Saffron Hall launches large-scale singing project for Essex schools

We are very excited to launch Saffron Hall’s Big Sing for Schools – a mass singing workshop for Key Stage 2 primary school groups in Uttlesford and Braintree.

Following last year’s ‘Friday Afternoons’ singing event, which saw 500 pupils from 11 local primary schools singing together in Saffron Hall, this winter we’ll be welcoming back renowned singer and presenter Dominic Peckham to lead two flagship Big Sing events for primary schools in Uttlesford and Braintree.

Saffron Hall’s ‘Big Sing’ has been developed to introduce more primary school children, and in particular those in areas of low cultural provision, to high-quality singing material, learning and resources. The Big Sing will bring Key Stage 2 groups together for live music making sessions, and connect schools and teachers with a national singing programme.

Two Big Sing events will take place:

Big Sing Saffron Hall, Monday 30 January 2017
For Key Stage 2 school groups in the region

Big Sing Braintree, Tuesday 31 January at Alec Hunter Academy
For Key Stage 2 school groups from the Alec Hunter Academy cluster of primary schools

Each event will be hosted by the renowned singer, conductor and presenter, Dominic Peckham, whose impressive array of posts include Guest Conductor for The Royal Opera House, Assistant Music Director of The National Youth Choirs of Great Britain and co-presenter for The Royal Opera House’s BP Big Screen broadcasts.

Dominic will lead pupils through a variety of songs from around the world, as well as new material from Aldeburgh Music’s national singing programme ‘Friday Afternoons’. Friday Afternoons encourages children to sing through a collection of newly composed songs and support material which help teachers develop their students’ skills as performers, listeners and composers. Since the programme’s conception in 2013, more than 80,000 people from all around the world have taken part.

In addition to the school events, Dominic Peckham will also lead a series of tailored training workshops for teachers. The sessions will be delivered in Saffron Walden and Braintree in November and address a range of aims from the Essex Music Hub Singing Strategy. Separate workshops will take place for experienced primary school music leaders as well as for generalist classroom teachers.

Speaking about the project, Natalie Ellis, Director of Learning and Participation at Saffron Hall says “Our very first year of working with schools work saw nearly 10,000 young people making music in Saffron Hall, and this season promises to be even more ambitious! I’m delighted to be welcoming back Dominic Peckham, and his brilliantly infectious energy and enthusiasm, to launch our new series of Big Sings for Schools: a special initiative to promote singing as a hugely enjoyable, accessible, healthy and rewarding activity for schools.

After launching this work with SWCHS and its sister school, Alec Hunter Academy in Braintree, my big hope is to take it on the road to many locations across the East of England – watch this space!

My many thanks to Aldeburgh Music and the Essex Music Hub for their support”.

Bookings are now open for the Saffron Hall Big Sing and are open to all primary schools in the region. Places cost £5 per pupil (numbers are limited).

Details of the Big Sing Braintree, and the teacher training workshops will be announced soon.

For more information, visit the Big Sing Event page here.