We are delighted to announce that Alconbury Weald Church Academy will be working in partnership with Britten Sinfonia.
As a new secondary school, Alconbury Weald Church Academy will have a music specialism, with the aspiration that all children in the school are involved in school music in some form, whether that be as a musician or in one of the many ‘backstage’ roles that are essential in musical production.
Britten Sinfonia is one of the world’s most acclaimed and distinctive small orchestras. It also has a longstanding link with the East of England, and is the only professional orchestra working throughout the region. Alongside its high calibre performances, Britten Sinfonia does a great deal of community work, such as its recent residency at the Norfolk and Norwich Hospital and bespoke concerts for thousands of primary school children every year.
In Alconbury Weald, Britten Sinfonia and the school will be working together to inspire the next generation of musicians, pursuing music for its own sake while recognising that music is a multi-billion pound industry in which some of our students might seek future careers.
Our partnership will involve workshops and performances and, as our students become older, opportunities for work experience and mentoring from those at the cutting edge of their field. The school and orchestra will also be looking to work with the wider community to bring music in all its forms to the wider region, including local primary schools, nurseries and care homes.
“I am beyond excited at the opportunity this partnership presents to our students and the wider community. I am determined that our school will be a beacon of musical excellence and our partnership with Britten Sinfonia will be a foundation stone in this mission”.
Michael Fordham, Headteacher, Alconbury Weald Church Academy
“All of us at Britten Sinfonia - players and management - care deeply about passing on to the next generation music’s power, joy and educational benefits. Working with Michael and a growing school community from the beginning will be hugely exciting. It’s a golden opportunity, and so important.”
Meurig Bowen, Chief Executive, Britten Sinfonia
“The heart of our approach is making music with a community, not for it. Time and again we've seen how music can help a place explore its own story and grow a stronger sense of itself — and Alconbury Weald, as a brand-new and still-forming community, is a rare opportunity to begin that work from the very beginning. We're especially looking forward to co-designing the programme with Michael Fordham and his leadership team, so that it genuinely belongs to the school and the wider community it serves”
Chris Bell, Learning and Participation Director, Britten Sinfonia
To learn more about the Britten Sinfonia, see https://www.brittensinfonia.com/.
To apply for a place at Alconbury Weald Church Academy, see https://awc.graceschools.org.uk/admissions
Photos by Shoel Stadlen (Ensemble), Rob Hill (Thetford Music Cafe) and Matt Jolly (Appalachian Dances).
