[M]usic on the Marr, which this year runs from Thursday July 19th to Sunday July 22nd, is launching a brand new scheme to enable 200 children from five local primary schools to get the chance to star at the festival. They will experience the joys of learning and then delivering live performance. We’ve won some money from the Big Lottery Fund to make this happen.
The Opportunity
The five schools to benefit are: Great Corby School, Warwick Bridge School, Hayton Primary School, Hallbankgate School, and Castle Carrock School.
Their annual pupil surveys consistently indicate that pupils enjoy performing and would love the chance to do more. Parents and governors express an interest in wider arts opportunities and to link with other schools as part of broader social education.
The project will offer the students from the 5 schools support and learning, led by local arts professionals, to perform at Music on the Marr. Each school will decide which performance activity to learn and get good at over the summer term. Music on the Marr will help fund the tuition and offer a budget towards any materials needed to enable the project to happen.
The Event
Each school will create its own new performance piece for a unique concert taking place on Wednesday July 18th in the main festival marquee. The students will decide which art form their performance will take and with support, will work over the summer term to create that piece.
The students will collectively decide which of their pieces is most appropriate to deliver on the main stage in the middle of Music on the Marr on Saturday afternoon, to an audience of potentially 400. We hope they will have been inspired and have had a lot of fun.
The Context
Annually 60 local volunteers transform Castle Carrock into a family centred performance area, for 4 days of activities, shows and performances called Music on the Marr.
Subsidised prices allow 1200 visitors from a wide variety of backgrounds to attend. All accompanied under 16s come for free. Working with Castle Carrock school has helped us recognise the wider needs of local children in our isolated community, reflecting those of the county.
Opportunities for local children to be introduced to arts and performance in their formative years are very limited, mirroring national trends. Our experience, and that of the local headteachers and research, is that an introduction to Music, Arts and Performance has huge advantages for young people.
Project manager Sally Fryer said: This is a fantastic experience for local children, not only being taught by professional artists and musicians, but performing as a group to a large festival audience.
Philippa Maleney Head at Hallbankgate school said: “We’re delighted to be involved with Young Music on the Marr; it’s a wonderful opportunity for local children to join together to celebrate creativity and performance.
“The children are thoroughly enjoying creating their piece for the event and are excited about performing in front of others and being a part of the festival.”
Music on the Marr’s organiser Richard Johnstone, said: “I am delighted Music on the Marr can host this important event where young people will come together to make new friends and explore, learn and grow through the fellowship of music.”
