Oxfordshire County Music ServiceCentre for MusicBayswater RoadHeadingtonOXFORD, OX3 9FF

t: 01865 816990 f: 01865 783144 e: music.service@oxfordshire.gov.uk w: www.oxfordshire.gov.uk/music

Date: 27 June 2018

Oxfordshire County Music Service and Oxfordshire Schoolsat the

Royal Albert Hall

in a massed BUDDY PERFORMANCE of 700 students(350 mainstream students individually buddying 350 students with SEND)

for Music for Youth’s Schools’ Promon

Wednesday 7 November 2018

Dear Sir/Madam

We are in the business of providing ‘wow’ musical opportunities which children and young people will remember for the rest of their lives. And here is one such opportunity! An amazing chance for gifted children with special education needs or disabilities to buddy with mainstream singers and instrumentalists to perform in the Royal Albert Hall.

Each November, ensembles are chosen from around the country to perform at the Music for Youth Schools’ Proms. Following a successful application, Oxfordshire has been chosen to perform as the massed ensemble in the Royal Albert Hall in a large-scale Buddy Performance on Wednesday 7 November 2018.

We are thrilled about this new and innovative opportunity which will have several stages to it:

- identifying SEND instrumentalists- buddying SEND with advanced instrumentalists in rehearsals- identifying SEND singers- buddying SEND with mainstream singers in rehearsals- workshops, massed rehearsals, filming, integration of the Arts Award, Makaton signers and

so much more will be involved.

Key PartnerA key partner for us in this initiative is John Lubbock, founder and conductor of the Orchestra of St John’s. John continues to work in many of our Oxfordshire special schools, bringing live music, workshops and performance openings to many children and young people. In 2015, John was awarded an OBE for services to the Orchestra of St John’s and to people with autism and learning difficulties in the UK. We are thrilled he is working with us.

The PerformanceOn the Royal Albert Hall stage will be 640 singers, 320 of whom will be young people with SEND. These young people will stand side-by-side with 320 Buddies, who will be experienced, secondary school-aged singers. Nearby (end of rows), will be special school staff who will look after the pastoral needs of the SEND performers.

In addition, 60 players will form an instrumental group (again 50% SEND and 50% mainstream advanced players).

Severely autistic children who are unable to attend the Royal Albert Hall will feature in pre-filmed footage that will be integrated into the performance. Makaton singers (again 50/50 SEND and mainstream buddies), will also perform.

CostThere will be:- a participation fee for each student taking part (in the region of £10 - £20)- coach or other transport costs for rehearsals and concert day.

Who can take part?

- Instrumentalists with SEND must be grade 2+ standard to be considered and be able to cope with a long rehearsal day in the Royal Albert Hall, the concert itself and travel to and from Oxfordshire

- Instrumentalists from mainstream schools must be grade 7+ to be considered and have an interest in buddying a child with SEND

- Singers with SEND must be experienced in singing and performing in a choir or regularly in class. They must be able to cope with a long rehearsal day in the Royal Albert Hall, the concert itself and travel to and from Oxfordshire

- Singers from mainstream schools must be strong choir members, able to sing in harmony with an interest in buddying a child with SEND

- Makaton signers must have clear communication skills, be extremely confident and be able to cope with a long rehearsal day in the Royal Albert Hall, the concert itself and travel to and from Oxfordshire

The MusicOur Oxfordshire massed piece will be just over 10 minutes long. Our music is in three parts:i) In Caelum Fero by Karl Jenkins (part of Adiemus, Songs of the Sanctuary) – an exciting

rhythmic piece with the unique combined sounds of choral and ethnic music which uses meaningless ‘gobbledegook’ words that SEND and mainstream children will learn together

ii) Our students own group composition woven together by John Lubbockiii) This Is Me by Pasek and Paul (from the film The Greatest Showman). A rousing anthem

representing anyone who has ever felt marginalised or overlooked. The chart hit song was used extensively in the Winter Olympic Games and has inspired countless covers on social media.

The performers will also be involved in the grand finale which will involve children from around the country who are also performing at the concert (the piece will be a modern equivalent of Land of Hope and Glory).

RehearsalsAll rehearsals will take place at the Centre for Music, Bayswater Road, Headington, Oxford OX3 9FF.

Instrumental and choir rehearsals will take place in different rooms and also together in the main hall. Parents of special needs students may be in attendance at rehearsals if they need to tend to the pastoral needs of their children.

Sunday 1 July, 2-4pm……………………………..Saturday 8 Sept, 2-4pmSunday 23 Sept, 2-4pmSaturday 6 Oct, 2-4pmFriday 19 Oct, 2-4pm Saturday 3 Nov, 2-4pm (run-through with all the singers)

Depending on the needs of the performers, a carer may also be asked to accompany performers to the Royal Albert Hall to be on hand to care for their pastoral needs where duty of care will rest with them. The Buddy students will act in a one-to-one capacity solely in relation to the music and the performance.

If performers are coming in larger numbers from either a school or SEND organisation, it will be possible to arrange rehearsals at their own venue with their staff acting in the pastoral roles mentioned above.

How do I express an interest to take part?Please complete the enclosed/attached expression of interest form(s) which must be returned to music.service@oxfordshire.gov.uk asap. If you choose to post your form(s), please do so to the address on this letterhead. There are five different forms (Form A to Form E). Please make sure you complete the correct one(s).

We warmly encourage you to take part! Please note, though, that we have a defined number of students who can take part and we may have to disappointment some applications. All participants must be secondary aged. Decisions will be made on a first come, first served basis but with strong consideration being made regarding a fair geographic spread and as equal a boys/girls balance as we can achieve (please encourage boys to take part!).

I very much look forward to hearing from you for what we will be a wonderful opportunity.

Yours faithfully

Angela TurtonHead of Oxfordshire County Music Service

Enclosed are the following five expressions of interest forms:

Form A Instrumental students with SENDForm B Singer students with SENDForm C All students (SEND and mainstream) who are Makaton signersForm D Instrumental mainstream studentsForm E Singer mainstream students