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Newham Recycled Orchestra Make Some Noise for transatlantic UEL performance

Tuesday 26 February 2008

Young Newham residents played an instrumental role when the University of East London’s (UEL) SMARTlab Digital Media Institute teamed up with Newham Sixth Form College (NewVIc) and Newham Community Arts Development to run a workshop and performance of ‘recycled’ music on 14-15 February.

The 'Make Some Noise! International Recycled Orchestra' featured world-renowned musicians and was conducted live and online, from London and New York.

John Crockford, Music & Music Technology tutor at NewVIc, worked with Jazz trumpeter and percussionist Claude Deppa to increase awareness of waste and recycling and introduce rhythms and grooves from around the world to young people from Newham taking part in the workshop.

John said: “Make Some Noise! was all about using new technology to bring people together in music making with minimal demand on our environment. Through recycling, we were able to create really interesting new musical instruments. It's been a fantastic experience and we're hoping to recreate the magic at UEL's free Mayfest festival on Thurssday 8 May.”

John and the SMARTlab team manufactured a range of instruments from materials including plastic tubing, metal strips, bamboo, office water cooler bottles, car parts, hub caps, inner tubes, plastic bins, fabric, gaffer tape and string.

Other collaborators included Colm O’Snodaigh of KILA, shortlisted for the Choice Music Prize Irish Album of the Year, Robbie Perry of Dead Can Dance, and Clilly Castiglia of Kranky, who performed live by web broadcast from the Harlem Children’s Zone in New York.

Professor Lizbeth Goodman, Director of UEL’s SMARTlab Digital Media Institute and MAGICbox, said: “We were thrilled to work on this exciting project. The participants all really enjoyed the experience of being part of a new musical community, developing musical skills, sensitivity to others, self-discipline and self-expression.

“We hope they will now go on to build connections with other communities of music makers locally, nationally and internationally, and help spread awareness of environmental sustainability.”

SMARTlab is making a film of the workshop and performance, to be screened at the Newham Arts Festival at the Royal Festival Hall in July. Read more about the event on-line http://www.smartlab.uk.com/3events/orchestra/index.html.

For details and pictures contact Daniel Cherry: 020 8223 2194

Notes to Editors

The University of East London (UEL) is a global learning community with over 28,000 students from over 120 countries world-wide. Our vision is to achieve recognition, both nationally and internationally, as a successful and inclusive regional university proud of its diversity, committed to new modes of learning which focus on students and enhance their employability, and renowned for our contribution to social, cultural and economic development, especially through our research and scholarship. We have a strong track-record in widening participation and working with industry.

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