Excellent! Symposium
Wednesday 16th July

Tony Hall, Chief Executive of the Royal Opera House, will chair the symposium for around 80 invited educationalists, arts professionals and policy-makers. Together they will explore understanding and practice in nurturing excellence, cultural education, identifying exceptional potential and the development of the Music and Dance Scheme. John Holden of Demos is the keynote speaker. He has written the provocation, ‘Making a song and dance about it’ that can be downloaded here. Following his presentation there will be a panel discussion including Nina Ashton a recent graduate of the Purcell School, Nicholas Kenyon Managing Director of the Barbican, Jeanette Siddall an independent member of the Music and Dance Scheme Expert Group, Kenneth Tharp Chief Executive of the Place, and composer Debbie Wiseman. In the afternoon there will be presentations from Nicolas Chisholm headteacher of the Yehudi Menuhin School, Marie McCluskey Director of Swindon Dance, Richard Jones of the Specialist Schools and Academies Trust, Joan-Albert Serra of the Sage, Jay Jolley and Ginny Brown of The Royal Ballet School. In the final session delegates will discuss the topics of the day and propose action to follow-up the symposium. To read a report on the symposium click here.

Blog / News

Symposium Report published on-line

August 15th, 2008

Read a report of the Excellent! Symposium here.

See images from this morning’s photocall

July 15th, 2008

Check out the Gallery to see images from this morning’s photocall at Sadler’s Wells, where dancers & musicians are warming up for the Excellent! performance this evening!

Check out new images in the Gallery

June 20th, 2008

There are new images to view in the Gallery, including pictures from our successful press launch in April.

New video to view on the site

June 19th, 2008

Click on the Gallery page to view five new video clips of partners’ preparation for Excellent!

Demos provocation paper published on-line

June 16th, 2008

Visit the Symposium section of the site to read John Holden’s provocation paper “Making a song and dance about it”.

Trails on Classic FM

June 9th, 2008

Listen out for the Excellent! trails on Classic FM, starting this week.

Excellent! on sale

April 16th, 2008

Tickets for Excellent! are now on sale via the Sadler’s Wells box office. Click here to book on-line or phone 0844 412 4300

Department for children, schools and families Classic FM