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The Four Seasons

Primary School students stand on stage and speak into a microphone

In Summer 2024, nearly 300 students took part in The Four Seasons Learning and Participation Project, inspired by Vivaldi’s Masterpiece with which Rachel Podger opened the Festival’s Cathedral Programme.

Multi award-winning writer and performer Katie Arnstein went back to her former secondary school as part of her role as a Lichfield Festival Associate Artist to work with students to write and perform monologues.

Meanwhile 280 children from schools across Cannock, Norton Canes, and Rugeley created music and art in response to the music. Musicians introduced and played Vivaldi’s masterpiece in school assemblies before Year 1 pupils set to work producing art about how the seasons made them feel. Year 5 & 6 pupils worked with acclaimed composer Millicent James to create 4 brand new pieces of music for a string quartet. This work was premiered alongside the artworks in a sharing in Lichfield Cathedral, topped off with a finale from Martyn Rawles on the Cathedral Organ.

Take a look at what they got up to…