As Manchester Camerata’s 50th anniversary year draws to a close, this extraordinary cornerstone of the arts in the north is about to unveil the world premiere of The People Make The Place. This one-off concert at its permanent home, the Monastery in Gorton on Thursday November 17th, brings together for the very first time participants from all of its community groups and outreach projects for a cross and multigenerational musical celebration accompanied by Manchester Camerata’s world class musicians.

Coming together for the very first time as part of The People Make the Place will be young people from Gorton’s local HideOut YouthZone choir, pupils from Old Hall Drive Academy, St Peter's RC High School students and participants of Manchester Camerata’s ground breaking and inspirational dementia Music Café for local residents living at home with dementia. All the participating groups will perform their very own songs for which they have written lyrics and music in addition to performing a repertoire of music they have each selected including musical favourites such as Cole Porter’s Anything Goes and the Irving Berlin classic, Puttin’ on the Ritz.

They will be joined by Gorton Voice choir and other local music groups to perform at this special, free public concert, in front of an audience of friends and family and community.

Manchester Camerata’s musicians will perform with all the participating groups on the night, in addition to playing a brand new commission by RPS composer Alex Ho, inspired by the community groups themselves and his recent visit to Gorton.

Empowering people to make positive change is the focus for Manchester Camerata’s award-winning and year-round community programme. From a child or a teacher in school to a frontline care worker or a person living with dementia, it is about the difference the organisation and its musicians can help make in society through music. All activity is informed by research and fully evaluated, so it can articulate their impact. This work is also what led Manchester Camerata to move to the Monastery in Gorton where it has begun to form these close links and relationships with local groups and community organisations. Camerata musicians and specially trained music therapists work closely with and alongside people of all ages to help enhance their lives through the power, joy and sharing of music. Thursday's one off concert is a culmination and a celebration of this important and life-affirming work

Ann, a participant of the Camerata’s weekly Dementia Music café sessions at the Monastery who attends with her husband Ron who lives with dementia, comments: “ I am so excited because he has learnt something new. And for his family to come to see that, that a part of Ron is still there and that he loves doing things. It is going to be so amazing to see.”

Royal Philharmonic Composer Alex Ho comments: “It's really special seeing how Manchester Camerata are finding ways to work meaningfully with different communities who may not have a huge amount of interaction with classical music. I was fortunate to spend a day with the team to meet some of the community who participate in these activities and it was an incredibly humbling experience. Finding a creative response to this communal setting is an exciting challenge but one that is in line with my own interests in questioning what classical music is and who it is for."

Lizzie Hoskin, Manchester Camerata’s Head of Community says:  “I’m really excited to be able to bring together all the amazing people we’ve met and worked with over the last year in a big musical celebration in The Monastery. We work with so many amazing people and groups in Gorton, so to bring everyone together in one place is fantastic.”

The People Make The Place premieres on Thursday 17 November at 5.30pm at the Monastery in Gorton. Tickets are on sale at a “Pay What You Feel” rate and can be purchased HERE

The People Make The Place has been made possible with generous support from The Holroyd Foundation, Hoppy Trust, The Radcliffe Trust, Zochonis Charitable Trust, The D’Oyly Carte Charitable Trust, The Granada Foundation and The Pilot Group.

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