LYC and LSO Discovery are delighted to come together to offer a joint teacher training
LSO Discovery and London Youth Choirs (LYC) are delighted to come together to offer a joint CPD opportunity for secondary school teachers in London. Inspired by Leonard Bernstein’s West Side Story, these sessions will aim to offer a creative approach to two key topics for music departments at schools; composition and singing.
Creative Composition: Led by LSO Animateur Rachel Leach, this hands-on session explores how to use Leonard Bernstein’s Symphonic Dances from West Side Story as a stimulus for classroom composition.
16:30-18:45 Thursday 21 May
Build a Culture of Singing: Led by Rachel Staunton, Artistic Director of London Youth Choirs, this session uses the 1957 Broadway musical West Side Story as a starting point to engage teenagers with its catchy, culturally resonant songs.
Everything you need to know
There are two CPD sessions and teachers can book one or both. There is a complimentary ticket to a LSO concert or LYC concert included in the booking
Thursday 19 March 16:30-18:45 – led by LSO
Thursday 21 May 16:30-18:45 – led by LYC
Both sessions will take place at LSO St Luke’s, 161 Old Street, London, EC1V 9NG
Who is it for, who can take part?
Secondary School teachers who are Music Leads working in London
What will the event be like?
16:30-18:45 Thursday 19 March
Creative Composition: Led by LSO Animateur Rachel Leach, this hands-on session explores how to use Leonard Bernstein’s Symphonic Dances from West Side Story as a stimulus for classroom composition. Teachers will explore how the music is constructed and create their own pieces inspired by it, exploring leitmotif, intervals, syncopation, and cross-curricular connections.
16:30-18:45 Thursday 21 May
Build a Culture of Singing: Led by Rachel Staunton, Artistic Director of London Youth Choirs, this session uses the 1957 Broadway musical West Side Story as a starting point to engage teenagers with its catchy, culturally resonant songs. Participants will explore musical theatre themes, social context, rhythm, harmony, and effective approaches to working with young voices.
Is there any charge, do I need to bring anything?
To attend both sessions: £25 + VAT; To attend one session only: £25 + VAT
Please do get in touch if the fee is a barrier to your school attending. Flexible options available.
Bookings include one complimentary ticket for:
LSO concert, including Bernstein’s Symphonic Dances from West Side Story, Thursday 26 March, 7.00pm at the Barbican Centre. See full details here.
And one LYC concert, Find Your Light, Sunday 15 March, 7.30pm at Shoreditch Town Hall Beyond the Screen, Tuesday 24 March, 7.30pm at St John’s Waterloo. See full details here.
For further enquiries please contact:
Ishani O’Connor (LYC) [email protected]
07549 435 102
Adam Grady [email protected] (LSO)
BOOK HERE
Photo credit: Belinda Lawley
ACCESSIBILITY
LSO St Luke’s
Using what3words, the entrance to LSO St Luke’s church yard can be found at ///count.fully.entry
Ramps allow easy access to the entrance. Once inside the building, there is level access to the Jerwood Hall and all levels. Automatic doors provide a route to the lift in the northwest stairwell, which goes up to the Balcony or down to the Hawksmoor Space, giving full access to the public areas of both levels.
From the Artists Entrance a lift goes down to the Hawksmoor Space, from which access to the Hawksmoor Space facilities is on one level.
There are three accessible toilets, all in the basement, accessible via the Hawksmoor Space. Two are adjacent to the public toilets and can be reached by crossing the Hawksmoor Space.
Transport: directions, tube, train, bus
The main entrance to LSO St Luke’s is through the gates from Old Street.
London Underground
The nearest stations are: Old Street (Nothern line), Barbican (Circle, Hammersmith & City and Metropolitan lines), Moorgate (Northern line, Circle, Hammersmith & City and Metropolitan lines), Farringdon (Elizabeth, Circle, Hammersmith & City and Metropolitan lines)
Mainline
Old Street, Liverpool Street, Moorgate, Farringdon, City Thameslink, Blackfriars
Parking
There are nearby pay-hourly parking bays on Golden Lane and Banner Street. The nearest NCP parking is at the Barbican Centre (10 minutes walk)
