In Harmony
In Harmony Opera North is a long term music programme which launched in the spring of 2013 at Windmill Primary School; it now takes place at eight primary schools, three infant schools and one secondary school in Leeds,Halifax and Pontefract and involves over 3000 children and young people in full-time education on a weekly basis.
In Harmony brings weekly music lessons and performance opportunities to its partner schools through the ‘First Access’ programme which takes place during the school day and there are a range of additional opportunities for students to make progress in their musical studies through Opera North Pathways activity. The programme seeks to deliver an inclusive programme of music education and performance opportunities to encourage young people from socio-economically disadvantaged backgrounds to engage with the arts and, through doing so, benefit from a range of personal, social and musical outcomes. Supporting the development of a strong sense of community is an important facet of the programme, alongside promoting musical excellence and the opportunity for committed and enthusiastic young people to realise their musical potential.
In Harmony schools also have additional opportunities to interact with the Opera Company as an audience, both in school and the local area and at the Howard Opera Centre. Underpinning this work is a desire to enrich communities and foster a love of the arts as well as the musical potential of the students. String teaching plays an integral part of the First Access programme, with all students playing the Violin, Viola or Cello for at least two years, some for four or more.
Progression opportunities for young musicians include the In Harmony Band, Opera North Young Musicians Studio, Young Performers Studio and Opera North Youth Orchestra.
