Members of the QE Orchestra stepped into the spotlight at the Darlington Hippodrome, delivering a performance that will stay with them for years to come.
Over the past few weeks, around a dozen QE musicians worked closely with internationally acclaimed conductor, pianist, and composer Yshani Perinpanayagam as part of a series of intensive creative workshops. Yshani, accompanied by musicians from the Royal Northern Sinfonia, spent a day at Queen Elizabeth Sixth Form College to launch this exciting musical collaboration, guiding students through the process of composing, arranging, and refining an entirely new piece of music.
All of their hard work came to life on the Hippodrome stage, where QE students opened the evening to a packed theatre with their original composition, “Ode To A Night Out”. Developed alongside Yshani and shaped by students’ own ideas and creativity, the piece showcased not only their musicianship but also their willingness to experiment and push beyond their comfort zones.
The night was a fantastic celebration of talent, teamwork, and musical passion. Working so closely with professional musicians and students from Carmel College, and the experience of performing in such a prestigious venue was inspiring, motivating, and a huge boost to our students’ confidence.
Watching their creativity flourish throughout the project has been a highlight for everyone involved, and taking the stage for this one night only performance is something they will always remember.
Steve McGarvie, Music teacher and Director of the college Enrichment ensembles, shared his pride in the group:
“The students had an amazing time working with members of the Royal Northern Sinfonia and Yshani, working outside of their comfort zones, creating new music from scratch and performing so professionally in such a prestigious theatre, to an appreciative audience. Transferrable skills, such as communication, teamwork, compromise and assessing and evaluating the piece as it progressed will all contribute to sustained success moving forward in their chosen academic and work-based careers. They all did the college proud!”
The orchestra at QE is one of many enrichment opportunities available to students outside of their academic studies. With over 60 enrichments, from sport and languages to performing arts, STEM, history, chess, and more, there’s something for every interest and ambition.
Find out more here – Enrichment Programme – Queen Elizabeth Sixth Form College
