East Riding Pupils to Premier Environmental Songs at Bridlington Spa

Young people across East Riding are working alongside professional musicians from orchestra Sinfonia Viva to tackle the emotive subject of global warming.

Led by brilliant young minds, ENERGY is a musical expedition to a brighter future that explores innovative solutions to the energy and climate crises through composition of new music. This large-scale creative project is part of East Riding’s Classically Yours programme, bringing professional orchestras to East Riding to share their passion for live music with our communities.

Schools visited Bridlington Spa on 25 September 2024 to explore the story of ENERGY with scientist leaders Brogen Murphy and Melanie Boyeson, alongside Sinfonia Viva musicians. Discovering the story of ENERGY, from the first wind and watermills, through fossil fuels, to our transition back towards sustainable energy sources, young people will also gain invaluable insights from current sustainable energy developers off the East Yorkshire coast, Dogger Bank Wind Farm.

Working with Sinfonia Viva and one of the UK’s foremost music leaders James Redwood, young people from four schools and East Riding Schools Music Service’s ERock ensemble will create their own music and songs to tell the story of ENERGY in a series of collaborative workshops.

tudents from eight other schools have also been busy exploring the energy theme and rehearsing the ENERGY songs with Sinfonia Viva in preparation for a final performance.

Hundreds of young people will join with orchestra Sinfonia Viva at Bridlington Spa on Thursday, 24 October 2024 for what promises to be an inspiring performance telling the story of ENERGY. Our creative groups will give the world premiere of their new work with Sinfonia Viva, sharing their message for the world!

The schools concert will take place at 1.15pm and the public concert will take place at 7pm.

The performance of ENERGY will be streamed to schools across the East Riding, as part of the Local Music Education Partnership’s Creativity Week, as well as nationally; enabling the voice of East Riding’s young people to reach across the UK.

Nicola Dixon, Arts Development Officer, East Riding Council said:

“ENERGY has encouraged young people to engage creatively with an issue that will define their future.  It is a powerful tool for raising awareness among peers and adults alike. It has given young people a way to talk, express their emotions, hopes, and concerns about the world they’re inheriting and is something we all need to see and hear.”

Becky West, Regional Producer North Orchestras Live said:

“Our Classically Yours programme in East Riding provides inspiring opportunities for young people to hear a professional orchestra for the first time. Not only that, with ENERGY young people get to write their own music and perform this live with the orchestra. I can’t wait to see the exciting journey ENERGY will take them on and hear what young people think about the most pressing issue of our time.”

Lucy Galliard, Chief Executive, Sinfonia Viva said:

“We are delighted to be working with our partners at Orchestras Live and East Riding Council to bring this inspiring and emotive project to Bridlington. This is a project which empowers young people to share their passion for the future of our planet through performance and song, as well as providing opportunities to work and perform alongside our fantastic professional musicians.”

Councillor Nick Coultish, East Riding of Yorkshire Council’s cabinet member for culture, leisure and tourism, said:

‘’The Classically Yours programme has been successful in bringing a variety of culturally significant events to the East Riding. The ENERGY project has engaged young people in the topic of climate change, inviting them to the conversation whilst capturing their views and ideas in a creative and educational way. We look forward to seeing what the young people have to share.’’

Schools taking part in the event include:

• Hornsea School & Language College
• Middleton-on-the-Wolds CofE (VC) Primary School
• Newport Primary School
• Thorngumbald Primary School
• ERock Ensemble
• Bay Primary School
• Bishop Witton CofE VC Primary School
• Beswick and Watton CofE VC School
• Boynton Primary School
• Burlington Junior School
• Kings Mill School SEND
• Martongate Primary School
• Our Lady & St Peter RC Primary School