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The Education Diaries: January 2026

Wednesday 4 February 2026

Last month, our musicians were on the move, performing for children in schools and concert venues in and around London. Here's a rundown of what our Education team got up to:

2026-27 Ann and Peter Law OAE Experience Scheme

In early January, the 2026-27 Ann and Peter Law OAE Experience Scheme met for the first time at Acland Burghley School for the OAE Experience Academy Classical course. Led by OAE leader and violinist Margaret Faultless and oboist Leo Duarte, students explored a programme of Haydn and Mozart. The course culminated in a free Teatime TOTS concert for local families on 11 January. They will be back at ABS in April for a Baroque course led by Leo Duarte.

'I loved how the rehearsals were led and how we were encouraged. Loved that the essence of what OAE does was really clear and the education is a priority and not a tick box!'

OAE Experience student

'A delightful experience that will be with me forever'

OAE Experience student

Leader Margaret Faultless with Experience Ensemble

'Never wanted to play so well in my life'

OAE Experience student

OAE TOTS

January was a busy month for London’s under-5s! In addition to the Teatime TOTS on 11 January, we also ran three LPO FUNharmonics workshops (17 January), two TOTS concerts at the Royal Festival Hall (18 January) and two more at Acland Burghley (31 January). In the LPO FUNharmonics workshops, children and adults were treated to ‘Animal Storytime’ with Alice Poppleton (violin), Zoe Shevlin (bassoon) and Grace Scott Deuchar (oboe). At the Royal Festival Hall and Acland Burghley, the concerts – led by Cecelia Bruggemeyer and Cherry Forbes respectively – explored Mozart’s 40^th Symphony and were called ‘Mozart Chased a Cat!’

'Absolutely fantastic. I have a two-year-old daughter and it's amazing, really amazing opportunity for her to experience this'

Parent

'First time at an OAE TOTS concert and it was brilliant, really engaging. My daughter's only 19-months, but she was dancing along and yeah, we loved it.'

Parent

Musical Connections launched in Harrow

On 15 January, we launched our Musical Connections project in Harrow with 180 students from primary, secondary and Special Education Needs and Disabilities (SEND) schools across the borough. Pupils and students joined the OAE at the Harrow Arts Centre for a day of learning, singing and playing. Generously supported by the John Lyon’s Charity, this project will run for three years.

Musical Connections at Harrow Arts Centre

'I’m absolutely blown away by today. It was wonderful! A heartfelt thankyou from everyone at Shaftesbury!'

Teacher

London Schools’ concerts

This month, we have been running workshops in primary schools across London, preparing Early Years (Nursery and Reception) and Key Stage 1 (Years 1 and 2) students for an exciting week of concerts in early March.

Every year, we offer three educational programme strands to our partner schools across London. Each involves teacher training, in-school workshops and a final concert. In this, our 40^th Anniversary Season, we are revisiting favourite schools’ concerts from the Orchestra’s archive.

For Early Years students, that means ‘Mozart Chased A Cat’, a journey through Mozart’s 40th symphony inspired by a first-hand account describing the young composer jumping down from the harpsichord mid-practice to play with ‘a favourite cat’. The author writes that Mozart could not be brought back for ‘a considerable time’!

Key Stage 1 students will be treated to ‘Watercycle: 1,2, 3, Water Rises from the Sea’. Linked to the curriculum, this concert – written by Hazel Gould – encourages children to explore water conservation and introduces the stages of the water cycle: evaporation, condensation and precipitation.

Early Years and Key Stage 1 workshops will continue into February, with our Key Stage 2 (Years 3-6) strand due to start in April.

'Today was great! I feel fully equipped to teach this project now. I also love that the OAE take feedback and work collaboratively with teachers'

KS1 Teacher

OAE musicians preparing for KS1 teacher training

'It was very enjoyable and encouraging - made me feel comfortable to not get everything right - safe learning space.'

Early Years Teacher

Violinist Julia Kuhn and bass player Cecelia Bryggemyer playing in the playground at Acland burghley School

Japanese conductor Masaaki Suzuki conducts the OAE with singer Florian Stortz

OAE musicians run a workshop in a school classroom

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The Education Diaries: January 2026

Wednesday 4 February 2026

Last month, our musicians were on the move, performing for children in schools and concert venues in and around London. Here's a rundown of what our Education team got up to:

2026-27 Ann and Peter Law OAE Experience Scheme

'I loved how the rehearsals were led and how we were encouraged. Loved that the essence of what OAE does was really clear and the education is a priority and not a tick box!'

'A delightful experience that will be with me forever'