Overview Inspiration workshops are outreach performances by small ensembles of Ulster Orchestra musicians which are delivered in both primary and post-primary schools – particularly those schools where there is limited music provision or exposure to the orchestral experience. The performances are a combination of sounds and images designed to inform and enlighten pupils to the orchestra, it’s instruments and orchestral music. In the academic year 2022-23, our musicians visited 4910 primary and post -primary students from twenty-four different schools across Northern Ireland to deliver a one-hour interactive show, ‘Inside the Music’. Journeying through the physics of sound, the mechanics of orchestral instruments and the relationship and unconscious impact of orchestral music on young minds today, the show explored the power and influence music has on our emotional responses and imagination, culminating in a student led conducting and performance with the ensemble. We loved our visit from the orchestra members. Great content which was pitched at a good level - informative but not too complicated. The performances were excellent and worked well with them spread throughout - the children found these really engaging and loved that they knew the songs. Pupils were talking about the show back in classrooms long after it had finished. Clearly 3 or 4 pupils were particularly interested to the extent that they talked about learning to play instruments. The children came away buzzing with excitement! Some of the younger children expressed an interest in learning an instrument as a result. The staff hope that some of the children who are already learning an instrument will be inspired to practise more. The children particularly enjoyed hearing music that they're already familiar with. One member of staff said he remembered the orchestra coming to his primary school & he can still remember the pieces played that day - it had a big impact on him & he hopes it has the same for his students now. It was also great to hear about the mechanics of the instruments & learn a bit more about their place in the orchestra. The school show was brilliant. Originally it was only set for Primary 3 - Primary 7 but Primary 1 and 2 came in for the first 20 minutes and stayed for the whole show. They show was interactive and engaging for all ages and the whole school (staff included) loved it.