Mechanical Advantage

Do you love gadgets? Then join us and more than 100 students from Derby’s Becket and Firs Primary Schools, The Bemrose School, and Derby College, on a musical exploration of the mechanical world of gears, cogs, pulleys and levers.

Technology moves relentlessly fast and there are new innovations that will change our future forever, but even more traditional mechanisms are still important. In this unique concert performance, the children explore how everyday machines, inspired by Derby’s rich industrial heritage, make our lives easier. Through hands-on workshops with musicians, engineers, and scientists from Rolls-Royce, these talented young minds have created four new songs with composers James Redwood and Hazel Gould.

For the grand finale of this ambitious project, they will perform these songs on stage. As well as big, uplifting and catchy new tunes, we will also perform a variety of classical works inspired by machines. Mechanical Advantage is more than just a concert; it’s a celebration of imagination, science, and teamwork. Perfect for families who love discovery and exploration, this performance offers something for everyone—whether your child dreams of being an inventor, loves music, or simply enjoys learning new things. You’ll leave with a new appreciation for the innovations around us.

Mechanical Advantage is the latest collaboration production by Sinfonia Viva, Rolls-Royce plc and Derbyshire Music Education Hub – uniting forces to inspire a brighter, more innovative future. It follows the hugely successful performance Energy in 2023, which explored the climate crisis and global warming.

This concert will be British Sign Language interpreted.