Talk Back   Schools can 'talk back' to us through your school class teacher or IT teacher

We like to hear from you!  Please have your school class teacher or IT teacher send us your drawings, poems, letters, school music news and photos of our concerts and workshops via:

Feedback from Widecombe Fair 2009 Hilary Davan Wetton conducts the audience. Behind him, the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra enter into the spirit wearing Victorian country hats

"It was an amazing event, beautifully organised and A LOT OF FUN for everyone." Kate Casper, The Royal School, Hampstead

"...Yet another wonderful Classical Road Show. It was such a super experience for the children (and staff!). The songs were fabulous fun and I very much enjoyed singing along to them. We really appreciate being able to be part of such a great show." Emily Norman, Deputy Head, St Matthew's School, Westminster

The stage choir from Our Lady of Victories RCP School, Wandsworth

"The children were thrilled with everything and really enjoyed the whole experience enormously." Rieke Melvin, Our Lady of Victories School, Wandsworth

"The show was excellent...Hilary's conducting was superb and the way he interacted with the children (and the whole audience) set the scene for a most enjoyable afternoon." Representatives from M&G, Widecombe Fair sponsors 2009

Dancers from jumpup Dance School

"The children from Yateley Manor certainly enjoyed themselves....We will look forward to bringing another group along next year." Paul Hemmings, Yateley Manor School

Feedback from previous shows

We all loved the experience of Dreamtime Tales yesterday at the Cadogan Hall. The music engaged the children and the range of songs particularly suited KS2 age group. All of us at The Cavendish look forward to the next concert and thank you for such excellent organisation on the day. R Pritchett, Cavendish School

From the moment the conductor arrived on stage the whole hall came alive. There was massive audience participation, which the children thoroughly enjoyed and so did we! The orchestra, narrators, stage chorus, children and the conductor were outstanding, and together gave a spine tinglingly emotional performance. It was a truly inspirational experience for the children and I only wish that more children could be given the opportunity to see something as special as this. The Marina Kleinwort representatives

Our Year 5 children at Yateley Manor really did enjoy the Dreamtime Tales event on Monday 19^th May at the Cadogan Hall and I would certainly be interested in involving pupils in future Classical Road Show events.  Paul Hemmings, Director of Music, Yateley Manor School

Several of the players told me they had thoroughly enjoyed the experience.  Hilary did a fantastic job and I hope that we will be able to work together again soon. Elsa, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra

Thank you so much for inviting me to join you and such an enthusiastic audience at Zambezi Tales earlier today.  I really did enjoy it and it was a most uplifting and very professional performance! The Lord Mayor of Westminster, Cllr Alexander Nicoll

I really enjoyed Zambezi Tales and thought it a triumph.  I do hope you were pleased with the reception it got and all those kids singing!  Rosie Oxley, Noah’s Company Limited

Just to record that I went to see  The 'Classical Roadshow concert 'Zambesi Tales' at the Cadogan Hall on Friday.  It was an excellent performance.  It was inspiring to see that the kids - who had come from a wide variety of schools in London - were entranced and totally absorbed.  The Mercers’ Company representative

Thousands of kids, artistes, orchestras and a trio of mayors (what is the collective noun for mayors...? a regalia, perhaps?) I hope they all enjoyed it as much as I, and from the sound of them, the kids did. All the best, Nigel (lyricist)

From the first moment, the children felt completely engaged with the performance.   A classical concert was an absolute novelty for the children but the way in which they felt part of the proceedings made the whole event truly memorable.

The conductor instantly established a great rapport with the children in the audience, involving them from the start.  They understood what was going to happen and therefore had the confidence to respond with gusto when it came to the performance. My children were so gripped by the event that when it was over, one of my boys lamented, “Is that it?”  He wanted more.  Sadly, I had to tell him that there was no action-reply, we had come to the end of the concert.  Nicola Cottier, Headteacher, St Matthews SE1

Thank you for organising the concert. None of it was my best I liked it all. It was sad when Nelson died It nearly made me cry. Yours sincerely  Michelle

It was really fun and I enjoyed it. I enjoyed listening to the music. And singing. I wish I had longer. From Clifford

Thank you very much for letting us come to Trafalgar, the orchestra were fantastic and the sound effects were very dramatic.  You could feel the vibrations in you feet vibrating.  It was phenomenal!!  Maddy

All enjoyed it and the children and those in the cast gave their all.  As we know from our own experiences in childhood, an event like this can spark an interest which will remain for ever and grow.  Hilary Wetton was on a recruiting drive for future musicians and he set an excellent tone and really was in contact with the children.  Derek Hayes (The Nelson Society)

It is a long time since I have seen so much sheer enthusiasm and ability all in one place!  What a fantastic show.  Kate Brierley (host of website)

The reception your performers received could hardly have been more enthusiastic! I believe the whole show owed much to the charismatic personality of Hilary Wetton, who clearly has a great rapport with children. Victor Sharman, Chairman of the Nelson Society 2003

Everyone around me enjoyed it, even to the person next to me shedding a tear! Above all, the children were very involved – I’m tired of seeing all grey heads at concerts these days. Pamela Pile, Chairman, South East Music Trust 2003

What a wonderful way for children to experience a live performance in a concert hall and to be part of that performance – an experience I am sure they will not forget. Long may it continue! Graham Sawyer, retired Royal Shakespeare Company Manager, Stratford-upon-Avon. 2003

My children, Louis and Rosie, had been a bit sceptical beforehand, but were as bowled over as I was! They loved the music and were singing some of the tunes on the way home. Sue Morris, Secretary of the Nelson Society 2003 (who brought her children)

The boys were singing the songs on the way home to the delight of the coach driver! (Marion Goodgame, teacher at Hall Grove School)

Our accompaning member of staff, on the staff RE training day, cited it (CRS concert) as a "spiritual experience". No greater praise! (Rose & Tricia, staff at Ravenscote CJ School)

Lesley and I thought that Zambezi Tales was absolutely wonderful. It was lovely to hear all those children joining in with such enthusiasm. It is an experience which I am sure they will remember for a long time to come (Councillor Keith Childs, Mayor of Guildford)

I do admire the initiative of the Classical Road Show because their concerts are above all great fun. (Area Education Officer, Surrey County Council)

The road show is a marvelous opportunity for children from schools across the county to take part in a live performance with the professional musicians of the orchestra in a fun atmosphere. Even the instrumentalists were in costume. Davan Wetton is brilliant with children and they had a wonderful time, still singing the songs and jigging hornpipe steps as they waited in the car park for the coaches to take them home. (after Battle of Trafalgar; Surrey Advertiser 1998)

There were just enough props in the form of canons, ropes and special effects to set the scene and once Wetton had honed the massed voices into an impressive antiphonal choir, the stage was ready for action. Actors from (various) schools manned the ship’s wheel, ran messages, delivered news, scrubbed the deck and danced the hornpipe. ..a superb musical and theatrical event, using hundreds of children who had come together just minutes before. It was probably the most exciting history lesson they have ever had. (Surrey Advertiser 1989)

Thank you for organising the concert. None of it was my best I liked it all. It was sad when Nelson died It nearly made me cry. Yours sincerely Michelle (All Saints First School, Leatherhead)

I had fun learning the songs and I enjoyed coming to sing. I hope that you please other people as much as you’ve pleased me. Good luck for the future. Yours sincerely, Marc Lambert (Duke of Kent School)

Dear Mr Davan Wetton thank you for conducting us. I think you were funny. I like the Guildford Philharmonic Orchester. I like the part when they were all shooting best. Love from James Tauz (Lanesborough Prep School)

It was really fun and I enjoyed it. I enjoyed listening to the music. And singing. I wish I had longer. From Clifford Bisacre (Christchurch C of E School)

I had fun learning the songs and I enjoyed coming to sing. I hope that you please other people as much as you’ve pleased me. Good luck for the future. Yours sincerely, Marc Lambert (Duke of Kent School)

Dear Mr Davan Wetton thank you for conducting us. I think you were funny. I like the Guildford Philharmonic Orchester. I like the part when they were all shooting best. Love from James Tauz (Lanesborough Prep School)

It was really fun and I enjoyed it. I enjoyed listening to the music. And singing. I wish I had longer. From Clifford Bisacre (Christchurch C of E School)