Case Study: BBC Ten Pieces

“The composition workshops encouraged students to take risks with their music and think creatively. Jason was able to bring all of their ideas together in a very clever way which kept the integrity of the work as the students own.”

Carol Mac Taggart, Head of Music Oathall Community College

The BBC Ten Pieces programme launched in 2015 opened up the world of classical music to young people.  We developed this initiative by inviting adults to get involved as well!

Together with partners West Sussex Music, Ensemble Reza ran composition workshops in local schools with over 220 students creating their own musical responses to four of the 2015 BBC Ten Pieces including: Grieg: In The Hall of the Mountain King, Bizet: Habanera and Toreador Song from Carmen, Vaughan Williams: The Lark Ascending and Stravinsky: Finale from The Firebird Suite. 

Participants:

• Workshop Leaders: Lee Reynolds (conductor), Jason Rowland (workshop leader)

• Ensemble Reza Musicians

• Blackthorns Community Primary School

• Oathall Community College

• Harlands Primary School

• St Giles C of E Primary School

• Bolnore Village Primary School

• Holy Trinity C of E Primary School

• Northlands Wood Community Primary School

• Community Orchestra of over 75 players from across Mid Sussex of all ages/abilities.

Following workshops and rehearsals students and orchestra met at The King's Church, Burgess Hill on Thursday 26th November, 2015 for a mass performance to over 450 people featuring student compositions interspersed with the original compositions performed by the orchestra.