Gewandhausorchester at Teach First UK

Gewandhausorchester is music to students' ears in Teach First UK event at the Barbican Centre.

When the Gewandhausorchester went on tour this fall, visiting beloved haunts in Vienna, Paris, Birmingham and London in October, the orchestra included several unique music education events for old and young alike.

The outreach program aimed at bringing classical music closer to interested students included master classes in Vienna and London, a visit by several musicians in London to a local high school in a “Meet the Artist” program as well as a unique program for young children that brought Richard Strauss to life in the concert “Wenn der Mond aufgeht, lernst Du fliegen.”

In today's fast-paced world, these experiences help young fans to connect with classical music in a new way. In a special “Meet the Artist” event at the Barbican Centre held in cooperation with Teach First UK and DHL, students from Sydenham High School were given a tour of the Barbican Centre before meeting with four musicians from the orchestra who provided a glimpse of what life as a professional musician is like. This was the fourth such event held in cooperation with DHL, with previous visits with schoolchildren prior to performances in Houston, Cologne and Vienna. The meetings are aimed at bringing the Gewandhausorchester talents to children who might otherwise not have such contact to classical music.

The experience was made possible by DHL, the Official Logistics Partner of the Leipzig Gewandhausorchester, in cooperation with the non-profit organization Teach First, that advocates greater educational equity for underserved children and young people. A non-profit organization launched in 2002, Teach First strives to recruit and train young academics, called Fellows, from all disciplines to teach for two years at schools located in socially troubled areas throughout England and Wales. Within the partnership, DHL supports both Fellows and students with opportunities such as mentoring programs or trainings that help further their personal and professional development.

Also as part of the tour visit to London, the orchestra brought children to London's Milton Court for a Richard Strauss concert “Wenn der Mond aufgeht, lernst Du fliegen.” The performance meant the children were able to experience music uniquely, as the theatrical piece was performed while the children lay on mattresses beneath the star-speckled ceiling of a darkened hall. To make this possible, DHL transported over 100 mattresses to the performance hall, which were later donated to charity.

The Gewandhausorchester is, as ever, enormously grateful to its Global Partner and Official Logistics Partner, DHL, for safely transporting its priceless instruments and considerable quantity of support equipment across the continent and then home to Leipzig.

DHL has been the official logistics partner of the Leipzig Gewandhausorchester since 2009. The collaboration with the world-famous orchestra initially began in 2005. Today, the partnership includes the logistic planning of the orchestra's tours, transport of sensitive musical instruments and other essential equipment including music stands, stools, the conductor's rostrum and wardrobe on concert tours across Europe, Asia and North America.

To see photos and learn more about the event, have a look at the Gewandhausorchester tour blog. And check back here next week to get a wrap on this exciting tour.