Warwick Schools Foundation and the Orchestra of the Swan are partnered in a ground-breaking partnership, aimed at creating a centre of musical excellence across the county, at Myton Road, Warwick. 

This involves taking instrumental workshops and masterclasses into local primary and secondary schools in partnership with the Warwickshire Music Hub.

This unique partnership provides access to talented children across Warwickshire to the Foundation’s outstanding music facilities, giving young people regardless of socio-economic status the opportunity to discover and experience the joys of music. Currently the Warwickshire Youth Wind Band and the Warwickshire Youth String Orchestra enjoy the state-of-the-art facilities for their rehearsals, and it is planned to broaden this.

Come and Play

Primary Come and Play Day, April 2024

As part of the Orchestra's residency at Warwick Schools Foundation and in partnership with Warwickshire Music Hub, the Come and Play days provide a chance for young musicians to experience and be part of a full size symphony orchestra for the day.

Split into Primary and Secondary days, participants play alongside our professional Swan musicians, learn and perform an orchestral piece and work with other young musicians from across the county. 

At Primary Come and Play day this April, we had 80 students aged 7-11 from 17 local schools join us, with students ranged from beginners to Grade 5. Conducted by the wonderful Enyi Okpara the young musicians performed Dvorak’s New World Symphony, arranged by Brad Pfeil.

Conducting Workshops

The Swan also deliver a series of workshops led by their principal guest conductor Rebecca Miller.

Rebecca Miller is Principal Conductor of the Bishop’s Stortford Sinfonia, Principal Conductor of the Royal Orchestral Society, Director of Orchestras at Royal Holloway University, and Principal Guest Conductor of the Orchestra of the Swan.

Celebrated for her energetic and compelling presence on the podium, Rebecca is a champion of unjustly-neglected female composer and renowned for her extensive work with young musicians.

These workshops involve developing conducting technique, observing the Swan's associate conductor Michael Collins in rehearsal and give pupils the opportunity to conduct professional Swan players in small ensembles.

Rebecca Miller in a conducting masterclass