About Us

The importance of music in schools as a generator of self-esteem, ambition, team-building and personal expression is being increasingly recognised.

It was the founding principal of The Classical Road Show in 1988, since when we have given thousands of children exceptional opportunities in school workshops and in large concert halls, in performance with outstanding professional musicians.

The Classical Road Show is a non-profit making, registered Charity, dedicated to promote musical awareness and ability amongst school-children. We are most grateful to all who have sponsored our work to make these concerts possible and to schools’ music staff for their vital pre-concert preparation. We hope that this endeavour may be the springboard for many children to find fulfillment in music.

The Classical Road Show Reg Charity No. 1017635
 

Our Musical Director, Hilary Davan Wetton Hilary works extensively with the London orchestras in concerts and recordings and also has wide experience in conducting national youth orchestras.  Hilary (pictured R with Nelson’s crew) is the co-founder of The Classical Road Show and has a passion to keep alive the choral tradition in schools. Where schools have inadequate music-teaching resources, we send our musicians in to help, to supplement the learning CDs which we supply.  We support inclusion in every possible way.

 Professional Orchestra Accompaniment

 Over 90% of our children have never before seen or heard a professional orchestra and they are fired by the experience - very different from school orchestra sounds.  Our next concert features the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and we have previously worked with Trinity College of Music Chamber Orchestra, Guildford Philharmonic Orchestra and the Milton Keynes City Orchestra.  Unusual instrumental line-ups have included the didgeridoo.

To remove the stage/ audience divide, the musicians dress up too.  No bow-ties in sight.  The children’s first sight and sound of a symphony orchestra shocks and thrills them.

Our Concert  Pieces The music we perform can be described as ‘new classics’, especially commissioned from some of Britain’s best composers, including Jonathan Dove (pictured  with Hilary Davan Wetton), John Dankworth, Richard Brown and David Lyon. Tailor-made for performance by these pro/am forces, these pieces have strong story lines, accessible songs, evocative orchestral sounds and strong appeal.

 To view our Repertoire, please click here.