Welsh National Opera

Roxane has worked as a community musician on several projects with the WNO

‘WNO seeks to maximise the potential of opera to electrify and enrapture through participation in, and preparation for, live opera experiences’.

By participating in workshops in schools prior to a performance, children are able to connect with the performance more fully, to feel involved and to generally appreciate the story and drama surrounding the music.

‘Peter and the Wolf’ by Sergei Prokofiev is an ideal piece of orchestral music for young children to start listening to. There are very obvious themes that represent the animals and the story is very much told through the music. By using this piece in primary schools, year 5 and year 6 children could explore many aspects of music: from playing clapping games to study rhythm, using different instruments in the orchestra to portray different characters, or the descriptive powers of programme music.

The Magicians Cat’ was a tremendously successful project that allowed the school children to explore ‘spooky’ music through listening to Danse Macabre by Saint-Saëns. Also used was ‘The Sorcerer’s Apprentice’, (made famous by Walt Disney in Fantasia). All in all, the witchy, spooky, magical themes were an absolute hit for the children in their last year in junior school.

Other past projects:
Curiad | Karl Jenkins Project | Cowin Lush | One Cake Down | The Harrys