Projects pre-2011

2010 – 2011

Rime of the Ancient Mariner

A collaboration with Create2Learn, continuing its creative opera work with East Sussex schools in Chichester November – February 2010 – 2011.

Youth Music Power Play – Travelogue

Taking music to children and young people who live in challenging places. La Folia commissioned a new piece of music from Howard Moody, created from the material devised by musicians and participants. Funded by Youth Music. June – April 2010 – 2011.

Valkyries

Workshops at Exeter House Schools, Woodford Valley Unit for Autism and Wiltshire College, Salisbury January – July 2011
Performance July 2011 at Salisbury Arts Centre 


2009 – 2010 

Moldova

To take music to children from socially vulnerable families at the Hippocrates Centre, Chisinau. September 2010.

Testing the Edges

La Folia liaised with other organisations associated with Salisbury Arts Centre to research and establish effective ways of working with people with special needs. October – November 2009.

Temi

To play and create live music with socially vulnerable children and adults in the Temi Community of the Caucasian Mountains, Georgia. November 2009.

Consider the Lilies

To explore the experiences of victims of cruelty, using their words and music to create and perform a cantata.

Rhinemaidens

Workshops at Exeter House Schools and Woodford Valley Unit for Autism January – July 2010
Performance July 2010 at Salisbury Arts Centre


2008 – 2009

Songs of the Valley

To introduce large-scale, 3 year Songs of the Valley project to introduce works of Janacek/Szymanowski with virtuoso violinist Ken Aiso, create songs based in the topography and experience of the Chalke Valley, to hold adult workshop for creating songs and hold a concert where adults and children shared their songs. September 2008.

Brahms

To explore Brahms Piano Quintet with pupils with special needs, to extend the players’ insight into Schumann Piano Quintet and for players to perform it in a public concert. September 2008.

Simply Strings

To develop a partnership between La Folia orchestra and Super Strings strings club. La Folia commissioned a new piece, The Gypsy’s Violin, from Jeff Moore – a piece for child and professional players to perform together. January – May 2009.

Travelogue / Sculpture Songs

La Folia commissioned an arrangement of Pictures at an Exhibition from artistic director Howard Moody and a new work, Travelogue, from jazz guitarist Adrian Zolotuhin as a companion piece. La Folia also created songs, dances and instrumental pieces with 60 pupils from Salisbury High School, who presented them to other pupils. La Folia also developed Sculpture Songs (music in response to sculptures at Roche Court) with partner primary schools. A Family Concert was publicly performed based on the two new pieces. February – May 2009.

Sounds That Hurt Not

La Folia worked creatively with special needs pupils, based on Shakespeare’s The Tempest with music on the same theme. Pupils devised their own music, both sung and played, acted parts of the play and performed their music in a public space with an audience for pupils to perform their music in a public space with an audience. April – July 2009.


2007 – 2008

ArtCare

Playing in small groups in various wards/departments at Salisbury District Hospital. Autumn 2007 – spring 2008.

Schumann

Exploring Schumann’s Piano Quintet with special needs pupils. Players performed Schumann Piano Quintet in a public concert. September 2007.

Baba Yaga

A collaboration with Salisbury Arts Centre, integrating pupils from mainstream schools with those from special schools. Working with music, drama and dance, pupils created songs and dances exploring folk tales and legends, particularly of Russia. Schools showed their work to each other and performed a Family Concert and a public concert. October – November 2007.

Just Deserts

A residency at Amery Hill School to develop pupils’ playing and expose them to high quality professional musicians, with opportunities for all players – orchestra, big band etc – to collaborate. La Folia commissioned a new piece from John Surman and the pupils performed Songs of the Forest, oratorio for children’s voices by artistic director Howard Moody. The project culminated in a major public performance: 400 performers to an audience of 2000. February – March 2008.

A Fly in Amber

An integration of music, dance and photography. La Folia commissioned a new piece from Giles Perring, integrating work created by adults with profound and multiple disabilities in their residential home, the Douglas Arter Centre. February – March 2008.

Midsummer Dreaming

A project based on Shakespeare’s Midsummer Night’s Dream with music on the same theme by Purcell, Handel and Mendelssohn. La Folia worked creatively with special needs pupils for them to devise their own music, both sung and played, to act the mechanicals’ play and perform their music in a public space with an audience. April – July 2008.