Local People Join Intergenerational Creative Orchestral Music Project
Posted on 22 May 2024
**Press release from Sinfonia Viva**
Older people living in local sheltered housing communities have been working alongside professional musicians to create and perform their own music as part of a project to improve health and wellbeing and reduce loneliness.
Older people living in local sheltered housing communities have been working alongside professional musicians to create and perform their own music as part of a project to improve health and wellbeing and reduce loneliness.
Creative Journeys is the latest creative community programme co-produced by South Holland District Council, Sinfonia Viva, Orchestras Live, and Lincolnshire Music Service. .
More than 50 older people from Glen Haven, Fleet, Sezanne Walk and Spring Gardens, which are sheltered housing communities in and around Spalding, have been working with the Sinfonia Viva creative team over the past few weeks.
They have created new music inspired by their community and then came together for an intergenerational performance at the South Holland Centre in Spalding.
The project was led by composer Raph Clarkson who said that the project drew on Sinfonia Viva's extensive experience of working creatively with a broad range of people, from pre-school children to older people living with dementia.
"Music brings people together. Everybody involved in this project has contributed to the creation and performance of some wonderful new music.
"The intergenerational focus of the performance day has been a great opportunity for the young people at Spalding Music Centre to perform alongside our professional musicians and socialise with the older people from the local sheltered housing groups, connecting over their similar creative experiences on this project.
"We have seen first-hand how such a process not only enriches the lives of older people and young people alike."
South Holland District Council Communities Team Leader, Alison White, continued: "The Creative Journeys project has brought a new dimension to the ongoing local arts work with older people which are designed to improve public health and wellbeing as well as reduce loneliness amongst older residents in our local community.
"The culmination concert was a great celebration of what can be achieved by bringing together people with different lived experiences and by working with professional musicians from Sinfonia Viva to empower them to translate their creativity into music."
Chiara Dellerba from Orchestras Live added: "As Creative Journeys co-producers alongside Sinfonia Viva,South Holland District Council and Lincolnshire Music Service, we at Orchestras Live are thrilled to witness the profound impact of music enjoyment and co-creation within the communities of Glen Haven, Fleet, Sezanne Walk, and Spring Gardens.
"For us, Creative Journeys is a valuable example of collaborative practice that amplifies people voices, enriches lives and fosters inclusivity though enjoyment of music and music-making. One of the most unexpected elements of Creative Journeys is its integration of young musicians from Spalding Music Centre, sparking intergenerational dialogue and nurturing a sense of connectivity and inspiration.
"At Orchestras Live, our commitment lies in developing projects that elevate communities through the language of orchestral music and we believe that Creative Journeys joyfully demonstrates how music can cultivate unity and a sense of togetherness, bridge divides and combat isolation through creative expression and active participation."