Young musicians at Great Sankey High School are being given a once‑in‑a‑lifetime opportunity to compose and perform music for the National Ballet this summer. 

Members of the school orchestra are currently taking part in a series of specialist workshops led by composer Cameron Lythgoe, who is guiding them through the process of creating original compositions for a professional performance setting. 

As part of the project, students are collaboratively composing new music that will be performed live in the pit orchestra at the Liverpool Empire Theatre on Tuesday 9 June, as part of the English National Ballet’s Sleeping Beauty Schools Programme. The event will also feature dancers other schools across the North West. 

Approximately 30 pupils from Years 7 to 12 will take part, performing Tchaikovsky’s Sleeping Beauty Waltz Overture alongside their own original composition. 

Head of Performing Arts, Joanne Cosgrove, who will conduct the orchestra for the performance, said: “This is a truly special honour and a once‑in‑a‑lifetime opportunity for our students!” 

School music staff are also contributing to the project, including Peter Leighton‑Jones, the school’s string teacher and a professional musician, who is supporting students through the preparation and rehearsal process. 

This is an amazing opportunity for our pupils not only to work with leading musicians but also to experience performing for a National Ballet production.  

The Trust is incredibly proud of how hard the orchestra has worked to earn this experience and perform live music for such a prestigious event.