The annual concert is always a special occasion, but this year was particularly significant, as it was the first to feature children who had been through the whole cycle with Crescendo, from Year 1 to Year 7. 

Conductor Jonathan Simmance ably guided audience and musicians alike through a programme that had something to suit all ages and abilities, from the younger children singing and moving to the music, through those mastering their instruments, to the professional musicians of the orchestra themselves.

In a particularly poignant moment, the musicians, including children learning double bass, played a tune specially composed to celebrate the life of Michele Strong, long-standing double-bass player for the Orchestra and dedicated champion of the Crescendo project, who passed away after a sudden illness in December last year.

The Crescendo project delivers musicianship and instrumental workshops to hundreds of school children as part of the Personal Development and Mutual Understanding aspects of the NI curriculum. 

Crescendo is a collaborative project of the Ulster Orchestra, Queen's Innovation Zones, Shankill Children and Young People’s Zone, Colin Neighbourhood Partnership, along with the schools that took part - namely: Good Shepherd PS; Holy Evangelists' PS; Malvern PS; and Wheatfield PS.

For more information on Crescendo or the Innovation Zones please contact Dr Liam O’Hare l.ohare@qub.ac.uk