The Ulster Orchestra’s ‘The Pied Piper’ project is the first project to be awarded an Inspire Mark in Northern Ireland, and one of the first of 34 projects to be inspired by the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games in the UK.
Speaking at the ‘The Pied Piper’ workshop in Elmwood Hall the Minister said: “The London 2012 Inspire Mark recognises outstanding projects and events helping to deliver the Games' lasting legacy. It is therefore appropriate that such valuable recognition has been awarded to ‘The Pied Piper’ project.”
The project is an educational outreach programme by the Ulster Orchestra featuring composer Brian Irvine and over 200 local school children. It is based on performance, self-expression and creativity, encouraging collaboration between different and diverse communities, and exploring different art forms such as music, dance and visual arts.
Commenting on the fun of participating in the arts the Minister added: “We want young people everywhere to be inspired by the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. This represents a very special time in the lives of the school children taking part in this thoroughly enjoyable project and I hope something that will stay with them in the years to come.
“I am ‘inspired’ by the children’s enthusiasm and extremely impressed with the talents that they have already displayed today. I wish them every success as they move towards a full orchestral grand finale event on 14 March 2009 in the Waterfront Hall Belfast.
“I would encourage other projects across Northern Ireland to be inspired by the values of the Olympic and Paralympic Games and the opportunity that an Inspire Mark can bring.”
Commenting of the performance Lord Coe, Chair of the London Organising Committee for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) said: "I am honoured to make my first formal visit to a London 2012 Inspire Mark project today.
“The Ulster Orchestra's Pied Piper project is successfully bringing together over 200 young people from across Belfast and involving them in the 2012 Games.
“Witnessing their rehearsals today, it is clear that Northern Ireland's plans to secure the cultural and community benefits and opportunities from the Games are progressing at an excellent pace."
Notes to Editors:
1.In January - March 2009 the Ulster Orchestra will undertake a major music project for children, based on Robert Browning’s poem - The Pied Piper. The Orchestra’s Associate Composer Brian Irvine is writing the music – to include dance – and will lead a team of musicians working with school children from communities across Belfast in a series of workshops. These will lead up to a full orchestral event especially for the children’s families on 14 March 2009 in Belfast’s Waterfront Hall. The Pied Piper will feature a narrator, a choir of 200 schoolchildren and a children’s dance group of 60, performing with the Orchestra.
2.The children making up the choir will be drawn from four schools in the East, West, North and South Belfast (P5-P7), engaging and bringing together children from diverse communities to collaborate learn and inspire. The dancers similarly will be drawn from dance schools throughout Northern Ireland.
3.This project delivers on the Cultural Olympiad’s core values: it welcomes cross-community and culturally diverse participants and audience, creating opportunities for interaction with no barriers (welcoming the world); it inspires young people, by empowering and inspiring them through music and dance; it delivers a legacy through learning, skills development, social access (breaking down community barriers) and respect for people of all ages, backgrounds and abilities; and it animates and humanises the city and waterfront. The ethos of the project has been structured around the Olympic and Paralympic values, especially friendship, excellence, respect, inspiration and equality.
4.120 school children aged between 7 and 11 took part in the introductory workshop for the project on 11 November 2008. The children were from two schools in Belfast - St Bernard’s Primary School, Wynchurch and Victoria Park Primary School, Connsbrook Avenue.
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