Southern Sinfonia, Newbury's acclaimed professional orchestra, has proved a huge hit with local schools, thanks to generous sponsorship from Greenham Common Trust.

The partnership between these two organisations has enabled a further ten local schools to enjoy specialist music workshops run by professional musicians, covering styles as diverse as Samba and Film Music.

Helen Fitzgerald, Southern Sinfonia's Director of Education, and her team of professional musicians have worked extensively with schools in Berkshire and have seen the benefits these project-based workshops can bring. “Collaborating closely with each school, we are able to identify their musical needs and agree an appropriate package for their pupils. As facilitators we also encourage the schools to work collaboratively with each other, culminating in very entertaining joint performances, which give each school the opportunity to share their creative work, not only with pupils in their own shcool, but also with pupils from other schoools in the partnership. Performing to friends and family, the children absolutely love the chance to try new things and make music that they otherwise wouldn't have the opportunity to do.”