RCM Sparks Workshop (Sep 2016)

A couple of weeks ago I got the wonderful opportunity to document my first RCM Sparks workshop through event photography. Although familiar with the Royal College of Music's innovative learning and participation programme, being there to capture the magic was a truly inspiring experience.

What makes SPARKS so amazing is that a bunch of dedicated and talented musicians work together with communities to widen participation in music. Young people from different backgrounds get connected through a performing art, under the guidance of the next generation of music educators. Everyone attending gets to make and learn about music, while those leading greatly enhance their teaching experience.

On this recent occasion Irish percussionist Ruairi Glasheen - a graduate of the Royal College of Music himself - with a long history of SPARKS collaborations, showed perfect leadership and exciting coaching skills in coordinating the College's musicians as mentors to the young ones. First there was clapping, then shy giggles and smiles, lots of practicing the instruments and then a race to the invisible finish line, all with passion and positive energy. End result? Creativity got ignited right in front of my eyes and there was music for all ears.