“A wonderful afternoon of music!” at the Together in Sound Summer Party

Participants of our Together in Sound project got together online with friends and family on Friday for a Summer Party featuring interactive warm-ups, musical performances and plenty of cake thanks to Saffron Hall volunteers, who travelled far and wide across Hertfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Essex to deliver delicious cakes from local bakery Bitesize Bakehouse to participants' doorsteps.

Together in Sound participants receive a special cake delivery from Saffron Hall volunteers

The participants were joined online by an audience of invited friends, family, volunteers and supporters with whom they shared songs 'Just be Kind' and 'The Virus Blues', which had been written collaboratively during the lockdown, and remembered those who were no longer able to take part. The celebration was wrapped up with a performance from guest artists Honey & the Bear, who played several songs for the virtual audience live from their living room.

Folk duo Honey & the Bear performed live from their living room for the participants and audience

"It was fantastic to be joined by so many of our participants, family and friends for this online celebration. This has been such a challenging time and it is a privilege to be part of Together in Sound and to play a role in enabling participants to stay connected and support each other. The highlight for me, alongside the wonderful live music from Honey & the Bear, was hearing our participants sing their original songs that reflected on the experiences of living through lockdown. Music therapy truly has a unique role to play in helping us all to make sense of these changing times we are living through."
- Claire Molyneux, Senior Lecturer in Music Therapy at Anglia Ruskin University who leads the sessions

“It was extremely moving, especially the relaxed connections between people, the variety of music and participation which links people together. Especially great to hear participants experiences through readings, song writing and joining in.”
- Audience member

"Lockdown saw, like many, the overnight loss of regular revenue streams that came from face to face events, wholesale and corporate orders which was a real challenge so it has been so lovely to work with Saffron Hall and provide their patrons with treats for their Zoom party recently."
- Jade Boswell, owner of Bitesize Bakehouse