Lowestoft, Woodbridge and Felixstowe mayors join pupils at three East Suffolk schools to watch classical music performance

East Suffolk mayors joined children from three separate schools to watch a classical music performance aimed at sparking interest in the genre.

Last week, Mayors Nasima Begum, Robin Sanders and David Rowe visited The Ashley School Academy Trust, in Lowestoft, Sandlings Primary School, in Woodbridge, and Felix Primary School, in Felixstowe, for a performance by Playground Proms.

The group was formed in 2021 in Barrow-in-Furness, a port town in Cumbria, to bring classical music directly to children through interactive workshops.

The project has grown in popularity and has since reached nearly 50,000 children across 160 schools in the UK and Ireland.

This year marks the biggest tour yet for the group, which is predicted to reach 73,000 children and communities across the UK in 2025.

Cathal Ó Dúill, from Playground Proms, said: “It is a privilege to travel the country and spread the joy of classical music to children in this way.

“The positive feedback from last year has been overwhelming and we are proud of what we are building with the help of Arts Council England as well all our music hub partners and other generous donations.”

The children also enjoyed an hour of learning about different musical instruments as well as conducting and composing.

They had the opportunity to take centre stage themselves and perform a verse of the Playground Proms anthem, which they had written the week before the session.

Apart from stopping at the three East Suffolk towns, the group also visited schools in Beccles, Stowmarket and Saxmundham.