Community Projects

The Guardians Of Bird Island

The Guardians Of Bird Island is a new sculptural work by Lenny and Whale for Cannon Hall Park and Gardens coming this summer. I worked with local school groups, and writer Poppy Connor-Slater to create a collection of songs which tell the stories of the characters depicted in the sculptural pieces. The mini album will be released on the 18th of July 2024, so watch this space!

Suggestion Box Songs

Suggestion Box Songs was a project in which I wrote collaborative songs with Barnsley residents and visitors through the medium of suggestion boxes, placed in libraries throughout the borough. These suggestions of lyrics, poems, and stories, were turned into a small selection of songs through public workshops and then performed at Barnsley Live as part of the Biblio Beats festival.

Photos By Wayne Sables Project

Re:sound Festival

I was delighted to be commissioned by Streetwise Opera in early 2022 to work with their Manchester performers to compose a new micro-opera to celebrate the city. I grew up in Greater Manchester and I think the work that Streetwise do around homelessness is fantastic, so this was a special commission for me. I ran six workshops with the performers throughout May - June in which we created ideas for characters, libretto, musical motifs, and sound textures. The resulting piece, The Spirit of Manchester, tells the story of two Mancunians meeting, narrated by Aquabella, the spirit of the city.

The micro opera formed part of the repertoire for the Re:sound festival which ran until spring 2023. It was performed by Streetwise Opera alongside singers from The Sixteen and the BBC Concert Orchestra at the Southbank Centre, Bridgewater Hall, and Nottingham playhouse. It was also broadcast on BBC Radio Three’s In Tune program.

Workshop photos by Rey Trombetta

The Coppergate Woman

For the York Theatre Royal production The Coppergate Woman, I worked with a fantastic creative team and community performers to create music for an epic two hour show which blended Norse myths with modern day tales. I composed music for three different on-stage vocal groups, a 50-strong community choir and a live band. I also worked as musical director and co-conductor (alongside vocal conductor Madeleine Hudson) for the rehearsals and performances.

Newcastle Residency

“The entire [project] can be viewed as up-lifting evidence of how, when we all pull together creatively, we enable social stability and unity and fuel ambition. It is crystal clear: a little bit of music, kindness and love goes a long, long way.” – Beverly Knight, sosallyplays.com

I was chosen to be one of three Musicians in Residence for Newcastle City Council Art Team. The brief was to make something fun, original and unique with as many different communities in Newcastle’s West End as possible. I loved the idea of working with such varied groups in the West End, piecing something new together and helping them all to collaborate. I love a good collaboration and this was a mega collaboration!

The groups created a 20 track album and a music video for the title track “Just Be You” check them out below along with a mini documentary created by Northern Stars Production.

Feels Like Home

“Music is so important for everybody because it makes you happy, it gives you power, it makes you calm.” Chenar – a workshop participant

I ran series of music-making workshops with the Feels Like Home group in Barnsley, a 50 strong group involving people from 15 different countries. The aim was to get them creating music together whatever their background. It was a real mix of personalities, cultures, and ages. After the week was over we ended up with an amazing, uplifting Feels Like Home anthem. All of the music, lyrics, playing, and singing are by the participants. The ideas for the music video also came from the group.

Have a look at the music video and the mini documentary below!

“Just the change in people that I’ve seen during the workshops, they come in quite quiet maybe feeling a bit reserved and have just finished the sessions feeling full of confidence, feeling more connected with people and also feeling really proud of being able to achieve and produce something so incredible.” Joanna – Feels Like Home group coordinator

The Magic of Wild Heather

I worked with fellow musician Hayley Youell to collaborate with the community groups in this ambitious theatre project from Doncaster Cast and the National Theatre. Hayley and I ran songwriting and performing workshops with five different community groups to create music for the run of shows. We then supported the fantastic cast in performing this music.

Photos by Sam Taylor

The Search For Wonder

As part of the 154 Collective show “Rabbit Girl and the Search for Wonder” I ran soundtracking workshops in West Yorkshire schools. The children wrote and recorded songs and music which would be incorporated in the show. Have a look and listen to one of the resulting pieces below.

Music From Outer Space

As part of the DN Festival, I ran workshops in Doncaster schools in which the participants created an interactive musical installation using sounds from space and their sculptural designs. We covered a wall and window of a disused shopping unit with their creations and it resulted in this purpose-built instrument/installation designed and created by the children.

Photos by James Mulkeen

Quirky Choir Exhibition

I ran a couple of workshops with longtime-collaborator Hayley Youell with the goal of creating an interactive element to a photo exhibition celebrating the 50th birthday of the Quirky Choir in Doncaster, a community choir based at DARTS. We took ideas and recordings from the choir members at the sessions and this is the interactive audio experience that resulted!