Mayor of Haringey enjoys our orchestral workshop at The Dream Centre in Tottenham

Dream Centre 8

Dream Centre 6

We were delighted to welcome the Mayor of Haringey, Cllr Jennifer Mann, to our recent orchestral workshop at The Dream Centre in Tottenham. The workshop was attended by around 100 pupils from Stamford Hill and Belmont Primary Schools in Haringey and Springfield Primary School in Hackney, and provided a fantastic opportunity for these children to experience a live orchestra - many of them for the very first time - in a beautiful Grade II listed building.The Mayor of Haringey commented: "I really enjoyed today’s orchestral workshop firstly as a music-lover and enjoying being at a concert. I also thought it was so engaging for children, and the way they were really brought into the music – explaining what the pieces are called and who wrote them and so on – it really drew them in... Music in primary schools is tremendously important - not just because of the fun and expression and joy children get out of experiencing music, but also because of the impact it has on other aspects of their education, particularly their concentration and cooperative behaviour."The repertoire performed included pieces by Mozart, Handel, Haydn and Piazzola - and 'The Simpsons' theme tune! Tal, a Year 5 pupil at Belmont Primary School, found the workshop motivational: "I play the violin. I’m not the best, I could be better – I want to get better, so I’m going to keep practising and hopefully I will get better. I think that seeing a big orchestra like this helps me to keep playing."Thank you to the Mayor for taking time out of her busy schedule to join us!