Quatuor Danel and University of Manchester Music Department

Aims

To encourage original composition and engagement with contemporary music by pupils from a variety of schools, including The Manchester Grammar School, having their pieces for string quartet played, workshopped, analysed, improved and recorded by a professional string quartet and lecturer from The University of Manchester Music department. This is usually followed by a concert performance at The Manchester Grammar School as part of the professional series to which an audience consisting of members of the public who subscribe to the series, University staff and students, as well as MGS staff and pupils, attend.

Background

This partnership has been going since 2006 through our own connections with The University of Manchester Music department.

Resources

Performances and lessons take place in theatre or drama space. It is overseen by MGS's Music staff, and the School provides copies of the scores of the pieces workshopped. We record the workshop and issue recordings to participating schools after the event.

Pupil Involvement

In 2015/16, 62 pupils were involved from MGS, and these were boys who opted to take Music as a curriculum subject from Year 9 and above. Other musicians who are not taking Music, but are interested in composition, often attend. There are roughly another 30 pupils from a range of other schools involved.

Frequency

Once a year.