MusicShare
MusicShare is an award-winning singing outreach programme (winner of the Times Educational Supplement Independent-State School Partnership Award 2019) that works with local primary, secondary and special schools to encourage children to sing. MusicShare is a partnership between Lichfield Cathedral School, Lichfield Cathedral and The Music Partnership. Since it began in 2003, more than 15,000 pupils across the Lichfield diocese have benefitted from this unique programme.
In the beginning, MusicShare worked with 3 schools per term, culminating in a joint concert in Lichfield Cathedral. Today, we work with around 150 schools per year, bringing the joy of singing to thousands of children across the West Midlands.
What does MusicShare involve?
Through a mixture of core projects and one-off workshops, MusicShare staff teach children healthy, quality singing through learning repertoire (popular songs, classical and choral works) in preparation for a performance in front of an audience of family, friends and the local community. These performances are often in the Cathedral but we also perform in many other venues, such as in secondary schools collaborating with their feeder primary schools. We often take Young Singing Leaders (many of whom are choristers and former-choristers) out to schools to demonstrate what can be achieved by children their own age who work hard, rehearse regularly and focus themselves on becoming professional musicians.
MusicShare also runs a series of choirs, which you can learn about on our ‘outreach’ page – click here.
How are we funded?
MusicShare has been funded by various programmes over the years, including significant funding as part of the Chorister Outreach strand of the government’s Sing Up national singing campaign. Currently MusicShare is fortunate enough to receive significant funding from The Music Partnership via public funding from Arts’ Council England, to whom we are indebted.
We have great ambitions and there are many ways we would like to expand the programme to reach even more children. If you are interested in supporting MusicShare, please contact us.
Contact details
For more information about MusicShare or to join Mini Voices, Young Voices, Youth Voices or Ladies Who Lark, contact MusicShare:
T: 07938 871 692
E:musicshare@lichfieldcathedralschool.com.