AWARD-WINNING ORGANISATION
SoundStorm has gained an excellent reputation for exciting and cutting edge work and we work with all ages from the very young onwards. We have been chosen on a number of occasions to lead on national pilot projects. In 2007-8, for example, SoundStorm was solicited by Youth Music and Association of British Orchestras to run a pilot music cluster developing models of practice for use in Early Years Music Settings; in 2009, we were invited to develop two further nationally-significant projects. SoundStorm has also been invited to give presentations at a diverse range of conferences, including the National Association of Music Educators and MODAL.
LINKS WITH SCHOOLS AND EDUCATIONAL ORGANISATIONS
SoundStorm has direct links with over 400 schools and Early Years settings of all phases. We have an impressive roster of achievements in our seven year history. Every school in the Bournemouth/Poole conurbation has participated in, or hosted, SoundStorm projects, plus various from Dorset and beyond. SoundStorm is currently developing the Music Strategy and the Local Authority Music Plan for the conurbation.
Projects have been developed with Education and Youth Services across the partner authorities; with the Children's Fund; with Youth Offending Team; with Early Years; with museums, libraries and arts development.
MUSIC AND ARTS DEVELOPMENT
In our arts development role, excellent partnerships have been forged with many of the major venues and arts organisations in the South West region, including Lighthouse, Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, Boscombe Arts Festival, Bournemouth Live Music Festival, WAVE - Arts Education Agency, Bournemouth International Centre, Dorset Arts Promoters Forum, Activate, Inside Out, Poole Family Festival, and others. SoundStorm has been key in developing the diversity of musical activities across the Bournemouth/Poole conurbation, being the driving force behind, amongst others, Bournemouth Modern Jazz Club, Club du Monde (World Music Club - Bournemouth), Safehouse Musicians Collective, Dragon of the South Chinese Lion Dance Club, and the Unsafe Improvised Music Festivals - all established since we were set up.
ANNUAL CONFERENCE and FESTIVALS/VENUES
We have hosted eight annual music development conferences at Lighthouse, to rave reviews, with artists of the calibre of Jason Rebello and Soweto Kinch leading sessions. SoundStorm also acts as a consultant, promoter and producer. We have contributed to many of the regional festivals, and have often partner funded or programmed activities for them. We have led or been partners in a wide range of longer-term, larger-scale concerts, in venues including Royal Albert Hall, Bournemouth International Centre and Lighthouse.
ARTISTS/COLLABORATORS
As well as utilizing many locally based artists, SoundStorm has programmed education sessions open to the community with a wide range of nationally and internationally renowned artists, including Lincoln Center JazzOrchestra, Andy Sheppard, KOKORO, Osibisa, ZubopGambia, Soothsayers, Robin Jones' Kings Salsa, GrupoX, Jean Toussaint, Tim Berne, Karen Wimhurst, Michael Partington, John Harle, Apollo Sax Quartet, Dave O'Higgins, Tim Berne, Ensemble Bash and many others. We have brought over outstanding music educators and musicians from South Africa, Colombia and other countries for educational tours. SoundStorm is currently in discussion with Lighthouse with a view to taking a more active role in programming its jazz and world music series in 2010.