GCSE students at Manchester High School for Girls have joined forces with one of the UK’s leading chamber orchestras.

The collaboration is part of a new Female Composers Project and will lead to music written by the schoolgirls being recorded by Manchester Camerata. The very best pieces will be performed at a concert in the New Year.

Camerata musicians have conducted a series of workshops at MHSG as part of their 2007/08 programme of events, a highlight of which is the premiere of a new piece by the celebrated Scottish-American composer Thea Musgrave.

Camerata Composer Kate Pearson explained: “We are drawing on some of Musgrave’s extra-musical influences on this work, Points of View, as inspiration, and working with GCSE level composers to create their own new pieces.

“These will be recorded by Camerata musicians, and a selection performed in advance of our concert at the Royal Northern College of Music in February. Participants will also have the opportunity to take part in a question and answer session with Thea Musgrave.”

MHSG Head of Music Mrs Kathy Rundell said that the partnership had excited the GCSE students involved.

“This is a wonderful opportunity for our girls to learn from professional musicians,  to hear their music performed, and to encourage them to consider music composition as an option beyond GCSE,” added Mrs Rundell.

To find out more about Manchester Camerata's 2007/08 programme, click here.