In November 2023, SoundStorm, in partnership with Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, Longfleet CE Primary School and Poole High School, produced a very special concert of new music, entitled ‘The Poole Voyages’, composed by BSO Associate Neil Valentine working with Paeder Townsend and the young people involved in the concert, which premiered at St James’ Church to a rammed, sold out crowd. The whole event was part of a wider programme celebrating the heritage of the most historic part of Poole. Below is our highlights film of the project.

The project was very generously supported by Historic England, Arts Council England, the SoundStorm BCP Music Hub and the Poole Heritage Action Zone Cultural Programme (BCP Council), with additional help and assistance given by Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, Poole Museum Service, Dorset History Centre and Poole History Online. Thanks to all involved.

If you were there, this is your opportunity to re-live the process leading up to this very special event, as well as a few concert highlights! If you were unlucky enough to have missed it, here is your chance to find out more about it. The cultural programme is ongoing – you can read more at www.poolehighstreetculture.co.uk

#HistoricHighStreets 

#PooleHAZ

#YOURHighStreetPoole

Over 6 weeks I have been working with year 4 and 5 children from Preston Candover Primary school as part of the St John's Northington Organ Project.

Inspired by the church and our experiences in school we have written and crafted a beautiful song about our place in our communities and this world.

Words and music written by Neil Valentine and year 4 and 5, Preston Candover Primary School.

Pianist - Adam Blosse.

If you would like me to come to your school and help them write an orginal song about hope, love, community or any other topic please get in touch!

www.neilvalentinemusic.com

This project has been made possible by generous grants from the National Lottery Heritage Fund, Hampshire and the Island Historic Churches Trust, and many generous donations.

BEST LISTENED TO USING HEADPHONES....

On Saturday 16th March I curated some musical family events in the Foyer of the wonderful Turner Sims concert hall as part of #SOTSEF, the Southampton University Science and Engineering Family Day.

Having grown up in Southampton and played many concerts in Turner Sims as a teenager it always such a pleasure to work in this wonderful place.

Over the course of 4 hours at least 50 people put my headphones on, stepped up to a microphone and recorded their ideas to a drone I had created.

These included children of all ages, parents, siblings, grandparents, friends, colleagues, the staff at Turner Sims, Students and anyone else who was passing through.

Each of the coloured lines you see is someone’s recorded contribution to the piece. Over the day I collated, mixed and turned their recordings into an original Sound Collage which is what you are listening too now. Please share this with all your friends, family and on social media!

Thankyou to everyone who contributed to the piece!

Special mention to Southampton University Music lecturer Chiying Lam (Melodeon and leader of the group singing you can hear) and two university Students Jiayi Chen (Guzheng) and Xinda Zhu (French Horn) for adding your music to the piece.

Also huge thanks to the Turner Sims Staff, especially Frankie McCormick for organising and keeping me on track throughout the day and to Jessica Santer for asking me to come!

If you are running a creative day and would like me to work with participants to create something similar or run a live music workshop to create your own music please get in touch neilvalentinemusic@gmail.com

www.neilvalentinemusic.com

@valentineneilmusic

Music and video (c) Neil Valentine 2024

VOCES8 International Summer School Young Musicians' Course perform their new song 'The Rhythm of Seasons'.

Each year at the VOCES8 International Festival and Summer School our children’s course work together to write a new song. In 2023, they were inspired by the theme of nature and our place in the world. This song, the lyrics, melodies and chord sequences, are all drawn from the ideas of our fabulous team of young musicians.

The piece is now available on VOCES8 Publishing - www.voces8.com/sheet-music/the-rhythm-of-seasons-by-neil-valentine-and-voces8-young-musicians

Find out more about the VOCES8 International Summer School Young Musicians' Course: voces8.foundation/summerschool

TEXT

VERSE I

Our earth is full of mysteries,

Secrets from before,

Curiously full of mysteries,

From the forest to the shore.

Beautifully wild,

Swaying trees and birds.

It's green and wonderful, It's burning!

Yes, its green and it's wonderful,

Let's stop it burning!

CHORUS

We live below the clouds,

Surrounded by oceans (x 2)

The rhythm of seasons!

VERSE 2

Our lives are full of wonder,

Loads of feelings.

Full of fun surprises,

Different meanings

Adventurous and fun,

Amazing and beautiful.

We need to help the earth

For our future,

We need to help the earth

For our future!

A collaboration between Slough Music Service, Hatch My Ideas, Neil Valentine, Thomas Hewitt-Jones and Apollo5.

My role was to facilitate the workshops which inspired this song!

Video by Dean Soden from 4Motion Dance Theatre Co.

www.apollo5.co

www.hatchmyideas.co.uk

www.sloughmusicservice.co.uk

www.4Motiondancetheatre.co.uk

A short film documenting the MYgration project produced by Lynch Hill Primary Academy, Marish Primary School in partnership with Slough Music Service and Artswork Ltd.

The project was lead and devised by 4Motion Dance Theatre Company, musician Neil Valentine and Aik Saath and involved 45 year 5 students from across Slough.