Newham, Newham, wherefore art thou musical Newham?

New London Orchestra launches 2008 music project with children’s choir performance from Stratford balcony

The New London Orchestra launched the 2008 part of its community music project, “Newham Welcomes the World,” by singing from a balcony on Friday. Children from the New London Children’s Choir sang to an audience at the new Jubilee Fleet House in Stratford, built by the orchestra’s sponsors, Tube Lines.

“Newham Welcomes the World” is a series of annual community music projects organised by the New London Orchestra running from 2007 to 2012 in Newham. Each project explores and celebrates a different aspect of the area and how it is changing, from the opening of the international rail link in 2007 to the Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2012. The 2008 project, “Pass the Baton”, will create a musical performance to bridge the gap between generations this summer. It will involve young people from local schools and colleges and older people from residential care homes, culminating with performances in August at the Theatre Royal, Stratford.

Tube Lines has supported the New London Orchestra for two years so far, with money for “Newham Welcomes the World” to give disadvantaged people the opportunity to write and perform music. Tube Lines, the company rebuilding the Tube’s busiest lines, has strong connections with Newham: it runs the Jubilee line, one of the borough’s vital transport links; and it built its £10 million Skills Training Centre in Stratford, home to its award-winning apprenticeship programme which partners with Newham College.

Louise Brooker-Carey, a Director at Tube Lines said:

“The New London Orchestra helps people find their musical talent who might not otherwise get that opportunity and the results last year were amazing. This year will build on that success. Forget Britain’s got talent – Newham’s got talent.”

Julian Knight, General Manager of the New London Orchestra, said:

“Tube Lines’ support, and that of our other sponsors, makes such a difference to young people’s lives by giving them new opportunities to take part in musical activities.  This summer I’m delighted that we’re extending the opportunity to older people too, and working on a project at the Theatre Royal that will be genuinely intergenerational.”

John Biggs, Assembly Member for City and East, said:

“It was really great to hear the choir’s songs and the inspiring vision of Newham which they have. It is great to see local businesses like Tube Lines working in partnership with local community groups and I wish the New London Orchestra all the best for its 2008 project.”

ENDS

For further information, please contact:
Press office, Tube Lines: 020 7088 4848

Notes to Editors

1. Tube Lines is responsible for the maintenance and upgrade of the infrastructure on the Jubilee, Northern and Piccadilly lines. London Underground is responsible for operating the Underground, for employing drivers and station staff, for ticketing and fares, and for the Tube’s safety regime.
2. The Tube Lines consortium consists of two shareholders – Amey and Bechtel. They bring together some of the most experienced providers of business services with specialist skills in the rail industry, including track and signal renewals, plus project and operational management. They are providing some of the best project and operational managers from around the world to work on the modernisation of the Tube system. Amey owns two-thirds of Tube Lines’ business and Bechtel one third.

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