Stay tuned

29,000 Birmingham schoolchildren experience the thrill of classical music through education initiative.

Stay Tuned – a partnership between Born to Be, Deutsche Bank’s youth engagement programme, and the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra (CBSO) has ensured more than 29,000 children from schools across the West Midlands have experienced the thrill of live music since the partnership launched in 2012, through tailored concerts offered at heavily subsidised rates.

An intensive element of the Programme was created in partnership with Deutsche Bank to educate and inspire Birmingham schoolchildren from 10 Deutsche Bank priority schools – selected on the basis of need – who have had little or in some cases no access to music provision. Due to development and increased provision within the programme, this part of the project is aiming for its most successful year yet, building on the great results of the last two years.

A series of CBSO musician residencies have been developed to take place in the 10 schools, led by CBSO musicians alongside freelance creative music practitioners, with bespoke workshop content for each school. In-school sharing activities provide participants with an opportunity to showcase their talents and new skills. All 10 participating schools have also hosted performances by CBSO small ensembles and have attended live orchestral concerts at Symphony Hall. Participants also have the opportunity to attend one of the Key Stage 3 Schools Concerts: CBSO’s Guide to the Orchestra. This year’s concerts take place on 20th and 23rd January.

Born to Be, Deutsche Bank’s youth engagement programme, is the most significant supporter of the CBSO Schools Programme and fully funds Stay Tuned. It is part of Deutsche Bank’s commitment to help young people fulfil their potential through a number of projects which inspire. Now in the third year of the project, Deutsche Bank is also encouraging its employees to become involved with Stay Tuned as volunteers, assisting onsite at concerts or participating in workshops at schools.

Lucy Galliard, CBSO Director of Learning & Engagement, said: “We are delighted to be working with Deutsche Bank to bring musical experiences to young people in schools and at Symphony Hall. Our award-winning partnership aims to raise aspirations, boost confidence and develop musical abilities among thousands of children and young people who would not otherwise have access to such experiences”.

Lareena Hilton, Global Head of Brand Communications and Corporate Citizenship at Deutsche Bank said: “Our support of the Stay Tuned programme is one part of our commitment to helping young people fulfil their potential and supporting the communities in which we work. Creative interventions such as Stay Tuned can engage those students who learn better outside of a traditional classroom setting, giving them a chance to excel and regain their engagement in learning.”

For further information on the project and the Schools Concerts visit www.cbso.co.uk