Students from Dunstable attend concert at London’s Barbican Centre

Students from Queensbury Academy in Dunstable, part of Anthem Schools Trust, travelled to London last week for an unforgettable trip to the capital’s Barbican Centre.

Year 7, 8 and 9 Queensbury students attended a concert performed by the London Symphony Orchestra, giving them the opportunity to experience world-class music and deepen their understanding of orchestral performance.

The young people were encouraged to join in, with lots of audience participation such as clapping and stomping; the concert ended with a grand finale performance of the Star Wars theme.

The Queensbury students attended the concert at the Barbican with other students from schools within Anthem Schools Trust.

The trip was organised as part of Anthem Schools Trust’s new enrichment programme, Anthem Aspire, which is giving life-changing experiences to almost 8,000 students across its network of 15 schools.

The Music Without Limits element of Anthem Aspire aims to give every student the chance to experience high-quality instrumental tuition and music provision.

Commenting on the trip, Year 9 student Sophie said: “It was incredible. The purpose was to teach young people the components of an orchestra, highlighting the individual instruments, their groups and the orchestra as a whole.

“The audience could get involved too, clapping, clicking, hitting and stomping along, which sounded spectacular! The grand finale was a performance of the Star Wars theme; it is the best place to hear it in the entire world, because this orchestra played and composed it for the film.

“All the music performed was stirring and phenomenal, and it will be something I will never forget. It is one of the best things I have ever attended, and I most certainly recommend it.”

Helen Palmer, Headteacher of Queensbury Academy, said: “We were so pleased that our students were able to travel to the Barbican for this concert and we hope that it has inspired them to develop a greater interest in music.

“We look forward to offering more social and cultural enrichment opportunities to our Queensbury students as part of the Anthem Aspire programme.”

Elma Lawson, Executive Director of Education at Anthem Schools Trust, said: “Music has the power to change lives. It develops confidence and self-belief, helping young people to develop their potential.

“This is why we are committed to giving our students the chance to attend professional performances like this so that they can experience the arts at the highest level and feel inspired by what they see on stage.”

David Hatchett, Chief Executive of Anthem Schools Trust, said: “Anthem Aspire is a crucial part of our commitment to making sure that every child, regardless of their background, gets access to transformative cultural experiences.

“By providing exceptional opportunities like this concert at the Barbican, we hope to bring learning to life, inspire students to aim high and support their success both in school and beyond.”

Anthem Aspire creates transformative opportunities for children to engage in sport, literature, music, and the great outdoors through four flagship projects, delivered in partnership with leading national organisations.

The aim of Anthem Aspire is to go beyond classroom learning and focus on the whole child, especially those from disadvantaged backgrounds, to give them experiences that enhance their personal development