Ring Round the World Opera
Case Study
Background
Network 11 is a partnership of eleven schools comprising ten primary schools and one secondary school within the west Cambridge area. We formed in September 2009 to focus our time and energies on developing stronger learning links, increasing efficiency, and improving the education and opportunities for our over 4000 pupils.
Among many other projects, every year the Network 11 schools join together for at least one multi-school event. The Ring Round the World (RRTW) Opera has been our most ambitious event yet. We had been interested in taking on an opera project for some time,and in 2012, also wanted to focus on the Olympics. RRTW, an Olympic themed opera, was a perfect fit for us. Therefore, in May 2011 Network 11 decided to commit to a satellite project to theEnglish Pocket Opera Company’s much larger London schools RRTW project.
The RRTW opera, part of the London 2012 Festival (the culmination of the Cultural Olympiad), was commissioned from composer Pete Churchill, but was largely created, performed and recorded by children from all of the schools. The final product is now an opera in 162 scenes ‐ one for nearly every major world nation. The opera is a tale of adventure as Hermes and Hera journey around the world, collecting a ‘ring’ of truth from each place they visit. The journey is expressed in different musical styles and song, and was depicted across 32 fully‐staged performances in 6 theatres (4 in London and 2 in Cambridgeshire).
The core opera started and ended in London, visiting China, Greece and Australia at every performance, but the cast of heroes (as part of the story) also visited up to 6 additional countries in scenes created by children, which changed at each of the 32 performances. The162 children’sscenes were achieved through a 5‐step education project, involving school twinning with one specific world nation, teacher‐training, interactive performances in schools for children, in‐depth artist residency work, and performance in theatres. The core scenes gave rise to 7 sing‐along anthems or choruses (the ‘Ring Songs’), which in total were taught to 60,000 project participants.
What did we hope to achieve
RRTW celebrated the world in the year when the world came to London and harnessed the spirit of the Games for the purpose of cultural and musical expression. The goals of RRTW were that every participant, children, teachers and parents would feel connected to the Olympics and in all project activities, they would engage directly with the spirit and ethos of the Games. The children would have undergone a significant culturalexperience that they will always remember as their contribution to London 2012.
The opera project provided an opportunity to:
- introduce students in our schools to opera and transform the ‘not for me’ perception of opera.
- encourage singing and music making - both in, and between, the schools;
- provide an opportunity for students to work with professional composers and musicians;
- provide performing opportunities to young instrumentalists from our schools;
- to celebrate different cultures through song and dance;
- to promote relationships between the Network 11 schools; to celebrate Cambridge’s involvement in the London 2012 Olympics
- provide an opportunity for children, who might otherwise never have had the opportunity, to compose music and lyrics and/or perform in an opera: an open access musical experience for all, not just for those learning musical instruments
- deepen the students’ understanding of musical traditions in other countries
- foster inter-cultural respect and understanding, improving class cohesion.
What did we do?
Planning
The planning stages of the project began in May of 2011 when N11 head teachers first met with EPOC and decided to participate in RRTW. In September 2011 we held a meeting for music coordinators from N11 schools and EPOC to plan the details of the project for N11 schools. We confirmed the year groups to be involved, year 5 for the primary schools except Jeavons Wood where the combined year 3/4 class took part, and year 7 tutor groups for CVC;set the dates for the performances, school assemblies, teachers training and composition workshops; booked the theatres, West Road Concert Hall and the Performance Hall at CVC; and started building excitement for the project in the schools. Each school or tutor group then chose a country to be twinned with and began to use the resources available on the RRTW website including: information on each country, the lyrics and music for the 5 Ring Songs, tips on singing and opera, and much more.
Teacher Training and Resources
EPOC led a training session in February 2012 for all staff involved in the project. The aim was to inform and inspire teachers, while empowering them to input into the project atwhatever level they felt comfortable.The 3 hour session included: an introduction to the project and the 7 ‘Ring Songs’; an update on EPOC resources and signposting on country research and crosscurricularpotential; information on teaching opera; and an introduction to the online song‐writing and composition toolkit for the composition workshops.The teachers could then return to their schools and start teaching the Rings Songs to their class, or in some cases the entire school. The children also learned about the culture of their chosen country including the music and dance traditions of the country in preparation for their composition workshop.
Whole School Assemblies
A team of EPOC soloists and musicians visited every school in April for a 60-minute opera taster session (‘The Quest for the Rings’). As well as introducing children to opera, Quest for the Rings also introduced Ring Round the World tothe whole school by taking them on a musical journey round the world taking in all sorts of musicalstyles and introducing them to the 7 ‘Ring Songs’. Children who were performing in the opera in most of the schools had already learned the Ring Songs and were invited to sing along aspart of the performance.
Song Writing Workshops
At the heart of the project lay the song composition and drama workshops which were held for each performing class or tutor group. Two half-day, in-school workshops were led by an EPOC composer and drama leader. They worked with the pupils to compose their own original song about their chosen country and prepared the pupils for performances. Between workshop sessions teachers or music leaders worked with the class to further develop the songs and dancewhich they will perform as a group during the opera.
Performances
There were four performances of the opera in Cambridge from July 2nd to 5th 2012, two at West Road Concert Hall and two at Comberton Village College, with over 150 students performing alongside professional singers and instrumentalists from EPOC on each of the four nights. Common to all performances were original ‘Ring Songs’ representing UK, Greece, China, Australia and Brazil. In addition, at each performance, students from each school performed a song which had been written and composed during their in school composition workshops.
Each performance was a unique: a journey round the world where students collected the ‘ring of truth’ and performed the rings songs as well as their own school’s composition. At each performance a third of the audience was made up of performers and the rest friends and family of the performers. The audience were encouraged to join in singing the Ring Songs and all Ring Song lyrics were available in the program for each performance.
Many of the pupils prepared art work or other items related to their country in school. These were displayed in the foyer of the performance halls on performance days and were available for the audience to view.
What did we achieve?
During the project approximately 2300 pupils from Network 11 schools were introduced to opera during the ‘Quest for the Rings’ in-school assemblies. Over 600 pupilslearned about song writing and drama during the 48 song writing and drama workshops held in the schools. These pupils composed 20 original songs which they performed in front of audiences of up to 350 pupils and parents. The other major legacy of the children’s work will be in the uploading of all songs onto the project’s permanent and evolving world music website and song bank, ‘Sing Round the World’. This song bank aims to reflect the music of every country in the world – populated largely by the new songs that participating children wrote for the Ring Round the World project. This website and all materials will be written up for lesson use, accessible to all teachers, whether or not they are music specialists. Thus, a song created by our children for, e.g. South Africa, could be used in a classroom in London or Scotland or anywhere in the world.
What was the impact?
The opera project was very well received by the students, staff and parents. The following is a sample of the feedback on each aspect of the project.
In-Schools Assemblies
The whole school – teachers and pupils ‐ thoroughly enjoyed the assembly and were inspired by the humour and singing that it brought to life.
Katie Kendall, Class Teacher, Caldecote Primary School, Cambs
“I thought that the performance in our assembly was really fun and interesting. I loved singing and joining in with the songs. I thought that the story you acted out was funny and I learned a lot of things that I didn’t know before.”
Highlights from letters to EPOC from pupils at Monkfield Primary, Cambs (Barbados)
A great way to prepare and find out what was about to happen. Very good and enjoyable!Sarah Wheatman, Class Teacher, Bourn Academy Primary, Cambs (South Africa)
The assembly in school was also a massive high point of the project – all the children loved it.
Helen Juckes, Music Coordinator, Haslingfield Primary, Cambs (Malawi)
Composition and Drama Workshops
The workshops were great. We were slightly anxious at the beginning but Simon and Rachel ‘s efforts and the children’s enthusiasm made our Cuba song such a memorable experience overall. So many of them gained the confidence to perform.
Cherry Garland, Class Teacher, Hardwick Primary School, (Cuba)
“Dear Rachel and Claire, Thank you for coming and teaching us to sing like a real opera singer and for giving me a superstar necklace and 5 merit points. Thank you also for helping us to write our song and making us song writers” (Jack)
“The workshops were equally as fun. I liked doing activities and games involving singing and also writing our song. My favourite bit was the Mango part. I thought it was good when we did the positions of how to stand when we sing. Thank you Rachel and Claire for helping us” (Kiera)
“I have enjoyed doing your workshops. I’d like to thank Rachel and Simon for helping us with oursong. My favourite warm up was the Green Frog song.” (Lucy)
Highlights from letters to EPOC from pupils at Monkfield Primary (Barbados)
Working with and being inspired by the workshop leaders was incredibly motivating for the children – great for literacy too!
Anna Hayesmore, Class Teacher, Coton Primary School, (Bahrain)
Performances
One of the most beneficial parts of the project was: the opportunity for the parents to see their children performing in a high‐quality venue.
Glennis Virgo, Headteacher, Meridian Primary, Cambs (Spain)
The most beneficial aspects of the project was performing on a large stage in front of a large audience ‐ it was an incredibly moving experience to be part of.’
Anna Hayesmore, Class Teacher, Coton Primary School, Cambs (Bahrain)
This is what we most enjoyed about the opera project:
“Watching one of our class members remain on stage and perform with the actors!”
“Singing!”
“The jokes by EPOC during the performance”
“Watching the effects and the UV lights.”
“Being on stage”
“Watching the other schools perform”
“Knowing we had written our own song!”
“An exciting opportunity to be part of an Opera…I never thought I’d have so much fun!”
“I liked watching all the other schools perform rather than being kept backstage‐ I loved their songs,especially the Indonesian song!”
“I liked that our class got to go on stage‐ I wish we could do it again!”
Year 5 Pupils from The Vine Inter‐Church Primary, (USA)
The song ‘The ring of fire’ was inspired by Indonesia. We just loved the funky, jazzy tunes and words cannot describe the excitement, nerves and sheer brilliance of the final performance at West Road Theatre! What a long and truly fantastic day! One that I am sure will not be forgotten.
Kate Perry, Class Teacher, Jeavons Wood Primary, Cambs (Indonesia)
‘The opera you put on was fantastic and magical. I wish I could see it again and again.’
‘Thank you very much for the performance. It was very cheery and it kept me awake all night. You are very good singers and there were surprises in every corner.’
‘You made me laugh my socks off.’
‘The show was amazing. The acting was brilliant. Everybody’s voice was very good and I could watch it forever and it would never be boring. I found Hermes very funny and active. I also found Zeus and the Oracle extremely funny and entertaining.’
‘Lots of the show was funny. Hermes was so cool with his angel shoes, they wear so cool, and Miss Nelson has got a voice it was tremendous.’
‘Thank you very much for the performance. I thoroughly enjoyed it. There were some amazing voices and hopefully I will hear them in the movies some day. My favourite character was Paul – he was really funny.’
‘Thank you for making our trip really awesome and fun. I wasn’t really that good at opera but now I’m really good at opera.’
‘Thank you for inviting us all to West Road and for coming into school and teaching us wonderful songs. I had a terrific time and can’t wait to do another opera project.’
Highlights from letters to EPOC from pupils at Monkfield Primary, (Barbados)
One of the most beneficial part of the project was… ‘the opportunity for the children to take part and experience a theatre production that so many of them would not otherwise ever have the chance to do.’
Steph Smalley, Class Teacher, The Vine Inter-Church Primary School
An awe inspiring evening - hilarious and uplifting. It made realise how much I love music and singing. With countless spine tingling performances, it gets you on your feet and enjoying life. It was a rare and fantastic opportunity for the children. I am still singing the songs now!
Parent of a year 5 performer
What a wonderful project for the children to be involved in! It was a fantastic, lively and contagious production and was especially delightful knowing the children had all written their own beautiful songs. Absolutely loved it!
Parent of a year 5 performer
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