Durham Virtual Orchestra

It has been a real privilege for Durham Music Service to be one of six hubs working with Orchestras Live for a Share Sound project for 2020/21.   Artistic Director and composer James Redwood, alongside members of Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment have been inspirational guests in several workshops during Durham Music Virtual Orchestra’s weekly Monday meeting, led by DMS teachers Chris Hartley and Tamsin Diment.

During the spring and summer terms, this Share Sound project utilised technology in getting students to compose, curate, rehearse and perform a new piece which has become known as Forged by Fire.  

The project has been very fortunate to rehearse once face to face at Ushaw College and live streamed a premiere of Forged by Fire on 21^st June. The love of this piece due to its shared ownership through creation and performance was immediately apparent.  It was also great to finally meet the Orchestras Live team in 3D!

 The young people have also recorded their parts for Forged by Fire, and this has been painstakingly professionally produced by the Share Sound team to create a virtual performance, which is our contribution to the Grand Finale.

Look out for the final Fantasia piece drawing on compositional ideas from all six hubs, performed by members of Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, Chineke! Orchestra,   and the music teachers involved in the project.   There are many references to Forged by Fire here! 

Well done to all for a wonderful project!