The event included performances from the Withernsea Ladies Choir and Hornsea Choir, as well as collaborations with Withernsea High School, Hornsea School and Language College, and local care settings.

The secondary school students, aged between 11 and 15 years, used a variety of instruments to create their own composition celebrating the ‘harmony, heritage, and shared moments’ of life in East Yorkshire. Rooted in the landscapes of Withernsea, Hornsea, and beyond, the composition was inspired by themes of nature, rurality, and conservation.

Jamie Hughes, Head of Creative Arts, said: “For another consecutive year, we were thrilled to host the Manchester Camerata at our school. They delivered yet another incredible performance. I thoroughly enjoyed watching our young performers deliver beautiful interpretations across the disciplines of music and dance.

“In addition to the dance performance, the musical contributions from students of Withernsea High School and Hornsea School were a real highlight, with singing led by our Key Stage 3 students. They were joined by members of the Withernsea Ladies Choir and Hornsea Choir, who brought grace and rich harmonies throughout.

Everyone in the audience left with a smile. Our community should be very proud of such a collaborative and engaging evening. Well done to everyone involved!”

Lewis Fryer, Teacher of Music, added: “Throughout the summer term, Camerata members have delivered regular workshops at the school, encouraging our students to grow as both composers and performers. Particular emphasis was placed on nurturing talent among our younger students, who rose to the challenge of working alongside professional musicians to contribute confidently to the creation of an original composition.”

The concert formed part of the award-winning ‘Classically Yours’ project—a long-term partnership between Orchestras Live and East Riding of Yorkshire Council, designed to bring nationally significant orchestras to the East Riding.

Originally conceived for Hull’s year as UK City of Culture in 2017, Classically Yours was developed to engage new audiences by addressing the limited access to live orchestral music in rural communities. Withernsea was identified as a priority area, and a strong partnership was formed between Withernsea High School and the Manchester Camerata to develop concerts involving students from the school.

The project has since expanded to include the Withernsea Ladies Choir and local care home settings. In 2023, it extended further to incorporate Hornsea, and in 2024 a youth voice strand was introduced. This new strand gave students from Withernsea High School the opportunity to help shape the project through direct involvement in marketing and event planning, offering them valuable insight into careers within the creative industries.