What they needed

Long-time collaborators Fingal County Council Arts Office approached us with Orchestral Odyssey, a project designed to bring live orchestral music into primary school settings. The initiative aimed to introduce children to the experience of a full orchestra performing in their own school environment, making orchestral music accessible, immediate, and engaging.

Fingal Arts Office asked us to do what we do best and we were happy to oblige.

What we did

The project captured our imagination immediately. Much of our work involves spending time with young people as they engage with different art forms, and we had previously documented the National Concert Orchestra. We understood the potential impact of bringing the scale and immediacy of live orchestral music directly into schools.

We filmed across multiple schools in the Fingal area over several days, coordinating closely with schools around schedules, permissions, and safeguarding considerations. Our approach focused on observing genuine moments of engagement, while also conducting interviews with students and organisers to reflect on the experience.

Over time, we have developed an approach to interviewing people of all ages, including children, creating a relaxed environment that allows them to articulate their thoughts clearly and confidently.

The final delivery included a three-minute film capturing the scope and outcomes of Orchestral Odyssey, alongside a series of shorter clips designed for social media use in the lead-up to a public event.