Past Performances

Romany Wood saw its first performance in Hagley Hall in 2002.

260 children from Kidderminster middle schools were joined by the English Symphony Orchestra, conducted by William Boughton.

Adrian Chiles narrated and the compere was Jasper Carrott.

Symphony orchestra and choir performing Romany Wood on stage at Birmingham Symphony Hall

Symphony Hall later witnessed the largest choir to perform Romany Wood. 850, mostly children from African and Afro-Caribbean heritage, performed. To accommodate such a large number the children occupied the stalls and the audience sat in the circles and in the choir seats.

Prince Edward cutting a red ribbon with scissors during an official plaque unveiling in Shrewsbury

Crowds sitting on a lawn during for first Romany Wood performance at Hagley Hall

In 2005, in collaboration with the then Trinity College of Music (now Trinity Laban), Romany Wood was staged in Blackheath Halls with the college orchestra and 550 children from schools in Tower Hamlets, Greenwich and Lewisham. Richard Stilgoe narrated.

In 2009, Romany Wood was performed by 200 Shropshire schoolchildren with the county youth orchestra. Timothy West narrated.

The event was the opening of Theatre Severn in Shrewsbury.

In 2003 Romany Wood received the first of four performances in Symphony Hall. Again accompanied by the ESO, the children came from inner-city Birmingham schools.

Prince Edward cutting the ribbon to officially open Theatre Severn in Shrewsbury in 2009.

As part of an initiative to widen access to classical music, King Edwards School, Edgbaston worked with children from inner city schools to put on a concert in Symphony Hall.

King Edwards’ Director of Music, Martin Leigh, worked tirelessly to organise the event.

Students in a youth orchestra performing with oboes and flutes during a performance of Romany Wood

Conductor Simon Wright leads a children's choir and live orchestra during a concert at York Minster

Another notable performance was given in York Minster in 2014 in the presence of our then Patron, John Sentamu, Archbishop of York.

This was one of a number of events staged to raise money for UNICEF. The conductor, Simon Wright, is seen here with children from eight York schools together with the York Guildhall Orchestra.

Other Cathedral performances include Brecon, Chichester, Coventry, Ely and Worcester (twice).

The audience enjoying the first performance.

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