performed a variety of works from the high and late baroque to a packed audience.  The concert began with an evocative performance of Telemann’s first flute fantasia by Beth Stone on the baroque flute.  Ethan Mitchell gave a spell binding performance of Rameau on the harpsichord, followed by a mature interpretation of Bach’s first Cello Suite by Levente Nagy, and Alastair Niven, in a truly virtuosic performance of Telemann. Works of chamber music followed, concluding in Bach’s beautiful fourth Brandenburg Concerto, directed by Dr Martyn Shaw.

On Saturday 12 November, Chetham’s was represented again at the Royal Greenwich International Early Music Festival 2016.  The Greenwich festival represents the world’s largest festival of early music.  It is hosted each year by Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance, bringing together musicians from across the globe, uniting performers, instrument makers and musicologists. This year’s festival took place at Blackheath Halls, just south of Greenwich, built in 1895 by William Webster.

Chetham’s presented a recital of French and German chamber works from the late baroque.  Highlights included Handel’s celebrated German Arias, performed by Katy Allan and Bach’s Trio Sonata in G Major BWV 1038.  It was also a great opportunity to catch up with Chetham’s alumni, including Luke Challinor (leaver 2015).  Luke is currently studying at the Royal College of Music, and was representing the Viola da Gamba Society at the festival.

Elsewhere, on Friday 18 November, Chetham’s Recorder Consort visited Northenden Community Primary School, where they gave a performance of seventeenth-century dances.  After the performance Chetham’s students assisted Dr Shaw in a baroque dance workshop with year 5 students.

Vanessa Redgrave is celebrated for her performance on stage and screen, most notably Howard’s End (1992).  A six-time Oscar nominee, she was described by Arthur Miller and Tennessee Williams as “the greatest living actress of our times”.  In Voices of Remembrance she will read moving poetry written during WWI, alongside Rossi’s richly evocative orchestral and choral work combining stunningly beautiful music with these historically important poems.

Rossi worked with Chetham’s in July this year when Chetham’s Sinfonia became one of the first orchestras to perform in an international tour of the celebrated 1916 film, The Battle of the Somme, with a new score which she created with Imperial War Museums.  That performance saw Manchester Cathedral filled to capacity, and we’re delighted to welcome her back to Manchester with what promises to be another very special and moving evening of music.  During her research for the Somme film, Laura discovered that her Great Uncle Fred was a stretcher-bearer attached to the 29th Division in July 1916, and featured in the film.  Drawing on his diaries and extensive research into the conflict, Laura’s latest work moves us closer to the thoughts and feelings of the soldiers: their spirit, their strength, their hopes and fears.

Voices of Remembrance will be performed by Chetham’s Sinfonia and Chamber Choir at Manchester Cathedral on Tuesday 18 October, alongside performances by ensembles from across the School.  It will be repeated at Jersey Opera House on Saturday 22 October, with new poems by schoolchildren from Manchester and Jersey set to music for children’s choir and ensemble by Laura Rossi.  The children’s poems may be heard in Manchester on Thursday 6 October in a free concert in Chetham’s Whiteley Hall.