Create Yarmouth is a rolling orchestral strategy in Great Yarmouth that engages young people and adults in inspirational music events, skills-development and creative projects. These activities aim to raise aspiration, provide learning pathways and improve people’s wellbeing through collaboration with world class musicians, composers, digital artists, producers and arts managers.

The project launched in spring 2020 with an initial residency by London Mozart Players. From January 2022, the BBC Concert Orchestra began a three-year residency co-produced with Orchestras Live and our partners in Great Yarmouth and Norfolk.

Our co-producer and resident orchestra

The current residency builds on the BBC Concert Orchestra’s work in wide-ranging live performances as well as learning and participation activities across the UK. This includes the orchestra taking a leading role in the BBC Ten Pieces programme, the BBC Young Composer competition and the BBC Open Music programme.

The story so far:

During the first two years, online and in-person workshops at all eight primary schools in Great Yarmouth led to full-scale performances at St George’s Theatre and The Drill House, enabling hundreds of children to experience a live orchestra for the first time.

Presented by BBC Concert Orchestra percussionist Alasdair Malloy, both events had distinctive themes. Mission Earth (May 2022) was a musical adventure with an important environmental message, whilst The Incredible Orchestral Time Machine (June 2023) featured music relating to different time periods, woven together with aspects of local history to make the narrative even more relevant to the audience. The latter event was streamed so that nearly 4,000 children at 32 schools across Norfolk could also engage with the live experience.

A more in-depth project in the second year was Share Sound II, in which music was co-created and performed by more than 50 young musicians from four schools across Norfolk, working closely with their music teachers, BBC Concert Orchestra players, instrumental tutors from Norfolk Music Service and music leader James Redwood. A creative process spanning six months culminated in a performance at The Drill House in March 2023, with local young creatives involved in the filming and photography as well as presentation of the event.

Supporting the work of the Heritage Action Zone and Out there Arts, pop-up performances in the town centre were held in June 2022 by a wind quintet from the Concert Orchestra, engaging with a range of community groups and new audiences.

Public concerts have been held at several venues in Great Yarmouth, with ensemble performances at St George’s Theatre in May 2022 and March 2023, and a full orchestra concert at the Hippodrome Circus Theatre in July 2022, the latter broadcast on BBC Radio 2.

A further significant event took place at the Hippodrome in September 2023 as part of the BBC Proms festival, when the BBC Concert Orchestra, directed by their newly appointed Chief Conductor Anna-Maria Helsing, performed a programme reflecting the iconic circus venue, as well as a new commission Seascapes by Norfolk based composer Sarah Rodgers. This concert was broadcast on BBC Radio 3. The following day the Concert Orchestra delivered one of its national Young Composer Days at East Norfolk Sixth Form College, targeting young producers and creatives of all genres.

Year 3 of Create Yarmouth increased the reach of the residency, with informal small-scale performances hosted with the local Portuguese community and further work with young musicians and creatives in partnership with Norfolk Music Service and the Freshly Greated CPP.

Activity included a symphonic brass concert at St George’s Theatre and a brass masterclass in partnership with Norfolk Music Service. An event at the Tropical Café brought together the local Portuguese community for an interactive performance featuring Portuguese-inspired music and local singer Zara Maia. The project culminated in a lively Friday Night is Music Night performance at the Hippodrome Circus Theatre, which included a mix of Portuguese songs and world premieres by local young composers. The final event at The Drill House showcased a co-curated performance with the Portuguese community, including fado singer Zara Maia and circus artist Dulce Duca.

Outcomes

Between January 2022 and November 2024, we co-produced and delivered 15 public concerts and events, plus 43 participatory workshops and activities for local people.

Combined activity over the three years reached a total of 4,390 audiences, 721 participants and 3,862 live-stream schools audiences.

• 99% of audiences and participants said their experiences were Good or Excellent.
• 87% of audiences said Create Yarmouth gave them the opportunity to access activities they would otherwise not have access to.
• 97% of audiences said Create Yarmouth provided an important addition to the cultural life of the area.
• 82% of audiences said activity in Create Yarmouth made them feel proud of their local area.

Create Yarmouth is co-produced with the BBC Concert Orchestra, in partnership with Norfolk Music Education Hub, Norfolk Museum Service, Norfolk Arts Service, Enjoy Great Yarmouth, Creative Collisions, Out There Arts and St George’s Theatre.