On Thursday 27 February, 60 young musicians from across the city came together at Bitterne Park school for one big rehearsal ahead of an epic musical performance on Friday 6 March 2020 at Mayflower Theatre.
The rehearsal, organised as part of an inspirational music project from Southampton Music Hub and Mayflower Theatre, was the first — and only — time the performers will rehearse all together, the brand new piece of music which they will debut on the night.
“Symphony 400: The Journey”, from award-winning composer James Redwood, was inspired by the Mayflower’s pioneering voyage 400 years ago, which created connections that changed the world.
The piece of music started life as musical ideas from 100 primary school children, who joined the rehearsal to hear their ideas transformed and performed by the city’s most talented young musicians ahead of its debut on the Mayflower stage.
James Redwood, composer for the project, says:
“The primary school children were deeply engaged by the Mayflower 400 story, and the musical ideas they created are now taking an incredible journey of their own. I’m delighted to turn those ideas into a piece of music for some of the city’s most talented young musicians to perform, and even more thrilled to know that the composers of the original ideas will see their work performed on the city’s most famous stage.”
On the night, young musicians from Bitterne Park Secondary, Oasis Lordshill, Richard Taunton’s Sixth Form College and St Anne’s Catholic School will join a line up of 500 performers for a momentous evening to celebrate the incredible power of music to take people and communities on life-changing journeys.
Councillor Darren Paffey, Cabinet Member for Aspiration, Children and Lifelong Learning says:
“As we begin our commemorations of 400 years since the Mayflower set sail, I’m delighted that young musicians from across Southampton will have the opportunity to take part in A Musical Odyssey. I know from my own experience of learning and performing music when I was younger that it’s a brilliant way of opening up new experiences, ideas, and cultures, and really brings communities together. My congratulations to Southampton Music Hub for putting this event together and for putting the life-changing power of music into the hands of so many young people.”
