During the February music course, we took the entire Sixth Form orchestra, the CSO, to Didsbury High School for a week of intense music making. Collaborating with music students from across the Laurus trust, our students worked with year 7’s right through to those in GCSE.
Throughout the week we made use of their fantastic Sixth Form centre and auditorium where the entire student body of Didsbury High could watch our open rehearsals.

Our Sixth Form had a lot of fun in mini workshops with years 7+8, demonstrating aspects like pitch range, articulation, how to make the music sound happy or sad and, of course, showing off their dynamic range – head phones advised… the brass won!

35 students from across the multi academy trust attended an improvisation and jazz workshop led by our clarinet/ saxophone teacher Jim Muirhead. Students who learn orchestral instruments also had the opportunity to come together at the end of the week to perform as an ensemble for the first time.

To round off the week, the CSO performed a concert to all with Tom Redmond our Director of Music introducing each piece.
Our repertoire included: Heath Percussion Concerto – Africa Sunrise/ Manhattan Rave, Prokofiev Piano Concerto No 3, and Rachmaninov Symphony No 2.

We wish to thank Didsbury High School for hosting us and look forward to future collaborations and music making opportunities with the Laurus Trust.