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Live & Inspired Tour 2023/24

We are delighted to announce our ‘Live & Inspired’ tours for the year ahead, and we have some huge offers for you to choose from! For those who are new to your Music Subject Lead role, as part of the 23/24 Music Education Hub Membership offer, your school will be scheduled ONE in-school live music experience from the options below. Live & Inspired is exclusive to SoundStorm and has been continued to be commissioned in response to feedback and our Arts Council England objectives. The aim of the input is to widen participation with a simple ambition of offering your whole school access to a live music experience but with no additional travel costs for the school. 

 Choosing the right event for your school 

Due to having 100% of possible schools sign up to SoundStorm in September 2022, anticipating this, this year we have commissioned SIX exciting, distinct offers that extend across different genres, cultures, and instruments. We try to provide variety and broaden pupil’s exposure to as many genres as possible and bring back favourites occasionally! You will be asked to select a 1st and 2nd choice and consider what would be the best time for the event to happen. i.e., AM or PM. Flexibility on this will provide a greater chance of you receiving your first choice of input. You will also be asked if you would like one or two performances; if your school is large, can the whole school fit into the hall you are planning to use? If not, you are able to have two shorter performances (often split by KS1 and KS2). Whole school performances are 40-45 mins, or approx. 30 mins if you select to have two separate performances. 

We have aimed to schedule the events at a time that we believe avoids key dates such as SATS, end of term performances etc. With over 50 schools to schedule, we balance a first come first served policy with complex travel logistics so don’t hesitate to book in. Due to the complex nature of scheduling large tours, once confirmed, it is highly unlikely that we will be able to make a change should you discover a timetable clash, and you may lose your place. 

 Equipment and access 

It is vital that the school is prepared for the visit and that the artists are met and escorted to where they will perform; we appreciate that the hall you may be using could be the one used for lunch. In most cases, access to electricity, (and maybe some chairs) is all that is required and a space with suitable safe distance between the front row of children and musicians. Please make sure your colleagues are aware of the booking and any offers of assistance in preparing the space for the performance would be very much appreciated. Our artists may well have a lot of equipment so reserved parking nearby is preferred; if this is not possible, we ask that you communicate with us about the best access for artists to unload their equipment and where they can park in the meantime. 

What to do next: Please read the tour options below then click here to complete the reservation form. 

Once the scheduling has been completed, you will receive a confirmation email from your SoundStorm coordinator, asking for a few final details and guidance on how to prepare. 

 *All the artists have an Enhanced DBS with no declarations 

The Tours

Autumn Term 

Woodwind Trio 

Simon (flute, picc, piano), Polly (oboe, Cor Anglais) and Bryony (bassoon, clarinet, sax) are excited to be bringing an inspirational set of pieces which will ‘wow’ your students and encourage them to take up an instrument. These musicians are part of our Creative Music Hub, involved in leading our junior ensembles, and are keen to show the children what their exciting instruments can do! If you are a school considering developing an orchestral instrument lessons progression offer, this would be perfect for you. 

Dates: 19th (Tuesday), 22nd (Friday) 25th, 26th (Monday-Tuesday) & 29th (Friday) September 

King Brass 

King Brass are often featured as part of SoundStorm’s input into Festival Coast Live over the Summer, and we thought we would give it the L&I treatment! If the weather is fine, we recommend getting the school out onto the playground for this experience, as they will have everybody up and moving about, and it is not recommended for schools which have particularly ‘echo-y’ halls…! This one will book up in seconds, so don’t delay… click here for a taster 

Dates: Monday 2nd – Friday 6th October 

Spring Term 

Opera Magic 

Bringing a truly unique and never before offer to SoundStorm, if you are looking to amaze your children, then look no further. This is so much more than a Live & Inspired experience, as it comes with the option for schools to get fully immersed in the experience, with a teacher’s prep pack. It will work wonderfully as a stand-alone concert, however, if you want to get the most out of this one, we suggest you get stuck in! Click here for a snippet 

Dates: Monday 5th – Friday 9th February 2024 

Kitty Stewart

Folk infused comedy-pop originals, covers with a twist and epic medleys! 

Bournemouth-born ukulele strummer Kitty Stewart bridges the worlds of contemporary folk and comedy-pop with rich, soulful vocals and a captivating stage presence. Her lyrics are funny and heart-warming, telling tales that take you on adventures across the globe and deep into your heart, weaving messages of environmentalism, mental health, and all things weird and wonderful. From Glastonbury Festival stages to airtime on BBC Radio amidst regular performances in schools and hospitals, Kitty incorporates audience interaction and good humour to deliver an interactive and uplifting experience for all. Visit Kitty’s website here. 

Dates: Monday 19th – Friday 23rd February 

Summer Term 

Grace Savage: Beatboxing Mastery 

Grace is an inspirational recording artist who has been inspiring her audiences for over 12 years in a huge variety of settings, from parents and babies in hospital wards through to care homes, and en masse teaching beatboxing skills to 2000+ children as part of Young Voices. Click here to find out more 

Dates: Monday 20th – Friday 24th May 

Jazz Strings! 

Stefan and Pete play a variety of jazz tunes, from calm standards to upbeat unexpected numbers. Portraying violin and guitar in a new light, this set is sure to get everyone’s toes tapping. They have played numerous local venues and festivals, played at Gunnersbury Park in 2023, and will be seen and heard playing in a rom-com film, when it’s released later this year! You’ll hear some obvious Jazz standards, and also some Klezmer and a Jig and a Reel or two to get the toes tapping, but with the addition of some surprises! Ed Sheeran, Christina Perri and even The Police get the Black Market treatment! Click here and tap your toes to this…. 

Dates: Monday 10th – Friday 14th June 

Click here to complete the reservation form

Reservation form

*All the artists have an Enhanced DBS with no declarations