In essence, the result is an opera for children, by children…
Today we are looking back at our first commission, The Hackney Chronicles (2001), by leading British composer Johnathan Dove and librettist Alasdair Middleton. The Hackney Chronicles, a children's opera for primary schools to perform, follows Hackney's history through four periods: the Anglo-Saxons, the Elizabethans, the Victorians, and the Blitz. In each month-long residency, two classes gained skills in performing, stage-managing, designing and marketing with the aid of a small professional team, whilst all their lessons used our accompanying cross-curricular resources supported by site visits to relevant museums.
This structure launched our award-winning methodology of embedding the arts across all learning, in this instance helping children discover how history can be learnt in an artistic environment. The programme flourished for 5 years reaching 12 schools with each residency culminating in high quality performances and we still perform scenes from the opera with our I Can Sing! students.
“This was more than just a school opera, it was a teaching aid as well, not to mention a song of hope.”
“Children were transformed into professionals during the project which ended in three performances. Each one, a success with the neighbourhood. Such a success that even the newspapers had something good to say. The whole project simply proved that children can work just as well as grown adults.”
“When we were rehearsing and running through the whole thing it made me feel like we were actually the people in it. We were the history. I kept on thinking why do we have history teachers when we have the opera project! ”
“It was an invaluable teaching and learning experience, for all involved. This type of project is state of the art learning and teaching – theory and practise coincide with high quality product. Interactive learning at its best. I’m impressed by this visionary approach. Apart from extensive academic development the holistic approach of the opera permeated the classes, personal development, relationships and their positive growth. Children took responsibilities undreamed of and responded to the high expectations of the overall opera programme.”
“The Hackney Chronicles is a living, breathing, all singing example of how music is actively bringing a multi-cultural and diverse community together, creating a greater understanding of its present by celebrating its past in song.”
“The opera brought the best out of every single child in a way that was quite simply miraculous! it reminded me of exactly what the best education should look like. The children learnt so much more than in their normal lessons but, more importantly, also learnt some essential life skills. There’s no question in my mind that this project has changed the life of many of these children. ”
“My cynicism (about opera education) imploded spectacularly when 60 10-11 years – many of them the subject of exclusion orders for bad behaviour – gave an operatic version of their own area that was simply one of the most moving and entertaining pieces of music theatre that I’ve ever seen. And that view was clearly also felt by the parents and civic dignitaries in the audience – many of them were in tears. ”
“I learnt that is easy to sing you just need to be confident. I learnt advanced history between the Anglo Saxons and the Blitz. I enjoyed making the opera with everybody and realised that operas are very emotional things and they can be happy, grumpy or sad ”
Artistic Team
Composer
Jonathan Dove
Librettist
Alasdair Middleton
Director
Sarah Alexander
Music Director
Jonathan Gill
Technical Director
Stephen Bridge
Designer
Andrea Carr
Costume Supervisor
Kate Whitehead
Artistic Team for revivals
Directors
Martin Lloyd-Evans
Rob Kearly
Ezra Hjalmarsson
Dylan Lowthian
Music Directors
Helen Ireland
Liz Rowe
Jill Farrow
Partners
Shakespeare’s Globe
The Imperial War Museum
Museum of London
Hackney Archives
Schools
Lauriston Primary School
– Premiere
Baden Powell Primary
Jubilee School
Northwold Primary School
Whitmore Primary School
Millfields Community School
Thomas Fairchild Community School
William Patten Primary School
Craven Park School
St John of Jerusalem Primary School
Sebright Primary
St John and St James School
Hackney New School
Funders
PHF
The Ernest Cook Trust
Lloyds TSB Foundation
D’Oyly Carte Charitable Trust
Enabling under 4s to explore basic rhythms and melodies and helps parents gain the confidence to experiment and enjoy music making with their children.
A one year Foundation Course for reception class children, an introduction to music through singing and movement, leading up to performances at the end of each term.
The Minis prepares Year 1 and Year 2 children for both music theatre and instrumental studies through a fun, structured 2-year programme.
Music Theatre School for students in Years 3 – 13 offering students the opportunity to experience the excitement of musical theatre training and performance.
HMDT’s Instrumental School offers students ages 5 upwards an extensive curriculum including group and individual instrumental tuition, singing, musicianship and ensembles
Offering talented young instrumentalists and vocalists an amazing opportunity to work with some of the world’s top jazz musicians
A new method of integrating music therapy into regular activity for Students with SEN/D needs
Home of The Saturday Programme
HMDT Music, twice winner of the prestigious Royal Philharmonic Society Award for Education and winner of the Excellence in Music Theatre Award is a leader in creating inspiring projects for young people, particularly those facing challenging experiences, through which it aims to enrich learning, broaden awareness of and help fight inequity and transform lives.
