Royal Albert Hall announces innovation in education
24 July, 2012
Royal Albert Hall announces innovation in education:
The world’s first science demonstration broadcast live to classrooms via Facebook
The Royal Albert Hall has today announced a new wave of education initiatives, including the world’s first science demonstration to be broadcast live to classrooms on Facebook. The science demonstration sees the Royal Albert Hall teaming up with TV presenters Dallas Campbell and Dr Yan Wong to broadcast live via Facebook a demonstration which investigates the science of sound. Targeting children not only in schools in the UK, but internationally, the aim is to inspire children to get involved in the arts and sciences. Taking place in October and extending the Hall’s reach far beyond the capital, it offers access to those who might not otherwise have the opportunity to visit the iconic venue.
Commenting on the science demonstration, Lucy Noble, Head of Programming and Education adds: “We already work with over 100,000 children each year, predominantly in London, and the science demonstration offers us the chance to extend our reach and to take the Royal Albert Hall into classrooms across the country, and even the world. As a charity committed in providing education of the arts and sciences, we hope for this innovative initiative to be the first of many live broadcasts”.
Further education initiatives include a series of music workshops with world-famous artists, interactive history lessons for schools and the Hall’s recent appointment as one of the country’s regional musical education hubs. The extended education programme demonstrates the Hall’s commitment to educate and share the arts and sciences with future generations, fulfilling Prince Albert’s vision when it was built in the late 19th century and its obligations to the nation.
The Royal Albert Hall is now hosting a series of music workshops in its Elgar Room for children in London led by world-famous artists, from pop stars to classical icons. Included in the programme is chart-topper Emeli Sandé who will be working with children from the borough of Hackney in a song-writing workshop, a month prior to her own performance on the main stage of the Hall. Saxophone sensation YoLanda Brown will be working with children from every borough in London, in the lead up to her Elgar Room concert on November 17, to congregate in an improvisation session, focusing on increasing confidence and giving children a chance to play in the world-famous building. The award-wining guitarist Miloš Karadaglić who is performing on September 25 as part of the Hall’s Albert Sessions will also support the Royal Albert Hall’s Education department with a music workshop to develop understanding of the classical guitar.
Having recently been appointed by the Arts Council as one of the country’s regional music hubs, the Hall will partner with the Royal College of Music, the Aurora Orchestra and the Tri-boroughs in shaping the way music is taught in over 150 schools across Westminster, Kensington & Chelsea and Hammersmith & Fulham schools. As a strategic leader in the west London partnership the Hall will work to ensure that every child aged 5-18 has the opportunity to sing and learn a musical instrument, develop their skills, and to play with other children as part of an ensemble or choir.
Continuing their work with schools, the Royal Albert Hall will now offer a brand new interactive experience for Key Stage 2 children launching in September. The Victorian Experience is a hands-on tour and workshop at the Royal Albert Hall, led by two costumed-characters, bringing to life its rich history and birth in the Victorian age. Schools are invited to take part and give pupils a real insight to what it would have been like to work or visit the Hall over 140 years ago whilst offering a unique way of exploring National Curriculum Learning Objectives outside of the classroom.
As part of the education programme, the Hall also works closely with partners such as Music for Youth, one of its four major sponsors, whose aims are closely aligned. The Primary Proms on October 10, presented by the Hall and MFY, are inspirational concerts for young people, performed by young people and gives children the opportunity to experience live, classical music, in this unique setting. These free concerts target over 7,000 primary school pupils and are aimed at enhancing their creative development through music. The Hall also works with MFY for the annual Schools Proms in November. November 4 will also see the second Dance Proms hosted at the Royal Albert Hall. Working with the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing, the International Dance Teachers’ Association and the Royal Academy of Dance, the Hall will offer twenty five dance acts from around the UK the unique opportunity to perform on their world famous stage whilst celebrating the dedication of the nation’s dance teachers.
Chief Executive, Chris Cotton adds: “We’re constantly looking to develop our education offer as part of our extensive public benefit remit and we strive to make the Royal Albert Hall unique – we’re not just a music venue, we offer education in the arts and sciences to support the cultural life of the country and future generations. Through new platforms, such as Facebook, we’re looking to extend our reach even further”.
Notes to editor:
For more information on the education programmes of the Royal Albert Hall, please contact:
Good Relations:
Hannah Hayes 020 7861 3176 / hhayes@goodrelations.co.uk
Nicola Hamilton 020 7861 3189 / nhamilton@goodrelations.co.uk
For the Royal Albert Hall please contact:
Sean Carrigan 020 7959 0531/ seanc@royalalberthall.com
Royal Albert Hall
The Royal Albert Hall is the world’s most famous stage. Its breathtaking auditorium hosts over 370 shows a year by the world’s greatest artists. The magical atmosphere combined with inspired artists creates legendary events.
Opened in 1871 as part of Prince Albert’s vision for a centre for the Arts and Sciences, the Hall is a registered charity which operates without public funding, remaining true to his founding ambitions within a modern context. Extending the brand with 200 events outside the auditorium, the Hall has broadened its appeal to younger, diverse audiences whilst still engaging its existing customers.
The Hall also offers the Elgar Room, a state-of-the-art small-scale performance space which hosts performances of classical music, jazz and world music, comedy, dance and hush, a series of gigs for just signed bands throughout the year. In the main auditorium, it offers the Albert Sessions, an initiative that encourages up and coming acts to play at the Hall by offering reduced rental fees to promoters and lower ticket prices to encourage younger audiences to visit the Hall. It also works extensively with schools, young people, disadvantaged groups and partners such as Music For Youth through its Education programme, reaching over 100,000 participants each year as part of its extensive public benefit remit. It has also been appointed by the Arts Council as one of the country’s regional music education hubs.
For more information, please visit www.royalalberthall.com
Registered charity number: 254543