The performance was the culmination of a six-month project between the orchestra and Springwood High School which saw our music students act as mentors to younger pupils from South Wootton Primary, Necton Primary, and Churchill Park schools.

Head of Music at Springwood, Robin Norman, explained: “This involved them helping to teach the younger students how to hold and play their instruments, and then how to play a series of notes and rhythms for a performance of a brand new piece that was commissioned for the project.

“This has been a project that has been ongoing for a few years in London, but this was the first time in Norfolk.”

Around 30 pupils took part in the scheme, with the Springwood mentors each working with up to six younger musicians.

The event, on June 21, in the Peter Hopkins Hall at Springwood, was attended by an audience of around 150.

“The concert was the culmination of the project, where the London Chamber Orchestra treated the audience to a 30-minute concert of film and TV titles, before the youngsters joined them on stage for the new commission to conclude the event,” added Mr Norman.

For the closing piece, the Orchestra members were joined by pupils on drums, flutes, clarinets, trumpets and violins for a performance of a specially commissioned new work from composer Dani Howard called ‘The Matchmaker’.

In addition, our Year 9 student, Lewis Meehan, performed with the LCO throughout the World Music Day concert.

“This was a fantastic event at the end of a wonderfully rewarding project, and it was great to see our young people rising to the position of teacher in such circumstances,” said Mr Norman. “We have been asked to repeat the project next year, subject to the LCO finding project funding.”