Flashback: L’Chaim

In this edition of Flashback, we look to 1998 and the launch of our L’Chaim, Living Music project, which is still going strong and celebrating ‘living music’ today.

 

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"In tandem with the commencement of Music for Children at Great Ormond Street Hospital, the Education and Community Programme also launched L’Chaim, Living Music. This is an informal concert project at the Otto Schiff Housing Association (OSHA) for Jewish refugees of Nazi persecution. Most OSHA residents are of German or Austrian origin, and their combined rich cultural heritage and love of music has been the defining factor in helping to shape the project.

 

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"Based at seven different homes and sites throughout North London, L’Chaim, Living Music will provide a three-year rotating programme of classical, Jewish, folk, religious and coffee house music... Whilst physical frailty may now prevent some of the residents attending concerts elsewhere in London, this has not hindered their support and enthusiasm for this project, and they have been integral to the planning process, programming and structure from the outset.

 

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"A long list of composers and musical interests was drawn up by the residents, many of whom are musicians themselves. After this initial meeting, it was clear that musical interests veered strongly towards the German classical tradition, but that many OSHA residents also enjoy folk, religious, light classical and jazz music. With these interests in mind, the programme for the year was drawn up...

"Soon after this, a trio of musicians were booked for the first three visits to OSHA (Erika Klemperer, violin, Danny Lyness, viola, Jo Cole, cello) and...they devised the first concert programme (including complete works by Beethoven, Kodaly and Schubert.) The first visits were a great success, reaching over 70 residents and staff and instant feedback from the residents was overwhelmingly positive."


Extract from CLScapades newsletter 1998

Flashback - Music for Children 1998

For this installment of Flashback, we're looking back to the beginning of Music for Children, which began in 1998 as part of our Education and Community Programme. This project was launched at Great Ormond Street Hospital for sick children in September 1998 with three CLS musicians (Jo Cole 'cello; Duke Dobing flute; Nick Ward violin). An initial 'Pilot Day' enabled the musicians to familiarise themselves with the hospital, staff, patients and different wards.

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The CLS team then visited the Hospital School with creative work based on Italy, the in-school topic for the term. The Venice Carnival was re-created over two mornings of music-making workshops, as well as pizza-making and other fun activities. The afternoons were shared between visits to the Mildred Creek Psychiatric Unit and the Dialysis Ward, with several new pieces of music being created and performed.

Following these successful project days a three-year partnership with the Hospital, which is now in its thirteenth year! Nadezna Wilkins, the Hospital School's Music Co-ordinator, was extremely enthusiastic: "The musicians are extremely friendly with the staff and young people both in the school and on the wards. They display excellent skills when teaching children of all ages and abilities."

CLS are delighted to announce that we have recently received a generous grant from the City of London Corporation's City Bridge Trust for £85,700 over three years in order to expand our hospital work to Guy's and St Thomas' hospitals next year.