Seventeen Year 4 pupils from Westdene Primary School had their first lesson on the bassoon (an orchestral instrument which is now something of a rarity) last month as part of Watercycle – a major new music project being run by Brighton Early Music Festival and the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, in partnership with SoundCity: Brighton & Hove, the city’s Music Education Hub.

Watercycle is an orchestral journey inspired by water, taking place with the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment in 9 different settings across the country during 2014/15. The project encompasses teacher training, primary and secondary school workshops, and workshops for excluded groups and community groups, as well as orchestral concerts.

Thanks to generous funding from the Mark Williams Foundation, the project in Brighton has a specific bassoon focus, and pupils at Westdene are benefitting from a term’s free lessons on the instrument, funded by SoundCity. Westdene Music Co-ordinator Emma Bright says: “this is an amazing opportunity for our Year 4 pupils. We currently have 17 children learning the bassoon all funded by SoundCity. They are thoroughly enjoying their lessons with Lucy Keyes from Brighton & Hove Music Service and practising hard for their first public performance in December”. Peter Chivers from SoundCity commented: “the bassoon is a fantastically versatile instrument that plays a vital role in many music groups. However it is not always an obvious choice, with a decreasing number of children choosing to learn. We are pleased to be working in partnership to bring this exciting opportunity to the children and hope the project will have a lasting impact by significantly boosting the number of children playing bassoon in the city.”

As part of the project, the Orchestra travelled to Brighton for three concerts on Friday 17th and Saturday 18th October. On 17th October they brought their acclaimed classical club night The Night Shift to a sold out Marlborough Pub & Theatre, and on 18th October young Brighton music lovers were treated to two OAE TOTS concerts for 2-5 year olds and their families. Brighton Early Music Festival continues until 9th November with 26 events in venues across Brighton & Hove. For full details and ticket booking please see www.bremf.org.uk or call 01273 709709.

Brighton Early Music Festival 2014 is funded by Arts Council England, Brighton & Hove City Council, The Dutton-Downing Trust, The Fenton Arts Trust, The Stanley Picker Trust and the Angus Allnatt Charitable Foundation. In addition to the main Festival, BREMF organises education work throughout the year, reaching over 1500 children each year in Brighton & Hove schools, as well as running three choirs. The Festival’s 2014 education work is supported by Southern Water, The Garfield Weston Foundation, The East Brighton Trust, and the Mark Williams Foundation. Brighton Early Music Festival is a Registered Charity No. 1097288 and a company limited by guarantee, registered in England No. 4741864.