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Project Remix took to the Symphony Hall stage to celebrate 10 years of the programme!
Project Remix is our free, non-auditioned programme for young musicians aged 11-18. Every year, a group of musicians meet to celebrate a different theme through exciting orchestral arrangements made specific to that year's current cohort.
In the past Project Remix musicians have performed music by MOBO award-winning CBSO Youth Orchestra alumna Laura Mvula, celebrated Birmingham's rich cultural heritage with a collection of South Asian hits alongside Bollywood singer Navin Kundra & sitarist Tommy Khosla and we’ve even explored the music of video games including Final Fantasy, The Legend of Zelda and Super Mario Bros! Designed for musicians in secondary school who are around Grade 5 or above, often our participants go on to join the CBSO Youth Orchestra and are inspired to study even further in their musical education too.
For the 10 year anniversary of the project, we revisited music that had been performed as part of Project Remix from the last decade, culminating in a free post-concert performance in Symphony Hall. 880 individual music parts and 63 excited participants later, we followed the progress of this project from the first few rehearsals to the very end of the final performance, demonstrating the incredible progress and opportunity this programme provides to young musicians.
Rehearsals for the 2025 project began in January and for most of the children taking part, this was their first time participating. For others, they were returning for their second or even third time, raring to go with excitement!
We asked them how they felt after their first Remix rehearsal and the project going forward.
This was my first time taking part in Project Remix. I was feeling a bit apprehensive before the first rehearsal but have come out feeling happy – it made me want to play more music! So far, I’ve enjoyed playing lots of different percussion instruments with other people and I am hoping Project Remix will improve my skills, as well as give me experience of playing in an ensemble.
First time participant of Project Remix
Before the first Remix rehearsal I felt excited to see my friends from last year – I was even more excited after seeing what music we’d be playing. The new friendships I have made have been what I’ve enjoyed most about Project Remix because I’ve met people I likely wouldn’t have met otherwise.
Returning Project Remix participant
All the professional musicians were really nice and easy to talk to. This was my first ever Project Remix rehearsal but I’m already really excited to come back to the next one. So far, I’ve enjoyed getting to play alongside other people that I don’t know and seeing their talents – I’m hoping to grow more confident with my playing by the end of the project.
First time participant of Project Remix
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Throughout the project, participants are mentored through rehearsals by our very own CBSO musicians, sometimes getting to play side-by-side with them!
Project Remix is without a doubt one of the sunniest moments of my week! The young participants are always happy and excited to be there making music together and often during break times there is exuberant spontaneous music-making coming from somewhere or other. Mark Goodchild has developed something really special - from his brilliant arrangements which the students genuinely enjoy playing, his wonderfully enabling and encouraging rehearsals to his effortlessly cool and creative musicianship - he really brings out the best in all the young musicians and it's no surprise that they are keen to come back year after year!
Bryony Morrison, Tutti Second Violin
The amazing thing about Remix being free to the performers is that it draws musicians from the city and beyond. The music we have played, often suggested by the students, means they teach us too; the video game music especially empowered the students when they realised it was all new to me and so they could tell me more about it. Having a wide age range means the older participants are really supportive of the younger ones (one of my section this year made Taylor Swift style Remix friendship bracelets for all of the section, even me!). Many Remixers come back year after year and even when other academic studies have taken over, they still make time for Remix. This communal joy of music, that they might not find elsewhere, helps to instil a lifelong love of music and live performance.
Helen Edgar, Tutti Cello
I have loved the experience. All of the CBSO musicians are very helpful and patient
Project Remix participant
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This year's energetic performance revisited some of Remix's most iconic tunes from the past 10 years and featured guest artist Namywa on vocals. The ensemble performed Laura Mvula's Sing to the Moon, Depeche Mode's I Just Cant Get Enough, Taylor Swift's You Need to Calm Down, Yamma Yamma, music from Super Mario Bros and more!
We asked the participants how the performance went for them and if they had any reflections after participating in this year's Project Remix.
I really enjoyed the performance – I found it a lot more enjoyable than other orchestras I have performed with purely because of how welcoming and supportive Project Remix is. I wish it took place all year round!
Project Remix participant
I felt very privileged to get to play in Symphony Hall. After the performance, I felt proud, grateful and happy – I’ve gained confidence from taking part in Project Remix and hope to take part in future opportunities with the CBSO as well as youth ensembles outside of school.
Project Remix participant
Project Remix was really insightful and a great taster to a lot of the areas of study for GCSE music. I don’t usually play this sort of music, so it helped me understand the structure of melodies and chord progressions in these genres more.
Project Remix participant
We are grateful for the generous support from The Leverhulme Trust and Clive Richards Foundation, principal supporter of the CBSO’s work with young people.