Recently, LSO Discovery has been working in partnership with the Corporation of London's new Community Education Centre which is a few minutes walk from the Barbican Centre. LSO musicians have been guests at the Centre's series of music workshops for toddlers, leading holiday music sessions for 5-12 year olds, and will also leading Family workshops which tie in with the LSO's Family Concerts. Recitals for older people Our series of recitals and events for older people aim to bring live classical music to those who would have little or no opportunity to attend an LSO concert at the Barbican. Groups of LSO musicians visit people in day centres, hospitals, hospices and sheltered accommodation to give short informal recitals. It was therefore a great pleasure to collaborate with an organisation which specialises in giving adults the rare opportunity to learn a stringed instrument from scratch in a friendly non-competitive environment.
Specialist tutors give group lessons at three different levels and lead ensemble practice.
People travel from as far afield as Colchester and Brighton to take part in this unique scheme which enables people to discover the thrill of learning or relearning a stringed instrument and performing as part of a group. On Sunday 18 June 2000, past and present members spent the day at the Barbican Centre, hosted by LSO Discovery. They attended the LSO's morning rehearsal then rehearsed for their own concert later in the day. The occasion lifted us to a new level and we really surpassed ourselves with a performance that was a thrill to be part of. Their sensitive playing and coaching gave us confidence.