March has been a busy month at the OMF! As we approach the Easter break, we're reflecting on all the exciting projects that have taken place so far and looking ahead to more adventures in the summer term.
Music Is In Our DNA @ Manchester Museum
"Music Is In our DNA" is a set of musical stories developed by Migrant Voices musicians Cecilia Keuffer (Brazil), Gulcin Bulut (Turkey), Sarah Ampil (Australia/Philippines) - written in collaboration with British-Malawian storyteller, Richard Kankondo (aka Marco Woolf). The project is part of the wider AHRC-funded "Manchester's DNA" project, which explores connections between art and science, and how both make us who we are.
Gulcin, Cecilia and Sarah treated to us an evening of musical stories about birds, journeys, circles, identity and belonging in the magical setting of Manchester Museum. More performances in the summer to follow!
Manchester Collective perform 'Black Angels' @ Dean Trust Ardwick
Huge thanks to our friends at Manchester Collective for a mind-blowing workshop on George Crumb's Black Angels with OMF families at Dean Trust Ardwick.
We listened to electric insects performing devilish dances, violins trying to impersonate flutes, and got a chance to play with different instruments and sounds on stage! Amazing stuff!
Music and Mountains meeting @ Seymour Grove Allotments
This August, we will be taking 8 OMF children to Betws y Coed to take part in an annual 7-day music residency in North Wales run by OMF. As part of our preparations, we met with children and parents at Seymour Grove Allotments in Old Trafford to talk more about the project, and enjoy some pizza cooked in the outdoor pizza oven on site! Stay tuned for more updates!
OMF Ensemble Day @ Longsight Library
Each term, we gather our young instrumentalists for our termly Ensemble Day, enabling OMF children across all instruments to practice playing together as a group. Commencing September 2023, our OMF Children's Orchestra will commence weekly rehearsals. Many thanks to Longsight Library for generously hosting these brilliant sessions!
Voices of Hope & NIA Gospel Choir @ Niamos Centre
This year, our refugee women’s choir, led by Ríoghnach Connolly, have been collaborating with The Untold Orchestra’s NIA gospel choir let by Nicole Battick at the Niamos centre in Hulme. We've had lots of fun learning each other’s songs over the last three months, and at our end-of-term open mic and celebration at the Niamos centre!
Spring Concert - 31st March
To celebrate the end of the Spring term, we held a fabulous concert at Longsight Library featuring three of our choirs, Children's Voices, Youth Voices, and our brand new Dean Trust Ardwick choir!
Performances included 'Touch the Sky' from Brave performed by Children's Voices led by Georgie Lockett and original songs written by members of our Youth Voices choir. Of course it wouldn't be an OMF concert if there weren't plenty of delicious snacks, and
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