Summer Orchestral Weeks: Spellbound

A week of music, magic, and collaboration!

The final week of our summer residentials brought our 11–12-year-olds together at Sherborne School for a week full of music, teamwork, and fun.

Each day included sectionals and full orchestra rehearsals, as the young musicians worked hard in preparation for their final summer concert. Their rehearsal of Princess Mononoke, The Legend of Ashitaka by Joe Hisaishi was particularly memorable, and it really showed their cohesion and dedication as a full orchestra.

Wellbeing sessions were led by former GB fencer Claire Bennett, who joined us at the residential as a wellbeing lead, to take exercises with different sections focusing on teamwork, strategy, and motivation. Activities included finding the fastest ways to get through hoops together while discussing strategy and making sure everyone felt heard. These sessions encouraged the orchestra to communicate effectively and work collaboratively.

Surround Sound, led by creative lead and double bassist, Ed Babar, gave the children the opportunity to experiment and collaborate on their own musical ideas around the theme of Spellbound. Groups explored different sounds, moods, and textures, thought about layering instruments, creating mini sections within their pieces, and shaping the overall arc of their work.

This week also saw some hilarious and creative moments captured on social media. Filming the double bass section’s mini jam session in the lift on the way to their sectional room was so much fun and full of laughs.

Recreation time included a treasure hunt designed by the support team, and the week ended with a disco, giving the young musicians the chance to celebrate their achievements, enjoy time with friends, and mark the end of a fantastic summer of music-making.

The week built to a memorable finale at the Spellbound concert at Portsmouth Guildhall. Conducted by Caroline Hobbs Smith and led onstage by our young presenters, the concert programme featured Mussorgsky’s Night on Bald Mountain, Bizet’s Carmen Suite and Saint-Saëns’ Danse Macabre. We are so proud of the young musicians, who worked hard all week and brought their ideas, energy and imagination to every rehearsal and activity. The performance celebrated their creativity, collaboration, and progress, and was a wonderful showcase of everything they had achieved, a perfect conclusion to the final summer residential of the year.