New pieces of music for the organ and poems created by children from Slough, were performed for the first time at Eton College.
The premières, which were set against a backdrop of colourful art banners and mosaics, were the result of hard work by year five children from Priory Primary School and Our Lady of Peace RC Junior School.
The pupils were taking part in the OrganworksEton programme, which started with a visit to Eton to learn more about the instrument and see College Chapel with its magnificent stained glass windows.
Back at school the pupils took part in special workshops involving musicians, artists and a poet alongside their own teachers, to develop their creative ideas around what they had seen.
It culminated in the special performances held in College Chapel in front of their families. The children sang and played percussion as part of their organ pieces and their art work was also on show. The organist was Eton College’s Tom Bell.
“We have had a wonderful Project this term,” said Liz Cooper the Project Leader. “Both schools were really inspired by their trip to Eton and the work they produced was amongst our best ever! It was great to have involvement and support from Eton staff and pupils once again.”
OrganworksEton which works with four local schools each year, has been running for 14 years and has been funded by Eton College since 2009. Members of the teaching staff and boys also take part.
“We enjoy being involved with OrganworksEton because the children always come up with imaginative new ideas, of a very high standard,” said Eton organist David Goode. “It helps us to see the organ and College Chapel with fresh eyes too.”
