After so many lockdowns, our children need music in their lives more than ever.

This term, EMS and The Mozartists joined forces to deliver workshops to more than 1,200 children across Ealing. We have been working together for seven years now, but this was definitely our most ambitious collaboration date.

Animateurs, singers, period-instrument players and composers worked with primary and secondary school children and teachers through a series of one-off workshops and more intensive projects. For the first time this year, we rolled out a programme of SEND workshops which were so well received that the council has decided to continue them on a more regular basis in future. In these sessions, children with a range of special educational needs including nonverbal autism, worked with the animateurs to create create their own songs. Their teachers were thrilled by their engagement, and many have said that they will continue to use musical exercises in their own teaching.

In the MOZART 250 workshops, children in four primary schools across Ealing learned about Mozart, and what life was like 250 years ago, working with our creative team to compose their own operas which they performed to their parents and fellow students in a final showcase. They learned about the history of hat-making with a professional milliner and created their own hats to wear in the performances. In one group, a girl who usually chooses not to speak joined in enthusiastically with the singing, which was incredibly moving for her parents as well for as the teachers and creative team.

Music has clear and tangible benefits for confidence and mental health. Our children have been through so much and it is more important than ever to create opportunities for our young people to engage in projects like these.

We would like to thank John Lyon’s Charity for enabling these workshops to take place.

“I had a great time… We all had fun. We all had a part to sing, we made hats and it was just a really nice time.”
Primary school student – MOZART 250 project – 2022

Debbie Coates, CEO (The Mozartists)