Exceptional music education for all children

Aurora Classroom brings music of the highest quality directly into your setting, introducing children to music in an innovative and exciting way.

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Meet the creators: Aurora Orchestra

Aurora Orchestra is a pioneering orchestra that crosses boundaries to create concert experiences beyond the ordinary. You might find us presenting whole symphonies from memory, collaborating with dancers, film-maker or actors, or performing in nightclubs.

The common thread which links all of this work is simple: we believe in exceptional music for all.

A woman stands in front of a screen with song lyrics on it. She is pointing to the song lyrics. In front of her we can see the backs of heads of two children, slightly blurred.

Aurora Classroom

“A lifesaver for teachers who have not taught music before. The quality is everything you would expect from this kind of orchestra.” – Music Teacher Magazine, April 2023

Aurora Classroom brings world-class musicians into your classroom via a digital platform expertly developed by Aurora Orchestra’s award-winning creative team and education specialists.

For many, teaching music can be a daunting and time-consuming task – that’s why we’ve created a platform that empowers all primary school teachers to deliver high impact and engaging music lessons effortlessly, regardless of your own musical abilities. Through our termly CPD programme we place teachers’ professional development at the heart of our programmes so that they too can become more confident musicians and practitioners.

If you’d like to make contact please feel free to email us, we’d love to hear from you!

A man stands in front of a yellow staircase outside a concrete building. His hands are clasped in front of him.

Where we started

These resources have grown out of Far, Far Away, the award-winning live concert series we have developed for young children over the past 10 years.

Since 2012, Aurora has collaborated with writer Kate Wakeling and presenter/musician Jessie Maryon Davies to develop these productions, each one combining the music of a particular composer with a vibrant imaginary world. We’ve met Beethoven and the Dinosaurs, Bartók and the Pirates, Debussy and the Snow Elephant, Mozart in the Garden, and, as featured in Aurora Classroom, Tchaikovsky and the Magical Toy Box.

Find out more in this short film presented by BBC Radio 3’s Tom Service.

The Aurora Classroom team

  • John Harte
    Chief Executive
  • Jane Mitchell
    Creative Director
  • Rebecca Barnett
    Learning Director
  • Helen Mead and Sarah Lloyd
    Learning Resources Producers
  • Anahita Falaki
    Concerts and Participation Manager
  • Tara Collins
    Orchestra Assistant
  • Kate Wakeling
    Writer
  • Iain Farrington
    Composer and arranger
  • Jessie Maryon Davies
    Creative consultant and songwriter
  • Stanton Media
    Filming and photography
  • Saboteur
    Visual design
  • Long White Digital, with Orke Design and Admataz
    Digital design / development

Acknowledgements

Principal Supporters

Trusts and Foundations

  • The Astor Foundation
  • The D’Oyly Carte Charitable Trust
  • The Foyle Foundation
  • Garfield Weston Foundation
  • The Goldsmiths’ Company Charity
  • The Karlsson Játiva Charitable Foundation’s Signatur Programme
  • The Nugee Foundation
  • The Radcliffe Trust
  • The Samuel Gardner Memorial Trust
  • Two anonymous supporters

Individuals

  • Miel de Botton
  • Supporters of Aurora Orchestra’s 2022 Big Give campaign
  • The Aurora Patrons and Friends

 

Meet the Instruments was created in partnership with the Southbank Centre

Discover Beethoven was created in partnership with the Southbank Centre, with support from The Foyle Foundation

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