Music Is For Life 2015

1,500 young performers from the London Borough of Merton present another astonishing Music is for Life event at the Royal Albert Hall.

Amidst the 70th anniversary celebrations in 2015 marking the end of World War II, young people in Merton have given much creative consideration to what this means in human terms.

Their thoughts are reflected through a diversity of musicmaking and storytelling including a 1,250 voice all age choir, 250 strong concert band, jazz orchestra, massed strings, guitars and percussion ensemble, and a special school orchestra celebrating the work of young musicians from across the disability spectrum.

Concert highlights include Radio Retro, a dynamic new jazz suite by Pete Letanka for Merton Youth Jazz Orchestra, tracking eight decades of popular hits from the 1940s to the present day.

The concert finale features the world premiere of Backstories, which explores the challenges and joyful rewards of intergenerational communication through an innovative music and drama commission. Original music and lyrics by Pete Churchill, Sam Chaplin, Nikki Franklin, Phil Merriman and Adam Saunders. Story and direction by Mark McGann and Drama Direct.