Budding songwriters attend Beethoven concert

Children from St Andrew’s CE with Councillor Dale Mulgrew at the Bridgewater Hall

Children from St Andrew’s CE Primary, Littleborough were invited to attend Manchester Camerata’s special performance of Beethoven’s Pastoral Symphony on 27 January at The Bridgewater Hall.

The special performance of Beethoven’s Pastoral Symphony by Manchester Camerata, one of the country’s leading chamber orchestras, included introductions by the Hall’s poet-in-residence, Terry Caffrey who, together with Camerata musicians, took the children on a musical journey.

One of the aims of the concert was to familiarise the children with the experience of an event in The Bridgewater Hall. Many of them will be performing there themselves at a gala concert on 19 April as part of the Songbook of the Earth Learning and Participation project, which Manchester Camerata is currently running with The Bridgewater Hall’s Community Education Trust.

Two children from the school said: “It was fantastic, a once in a life time experience and it sounded just like a CD.

“It was very relaxing and it was good how we all joined in.”

Councillor Dale Mulgrew, well known for his interest in the arts, said: "It was great to see a good representation from Rochdale at this concert from St Andrew's, Littleborough and Deeplish Primary School. upils of St Andrew's whether they had enjoyed the concert, I got a really enthusiastic nod of approval!"

"I hope that the Rochdale contingent may be inspired to now become budding musicians, and that the atmosphere of attending the Bridgewater Hall is memory that will be ever lasting and will have a really positive impact."