The overarching aim of Orchestral Europa is to change the lives of young people through the medium of classical music. The core of its work is the inspiring and enriching of a future generation of audiences and players through furthering the learning and development of young musicians at the start of their careers.
Fellows and associates of the Classical Futures performance programme act as teachers and mentors to UK schoolchildren aged from 4 to 18, through the Europa Juniors programme. This dual aspect to the organisation’s educational endeavours is another factor that makes Orchestra Europa unique.
Europa Juniors contributes to Orchestra Europa’s ‘virtuous musical circle’ of performance and education by harmonising with and enhancing existing school curricula. In promoting classical music-making among young people in primary and secondary education, the programme achieves a far-reaching resonance; in fact, Orchestra Europa aspires to transforming national policy on music education.
Currently, much musical talent falls by the wayside in both primary and secondary schools because it is not identified or stimulated at the right point in a child’s development. Moreover, classical music-making makes significant demands on both time and money: specialist teaching, instruments, sheet music, time to learn, time to practise, time and space to make music with other people amongst other things. Many schools are not in a position to supply what is required, limiting the opportunities for most children to engage with classical music, especially in small group settings.
Orchestra Europa seeks to address these issues by forging direct relationships with schools. Through the involvement of its Fellows and Associates, Orchestra Europa places its talented and highly-trained musicians in the classroom, providing the opportunity for children from all backgrounds to engage with live music-making. The result is an educational relationship that is mutually stimulating and rewarding – and far-reaching in its implications. For more information on Orchestra Europa’s educational initiatives, or to discuss potential co-operation with your school or local education authority, please contact us.
