Pupils’ performance with Halle is hailed

MORE than 1,300 Oldham primary school children got the chance to perform alongside the world-class Halle Orchestra.

The youngsters took part in a concert at Manchester’s Bridgewater Hall as part of the orchestra’s “Come and Play” initiative.

They were among thousands of primary school pupils from across the North-West invited to play with the Halle in a series of concerts to boost the ambitions of young musicians.

The project is supported by Oldham Music Service, which is involved in a scheme to give all primary school pupils the opportunity to learn to play a musical instrument as part of their weekly curriculum.

The young string, brass, guitar, percussion and woodwind players invited on to the stage at the Bridgewater Hall have been working hard under the direction of Oldham Music Service staff to learn pieces based around the theme of holidays and travel.

“Come and Play” also gives children the chance to hear a symphony orchestra perform, which for many is a new experience.

The orchestra, under the direction of Jamie Phillips, performed excerpts from “Mother Goose” by Ravel, “Star Wars” by John Williams, “Hoe Down” by Aaron Copland and other short pieces by Strauss, De Falla and Rossini.

The concert ended in spectacular style with the closing pages of Shostakovitch’s stirring, epic fifth symphony.
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