Community Concerts

The Multi-Story Orchestra sprung into action over the summer, putting on live performances for people who are vulnerable and shielding

During lockdown last spring, we reached out to community groups in Southwark asking how we could best support them and engage local residents during this time. And from this, we formed a partnership with Southwark Groups of Tenants Organisation, an independent and voluntary organisation promoting the rights of tenants and residents within Southwark.

We brainstormed how we could best support our local community, and came up with the idea of providing short outdoor performances to those who were shielding and vulnerable, at a time when we could achieve this safely within the government guidelines. During lockdown, music was being consumed digitally more than ever before, but we knew that this couldn’t replace the amazing impact of live music making and shared community experiences.

So we took a small group of musicians, both as soloists and in various ensembles, and performed at six different sites across the borough. We prioritised performing in areas with a large number of shielding or vulnerable residents, where residents could listen safely from their front doors, windows, gardens or balconies. We also loved engaging other families and local residents living nearby! 

We had all missed live music making so much, and it was amazing to bring music to our community at a time when connecting to one and other, and sharing creative experiences, was more meaningful than ever.

The series was so successful that in December we were invited back to one of the housing blocks to perform to residents who had, at that point been shielding for 9 months. This time the program included instrumental arrangements of some festive favourites.