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A ‘little afternoon delight’ was how an audience member described Sinfonia Viva’s Global Rhythms concert at Bridlington Spa.

Presenter Caroline Welsh took the audience on a journey around the globe, exploring music for wind quintet inspired by dance. With a wonderfully performed programme, the audience enjoyed discovering some new music and composers, who were expertly introduced by Caroline. Joining Sinfonia Viva for tea and cake afterwards to chat about the music rounded off a thoroughly enjoyable musical afternoon.

In October, we launched Voices of Bolsover, engaging 73 children from Bramley Vale, Duckmanton, and Palterton Primary schools.

Led by poet Lynn Ludditt, students explored their hopes through lyrics and drawings. Additionally, Ladies of Letters and Adult Squad created stories and visual memories. These contributions will shape November's music workshops with Music in the Round, Andy J Smith, Consone Quartet, and Bayle Quartet, celebrating Bolsover's hopes and dreams for the future.

Whirs, whistles, and shoots of steam from the engines in action at Long Shop Museum captivated over a hundred primary school children for the launch of Long Shop Sound Machine.

At the first Schools Steam Up, students wove these rhythms and sounds into a quickly gathered, layered percussive score with the guidance of musicians from City of London Sinfonia. Each class heard stories of the buildings and later tried out some of the Victorian factory processes during their Experience Day. These were wonderful ways for students to become immersed in this place-based project and begin their creative journey led by Aga Serugo-Lugo early in 2025.