‘Around the World’ at Wood Farm School

Oxford Philharmonic Orchestra’s Community & Outreach team is dedicated to taking live music out of the concert hall to audiences across Oxfordshire.

In October 2025, we ran our most recent school project, three workshop days at Wood Farm Primary School in Headington, Oxford. Led by OPO’s Sub-Principal Violin, Miranda Walton, a team of five OPO musicians gave mini performances, lead instrument try-outs, and ran singing and creative composition workshops with two classes of 30 Year 5 students.

The project theme was ‘Around the World’. Across the three days, the children encountered a variety of musical genres from across the globe and were introduced to a range of orchestral instruments. The children were given the opportunity to try out the flute, violin, drums, cello and didgeridoo.

“All the OPO adults were phenomenal with the children!”

Over the three days, the students worked in small groups to develop their own soundscape compositions using a variety of percussion instruments. The workshop days culminated in a final performance for friends, family and fellow students where the Year 5 classes performed their compositions. Alongside this, they performed songs and dances they had learned during the workshops, accompanied by the OPO ensemble.

The OPO musicians gave a performance to over 400 students at a whole school assembly. The project was also featured on a BBC Radio Oxford broadcast, with a mini jam session between OPO violinist Miranda, Year 5 teacher Nick Stanton, and two Year 5 students.

Oxford Philharmonic Orchestra has worked at Wood Farm School to deliver several projects in recent years, including a semi-staged production of the opera Noah’s Flood in 2023. Commenting on this year’s project, school staff noted the positive impact of the project on students and staff throughout the week outside of the workshops.

“It was brilliant. I do remember how great it was last time but forgot just how amazing and impressive the whole experience was for everyone. Adults included.”

Oxford Philharmonic Orchestra school workshops are part of our mission to take music to settings where there is often less access to classical music. Our work in schools also aims to give children the chance to experience live music and the opportunity to develop invaluable skills, including teamwork and confidence, which participation in group music making can facilitate. 96% of the children who completed our feedback survey at Wood Farm said it was the first time they had met a classical musician with 100% giving the project a rating of 10/10!

Watch this space for more Oxford Philharmonic Community & Outreach programme updates!