Ring Round the World

The biggest children’s opera ever written

Created, performed and recorded by children, this will be a project involving 216 countries – including all nations participating in the Olympics London 2012. A thrilling tale of adventure and a breathtaking round-the-world trip, collecting a ‘ring’ of truth from each place visited, expressed in different musical styles and song.

A world music website

A permanent, universally-accessible world music resource, with information, classroom activities, a world song bank, with songs and music in a variety of easily-downloadable media – suitable for music and non-music specialists alike.

Length?  When?

 Step 1

  For? At?
2 x 4hrs  Nov 11 & Jan 12  ‘On Your Marks ......’ Teachers  EPOC

 Resources

Now is the time to check out the hundreds of resources on this website to do with the project: singing, opera, music etc; the 5 Ring Songs – sheet music and recordings of performances and backing tracks; and resources that pertain specifically to your country and the music of your country. Have a look around!

In-class, teacher-led preparation

See Ali’s Diary for ideas and inspiration

INSET

2 x Teacher training sessions for all teachers;
Session 1 - November 2nd-4th 2011; Session 2 - January 23rd-25th.
Report on INSET Session 1 (Nov 2011)
Details of INSET Session 2 (Jan 2012)
How to get to Pooles Park
Length? When?

Step 2

 For? At?
1hr  Feb-Mar 2012  In-School Performances c.250 children School

The Quest for the Ring

An interactive fast-paced performance presentation visits every participating school, to introduce children to opera in general and to the project’s themes and music specifically, including revising and/or teaching the 5 core sing-a-long choruses from the opera. Click here to find out more information about Quest for the Ring
Length? When?

Step 3

 For? At?
3 days Mar-July 2012

(Music & Song or Dance)
In-school Artist Residencies

 up to 30 children
School
Artist residencies (3 full days) in every school to create individual unique opera scenes, with the majority composing a brand new song, and others opting for a devised percussion or dance piece – in-depth work with 30 children per school. We have a number of resources to help each type of workshop residency. Click here to access the Teachers’ Guide to Step 3 of the project.
Length? When?

Step 4

 For? At?
1 day May-July 2012

Performances in Theatres

 30 children +
 Theatre

Performances of an 11-scene opera, each one unique, in 4 London venues, consisting of:

  • A newly-composed five-scene ‘framework’ opera created by EPOC – visiting London, Greece, Australia, China and Brazil (i.e. all the Olympic ‘host’ nations 2000-2016) and including the five familiar sing-a-long choruses for ALL participating schools and audiences to join in
  • Six nation-specific scenes, each created by a different school group, comprising: four newly created songs, one percussion composition and one original choreographed dance piece

A round-the-world trip in 11 scenes, visiting each continent, exploring a variety of themes related to the quest and all expressed through different styles of music.

Performance Structure
Click here to see how your school will fit into the overall opera

At the Theatre
Click here to find out more about your trip to the theatre: how the day will work, what time you need to arrive, London Transport ticket initiatives etc

Theatre Directions
Click here to find out how to get to the theatre

Operaspeak!
Just some of what we say when we are at the theatre – and importantly what we don’t say!
Click here to find out more!

Etiquette
So you have never been to an opera before? There are probably several questions that you are asking yourself about what to expect from your first opera performance or trip to the opera house. We have a quick reference guide to not just surviving your first opera house experience, but making your trip to the opera a memorable one. Click here to find out more!
Length? When?

Step 5

 For? At?
Years July-Sept 2012

World Music Resource

 Everyone
 www
An online version of the full opera available to be viewed and/or downloaded as required, as part of the evolving world music resource that emerges from the project.

Legacy
It is our intention to pass on this project to the Commonwealth Games 2014 through our partners Scottish Opera who are based in Glasgow, the venue for the next games. Similarly we will be talking to educational representatives from Brazil who will be hosting the next Olympics in 2018.

Song Collecting
As well as being an opportunity for all participating schools to showcase their compositional, dance and drumming creations, the website will be an open source project creating a World Song Bank accessible to teachers and all lovers of singing. We welcome all contributions during and after the project. Click here to access the pages on this website about how you and your school can become Song Collectors.

Disclaimer

Please note that the primary source for the country resources on this website is Wikipedia. EPOC are in the process of checking out the information provided with individual Embassies, but for now cannot verify facts and figures with absolute certainty.
The information is intended as a starting point only for a school’s research.

Pictures and logos are here used in the spirit of celebrating each country’s identity. If we have used anything in error or contrary to copyright law, please inform us and it will immediately be removed without question.