Create with Camerata: a primary songwriting project

If you have seen Tim Minchin’s Matilda the Musical, you will know that when primary students sing ‘we are revolting children’, they are referring to their plots of rebellion or defiance rather than being generally snotty or grubby. The passion and panache in young singers that this West End tune evokes did not go unnoticed by a group of professional musicians at the Manchester Camerata. Cleverly, they used this story as a starting point for a primary project that proved to be very successful – this year’s Create with Camerata programme.

Bringing to life the Roald Dahl story Matilda with the help of some primary-aged singer-songwriters, this project is truly inspirational for any music workshop leader. Led by Camerata musicians Andrea, Sarah W, Hannah and Sarah N, the sessions reached over 400 pupils from 15 different schools in Stafford, Stoke and Telford. Building up the confidence of its participants and encouraging them to think creatively, the programme culminated in some outstanding performances at the Prince of Wales Theatre in Cannock. You can watch some stunning clips of the show at the link in the box at the end of this article.