Stuart Boulton/RCBC
Our Music, Our Way & Darlo Creates
Glasshouse International Centre for Music, Gateshead (UK)
A 2024 report found that just 2% of children in northern England had performed music in a local venue, while only 25% had ever performed in public. In areas such as Middlesbrough and Darlington, access to cultural experiences remains limited, and participation in creative subjects in schools continues to decline. In response, the programs Our Music, Our Way and Darlo Creates aim to make orchestral music more accessible and inclusive to young people across the region.
Around 70 young people from Darlington and Middlesbrough will have the opportunity to explore orchestral sound, experiment with rhythm and texture, and collaboratively create new music that reflects their own stories and communities. These workshops are led by cross-genre composer Yshani Perinpanayagam, alongside musicians from the Royal Northern Sinfonia and the Hallé.
In previous years, participants have drawn inspiration from the region’s rich industrial and social history—from Redcar’s steelworks to Darlington’s pioneering role in public transport. These themes encourage young people to connect their local identity with orchestral creativity, fostering pride in their communities and confidence in their artistic voice.
Our Music, Our Way and Darlo Creates are supported by the Ernst von Siemens Music Foundation.
Further Information:
theglasshouseicm.org
Dates
April 27, 28, & 29, 2026
The Glasshouse International Centre for Music, Gateshead
