A lack of value ascribed to the Arts, recent changes to education policy and austerity have had a drastic impact on music-making in state schools. Creativity has been pushed to the margins, with many schools offering little or no access to high-quality music. Many young people from underprivileged backgrounds across the country are being denied the opportunity to discover their musical potential, and they should all have access to high quality live music-making, no matter where they are.

Bringing together professional musicians and students, this project unlocks creativity in the next generation of music-makers. A composer will visit schools with Claire Booth and a string player to inspire children to create their own musical phrases, focusing on rhythm and mood. Students will develop a variety of social and musical skills as they create a piece of music together, which they will perform with Claire and professional musicians in the 2026 Sheffield Chamber Music Festival.