Now approaching its eighteenth year, Colchester-based charity Roman River Music recently appointed a new Learning and Participation Leader, Laura Davison, to develop the integral education and outreach programme that runs alongside its flagship festival.

Victoria Steinitz, General Manager of Roman River Music, says ‘Laura is a very welcome addition to the team and we are really excited about the focus and drive with which she is already enlivening the programme’.

Having started as a ‘music weekend’ for children in Fingringhoe, Roman River Music is an ambitious arts organisation that punches above its weight, attracting the highest calibre of musicians and other performers from across the globe, with commissioning strands, a host of eclectic venues and carefully-curated events for audiences of all ages.

With concerts as far north as Stoke by Nayland, south on Mersea Island, east in Coggeshall and west in Brightlingsea, Roman River reaches ever further, with a commitment to offering a wide variety of events accessible to the whole community. Laura’s role offers an opportunity to cement the charity’s work in and around Colchester as well as exploring new territory and strengthening partnerships with other organisations including the Children’s University, Colchester Learning Network and Cultural Education Partnership as well as venues such as Colchester Arts Centre, Firstsite and the Mercury Theatre.

The Learning and Participation Programme ranges from early years’ concerts for families with children from six months to mentoring schemes for young professionals helping them hone their skills alongside experienced performers from the world’s best orchestras. There are projects for schoolchildren of all ages and community initiatives open to anyone – knowledge of music is not a prerequisite.

“definitely one of the events most enjoyed by both mummy and baby in the last 9 months”

Feedback from a family who attended the Jemma’s Journey concert in the 2016 Festival

Laura says of her recent appointment, ‘I am delighted to join the team at Roman River Music. I look forward developing the excellent work of Learning and Participation Programme and hope to further develop our work within schools and communities in forthcoming year’

Details of the 2017 programme are expected to be released early in the New Year – do join our mailing list to be the first to receive further information.

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About Roman River

Roman River Music uniquely combines a truly international quality music programme, strong grassroots support from over 80 volunteers and learning and participation opportunities for over 1,000 young people each year.

East Anglia’s best-kept secret, this intimate and friendly Festival in the Colne, Stour and Roman River valleys brings you within yards of some of the world’s most eminent musicians, mixed with breath-taking young talent, spotted by Artistic Director Orlando Jopling.

This relatively small-scale Festival punches above its weight, managing to persuade an array of world-class musicians that are the envy of many larger organisations elsewhere in the country.

The Festival has steadily grown in popularity over 16 years, now with over 120 international quality performers giving concerts in unusual venues, enjoyed by almost 4,000 ticket buyers, funded by Arts Council England, sponsors, individuals, Trusts and the Friends of Roman River Music. Family events, art exhibitions, theatre, dance, talks and a festival walk complement the internationally quality concerts.

romanrivermusic.org.uk