BSO Resound strikes a chord with school children

Lockyer’s Middle School in Corfe Mullen welcomed the BSO Resound ensemble for a concert and question and answer session.

The musicians performed to a packed school hall for 45 minutes and then spent time answering questions and showing their instruments to the children.
Headteacher, Mark Legge, said: “It was an absolute honour to welcome BSO Resound to our school.

“Their performance was incredibly uplifting and a real inspiration. These talented men and women demonstrated there is no barrier that cannot be overcome – and what an incredible message to leave with our children.”

After performing seven pieces of classical music, including Mozart’s Marriage of Figaro Overture and Beethoven’s Moonlight Sonata, the musicians took part in a special Q&A session.

Some of the questions the children from the Wimborne Academy Trust school asked were: What inspired you to play your instrument? What challenges do you face when playing your instrument because of your disability? Which piece of music is the hardest for you to learn altogether?

BSO Resound was formed from the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra’s Change Makers project, which began in June 2017 when disabled conductor James Rose started an 18-month training placement.

A core part of the BSO Change Makers project was to create a professional disabled-led ensemble for James to curate and direct that would also be embedded in the Orchestra.

BSO Resound was formed a year ago under James’ leadership with Siobhan Clough on violin/viola, Philip Howells on percussion, Roger Preston on cello, Kate Risdon on flute, Matthew Scott on clarinet and Charlotte Bott on LinnStrument.

Their formation saw the BSO become the first Symphony Orchestra in the world to have a professional disabled-led ensemble as a core part of its activities.
Its mission is to take its work beyond the concert hall and BSO Resound’s visit to Lockyer’s was part of a wider tour of local schools.

James Rose, BSO Resound conductor, said, “It was a sheer delight touring schools in Dorset and meeting so many enthusiastic young people interested in our music.

“It is always a little uncertain as to whether there’s going to be any questions from students when it comes to the post-concert Q&A session. However, at every school we played at last week, we couldn’t keep up with the number of questions being asked. It was fantastic.”