Bringing Music to Life: Connecting Musicians, Schools, Care Homes & Young Creators
Schools
Music has the power to inspire, and every child deserves the chance to experience it first-hand. With support from The Banks Group, our schools programme sees incredible street bands delivering interactive performances across Co Durham Schools to over 15,000 children and young people. We also offer students the opportunity to have hands on experience of playing brass instruments, with a strong focus on SEND inclusion.
Young Songwriters & Brass Collaboration
An exciting new development sees young songwriters from Young Musicians Project Sunderland working with Houghton Youth Brass band, blending fresh ideas with the rich sounds of brass instruments. This initiative has already been successfully piloted last year and will be expanded into a full performance at both this year’s festival and at Summer Streets Festival celebrating the creativity and talent of emerging musicians.
Bridging Generations Through Music – Sound of Sunday
Live music is at the heart of meaningful connections. Through this programme, care home residents are welcomed into schools to enjoy performances, while traditional ensembles bring music directly to care homes in our ‘Sound of Sunday’ programme.
We are keen to develop opportunities for the mentoring of young Brass Musicians and are proud to support these initiatives including collaborations with ‘Dilutey Juice’ and ‘Redhills Youth Brass Band’ as well as a new mentoring project between Easington Brass Bead and East Durham Schools.
The Impact
The response has been overwhelmingly positive:
“Thank you for this, and for all that is going on behind the scenes that most schools do not see. This must be a huge undertaking, and we are so grateful for all of your organising to enable us to have live music.” Langley Moor Primary School
“Having the workshop helped him realise he can make the music, not just watch it.” Greenland Community Primary School, SEND workshop
From hands-on experiences to intergenerational performances, this programme continues to enrich cultural education, inspire creativity, and bring people together through the joy of music.
Supported by The Banks Group:
