Wigan Youth String Orchestra

Wigan Youth String Orchestra is an orchestra made of up Children from across Wigan aged 10-18, who access instrumental lessons through Wigan Music Service. Four Manchester Baroque Fellows delivered a series of side-by-side rehearsals and workshops in Autumn 2024 with the children from the orchestra. They explored aspects of style, interpretation as well as the special sounds of our period instruments.  This culminated in a collaborative performance of Corelli’s Christmas Concerto. 

Feedback from the participants

  • ‘Working with Manchester Baroque was: Eye-Opening; Inspirational; Inspiring; Useful; Insightful; Productive; Exciting; Interesting; A good opportunity; Enriching.'

  • ‘It was very interesting. I liked learning new techniques.’

  • ‘I found it interesting and enjoyed the learning sessions.’

  • ‘I’ve enjoyed learning new techniques and new skills and I’ve enjoyed learning a baroque piece.’

The participants also gave us feedback on the things they learnt:

‘I’ve learnt new ways of playing and discovered lots of skills and techniques’

‘How to use my bow in a more stylish way to match the piece/era’

‘How to play using authentic baroque style techniques’

‘How to manipulate sound and style through weight and distribution of bow’

‘How to phrase quavers in a baroque style’

‘How to play without a conductor’

‘Bow strokes’

‘Playing with consideration of style’

‘To use my bow more skillfully’

‘How to phrase quavers in a baroque style’

‘Adagio doesn’t mean slow

‘How to play in a Baroque style’

‘Bow-ga and how to listen so we play together’

‘Adagio doesn’t mean slow’

‘To use my bow more skilfully’

‘More about the Baroque style of playing’

‘New techniques’

‘How to do an up bow and down bow in a baroque style’

‘The components of baroque instruments’