Taking place between February and April 2024, the workshops looked at themes of connection and place through story, music and song and were joined by musicians from NW Live Arts to create exciting new pieces together. They offered an excellent opportunity for our participants to meet other people, try something new and develop their storytelling and musical skills in a warm, open and supportive environment.
Our partners, NW Live Arts, specialise in curating performances of joyful music-making by world-class professional musicians, together with storytelling by people from marginalised communities. At the end of the workshop process we presented a concert featuring a captivating mix of music from plainchant by Hildegard of Bingen, to music by North American composer Kenji Bunch, accordion virtuosi Richard Galliano and Astor Piazzolla, violin music by Enescu and arrangements of pieces by Attab and Kuljit. It also included solos from Kuljit Bhamra’s latest album A Tablanaut’s Journey. The programme was delightfully woven together in a continuous 70-minute performance, telling stories of what brings us together in a joyful celebration of our shared humanity. Have a listen here!
Aga Serugo-Lugo
Supported using public funding by the National Lottery through Arts Council England.
About St John’s Waterloo
St John’s, the church on the IMAX roundabout at Waterloo, is a historic Grade II* church that reopened in October 2022 after a major restoration by Eric Parry Architects. It is one of the most inclusive churches in London and provides the best new performance, event and meeting spaces on the South Bank, fulfilling its commitment to be here for everyone. St John’s produces a year-round programme of arts and culture, including the annual Waterloo Festival, and is home to the academy-orchestra Southbank Sinfonia. It also runs the award-winning churchyard garden and a variety of community projects.
About NW Live Arts
NW Live Arts creates stimulating live music performances to inspire new musical encounters, challenge preconceptions and empower communities to forge a lifelong relationship with music. They stage events in arts venues and in local neighbourhood venues with the aim of reaching new and overlooked audiences, and explore new contexts for performance and break the mould of the traditional classical concert. By bringing different musical traditions together, the team and musicians create exciting experiences, explore new sounds and dissolve boundaries in music and society.
