Sistema in Norwich at Epic Studios

On the evening of Friday 5th July 2013 I attended the Sistema in Norwich concert at Epic Studios, Norwich which was part of the Young Norfolk Arts Festival. The Sistema in Norwich Martineau Orchestra were accompanied by a Royal Philharmonic Orchestra Quartet with guest appearances from In Harmony Liverpool and Lambeth.

The programme consisted of Sistema Norwich Choir - Singing songs from Britten's Friday Afternoons and other Sistema favourites, Live webstream performance with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic In Harmony Children's Ensemble - Kingston Shuffle, Tudor Dance and Ode to Joy, The Martineau Children's Orchestra - Lightly Row, Playful Pizz, Skye Boat Song, Sugar Plum Fairy and Pachelbel's Canon, Performance by Royal Philharmonic Orchestra Quartet, Combined ensemble Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Norwich and Lambeth Quartets - Yoska, Allegro and Andantino and Martineau Children's Orchestra - Slavonic Dance, Chariots of Fire, Romeo and Juliet, Turn the World Around and Star Wars.

Sistema in Norwich is a new and independent programme based on the Venezuelan El Sistema music education and social change programme, made famous by the world renowned Simon Bolivar Symphony Orchestra. El Sistema has inspired children all over the world and helped them to improve their life chances. Sistema in Norwich are currently working in Larkman and Catton Grove Primary Schools.

This was an inspiring and fantastic night at Epic Studios which included a world first, with two Sistema orchestras performing simultaneously over a live weblink. There was some wonderful music played by the children from Norwich, Liverpool and Lambeth which was greatly enjoyed by the enthusiastic audience.