‘No Beethoven No Beat!’

Education Project Dates: January 1999-February 2000
Concert: February 2000, Hove Town Hall
Location: Brighton & Hove
Young People: Primary and senior schools, young musicians from Brighton Youth Orchestra and adults from Scope’s day centre at Hamilton House, Hove
 

The Project

Centred on Beethoven’s nine symphonies, the project was launched in January 1999 by Caroline Brown and assisted by Mark Withers, animateur. It was carried out by members of The Hanover Band’s Education Team who worked for one year with eighteen schools.

They worked with pupils from both primary and senior schools, young musicians from Brighton Youth Orchestra and adults from Scope’s day centre at Hamilton House, Hove. Eight members of the team worked with 27 adults from the centre on Beethoven 7 for a week in June 1999 and seven of the team worked on the ‘Eroica’ Symphony with six senior schools in the Autumn Term.

Members of Brighton Youth Orchestra took part in an intensive orchestral weekend course at The Old Market in October 1999 and each section of the orchestra was coached by members of The Hanover Band on Beethoven’s Symphony No.8, conducted by Jonathan Del Mar. They were also coached on Beethoven’s Symphony No.9 at the end of January 2000. The project drew to a close in February 2000 when all the young people involved joined with The Hanover Band, Brighton Youth Orchestra and young soloists Rachel Nicholls, Wendy Robinson, Andrew Kennedy and Jonathan Lemalu from the Royal College of Music to take part in a grand performance of the last movement of Beethoven’s Symphony No.9 ‘Choral’ at Hove Town Hall which was attended by parents, family and friends.

Comments from Participants

‘I loved the orchestra’. ‘I couldn’t believe my eyes’ ‘I liked it when it got loud and soft and high’

‘I was a bit nervous at first, but then I enjoyed it. ‘

‘I have never met a real conductor before.’