Britten Sinfonia presents community music day in Thetford

In 2021 and 2022 Britten Sinfonia ran a series of pilot events called Music On Your Doorstep, which took its players to Ely (Cambridgeshire), Diss (Norfolk), Stowmarket (Suffolk) and Bourne (Lincolnshire) for day-long events packed with sessions for parents and toddlers, workshops for older children, and an evening concert for adults. The events were successful, with many people moved and enchanted by having the chance to experience a concert with a professional chamber orchestra in their own town, and also by the chance to introduce their children to live orchestral music.

The orchestra’s Thetford residency, from November 2023 to March 2024, is a further development of Music On Your Doorstep. Focusing on a single location has allowed the orchestra to embed itself more deeply and over a longer period of time to make a greater impact.

The aims of the project are to use music to bring together diverse groups of local people, to introduce the joys of experiencing and making live music, and to leave behind a legacy of these groups from in and around the town continuing to work together in the future.

Musicians from Britten Sinfonia have performed for toddlers at four nurseries and worked with school pupils at Thetford Academy and Diamond Academy, as well as with members of the local community at Cloverfield Community Church and Ancient House Museum. They are also working with Bury Friendly Orchestra and Thetford Singers. The different partnerships and strands of the project come together in a day of public events celebrating Thetford on Sunday 17 March at The Carnegie.

Musician Polly Ives has been presenting “Pushchair Playlists” with players from Britten Sinfonia at Jelly Tots Nursery, Litte Pirates Childcare and Traquinas Childcare. At The Carnegie on 17 March, she is joined by the Norfolk-born international soprano Elizabeth Watts and musicians from Britten Sinfonia for performances inspired by animals and nature with joyful sensory activities.

At Cloverfield Community Church and Ancient House museum, members of the local community have attended concerts of folk and classical music. Composer and workshop leader Raphael Clarkson has also invited the community to write their own songs inspired by fascinating local historical tales, which were presented by Melissa Hawker from Ancient House Museum. The new songs will be performed in a “Musical Memories” concert at The Carnegie on 17 March, alongside short classical pieces, folk songs and popular classics (2 – 3pm).

Two headline evening “Thetford Folksongs” concerts bring together musicians from Britten Sinfonia, pupils from Diamond Academy and Thetford Academy, the leisure-time ensembles, Bury Friendly Orchestra and Thetford Singers, conducted by Chris Parsons. The programme features news songs written for the combined forces by pupils of the two schools, who have been supported in creating and performing the pieces by Raphael Clarkson, Chris Parsons and members of Britten Sinfonia. (Thetford Folksongs featuring Diamond Academy pupils: 4.30 – 5.30pm; featuring Thetford Academy pupils: 6.30 – 7.30pm).

Chris Parsons, conductor of Bury Friendly Orchestra and Musical Director of Thetford Singers, comments:

“It is such a privilege to be working with Britten Sinfonia on this fantastic project. The Bury Friendly Orchestra have thoroughly enjoyed working closely with Britten Sinfonia players and the coaching the orchestra has received has been invaluable. For both Thetford Singers and Bury Friendly Orchestra, to have the opportunity to perform with world-class players is not something that comes along every day! Projects like this are so important to keep leisure time music thriving and we are incredibly grateful. I know that all the members involved are greatly looking forward to it.”

Chris Bell, Britten Sinfonia’s Director of Learning and Participation, comments:

“This residency has been embraced by many local partners who have contributed greatly to the project – not only the venues and the groups who will be performing on stage, but also Inspiration Trust, which aims to raise the aspirations of school pupils across Norfolk and Suffolk, Ancient House Museum and Thetford and District Dementia Support (TADDS). We can’t wait to perform the finale of a wonderful five-month collaboration on 17 March.”