Playground Proms, the initiative that brings live, interactive classical music performances to school playgrounds, is back on the road for its biggest tour yet, reaching schools across North Somerset and beyond. The initiative, created by the comedy string quartet Graffiti Classics, aims to introduce children to classical music in a fun and engaging way.
The 2025 Playground Proms tour runs for 32 weeks, with 15 stops across the UK, including several schools in the Long Ashton, Portishead, Portbury, Yatton, Clevedon, and Nailsea areas. The tour, which began in 2021, was originally conceived as a way for Graffiti Classics to continue performing during the Covid-19 pandemic. Since then, it has grown steadily, and the current tour is set to reach an estimated 73,000 children across nine regions in the UK, including Cumbria, London, and Lancashire.
The North Somerset leg of the tour will bring Playground Proms to a number of local schools, offering workshops that combine the quartet's renowned virtuosity with their trademark humour. Students will not only experience live performances of some of classical music's most iconic pieces but will also get the chance to join in and explore their own musicality.
"We're thrilled to be back, bigger and better than ever in 2025!" said Cathal Ó Dúill, co-founder of Graffiti Classics. "The positive feedback from last year has been overwhelming, and we're proud of what we’ve built with the help of Arts Council England and our music hub partners."
Playground Proms also offers an online resource pack for teachers and professional development sessions for educators. These sessions provide an introduction to the Dalcroze Eurythmics method of responding to music through movement, further enhancing the educational experience for both students and teachers.
The growth of Playground Proms reflects a wider movement to make classical music more accessible to young people, blending entertainment and education in a way that resonates with children of all backgrounds.
For more information, visit www.playgroundproms.net.