The Glasshouse

From discovering new ways to connect with communities through music to hearing inspiring stories of transformation – there’s something magical about seeing the power of music in action across Europe. This spirit of collaboration and change was at the heart of the recent ECHO (European Concert Halls Organisation) ELP (Education Learning & Participation) conference in Stockholm. Leaders and educators gathered to explore how music can continue to be a force for change in concert halls and communities. Rebecca Johnson, Senior Producer (Make Music) at The Glasshouse, attended the event and left feeling inspired and eager to bring fresh ideas back home.

Last month, I attended the annual ECHO (European Concert Halls Organisation) ELP (Education Learning & Participation) conference. This event is a key gathering for those of us who are passionate about the role of music education in shaping the future of concert halls and connecting with new, diverse audiences. We meet regularly – both in person and online – but this was the big annual event, and I was thrilled that The Glasshouse was invited to be part of it. This year, we were hosted by the wonderful team at Konserthuset Stockholm, home of the Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra.

For The Glasshouse, being part of this group is not just exciting; it’s essential. It gives us the chance to connect with other people who share our belief that music education, learning, and participation are critical in ensuring concert halls remain relevant, inclusive, and vibrant spaces. Music has the power to bring people together, and this conference gave us the perfect platform to share ideas and discuss how we can continue to make that happen.

Learning from Sweden’s El Sistema Programme

Our two-day meeting kicked off with a 45-minute bus ride to the outskirts of Stockholm, where we visited a town called Södertälje. This is home to one of Sweden’s El Sistema programmes, an inspiring initiative that gives children and young people the chance to learn an instrument and play in an orchestra free of charge. The aim is simple: to improve the life chances of young people, particularly those facing socio-economic challenges, through the power of music.

This programme deeply resonates with the work we’re doing at The Glasshouse through In Harmony Newcastle Gateshead. Like El Sistema, In Harmony focuses on empowering young people by providing access to high-quality music education. We work with schools in the West End of Newcastle, where music has the same transformative impact on students’ lives as it does in Södertälje.

The El Sistema programme is housed in a purpose-built complex that includes a school, youth centre, community centre, and library. It was a fantastic example of how music can be deeply embedded in community life. We heard from Karina, the head of the programme, and Gabriel, one of their young leaders, who shared his personal story. Gabriel spoke about growing up in a town where career aspirations were low, and violence was common. For him, music provided a way out. He’s now an intern with El Sistema and at the Konserthuset, and he spoke passionately about how the young leaders programme helped him develop the skills he needed to succeed. And he mentioned that cooking hot dogs for the younger kids was an unexpected but essential part of the job!

Katherine Zeserson’s reflections on positive change

In the afternoon, we had the pleasure of hearing from Katherine Zeserson, a familiar face to The Glasshouse community as our Founding Director of Learning and Participation from 2001 to 2015. Katherine is widely respected for her work in music education, large-scale programmes, and creative leadership. She spoke to us about fostering positive change within our organisations, and we broke into groups to discuss our own experiences of driving change and what it takes to lead effectively in this area. It was an energising session that left many of us with fresh ideas for making an impact back home.

Later, Gabriel gave us a tour of the school where he had been a student. He told the touching story of how he first encountered the cello by accident – a forgotten book had led him into a classroom where the instruments were being set up for a lesson. From the moment he was invited to try one, he was hooked. It was moving to see how a single moment could change the course of someone’s life.

Inspiring projects across Europe

Day two began with presentations from all the group members, where each of us shared a programme or project we’re running in our concert halls. It was inspiring to hear about the incredible work happening across Europe. Some of the highlights for me included a composition competition for 12-18-year-olds in Iceland, which is even televised, and a fascinating project in Barcelona that connects science and music to tackle the issue of noise pollution – apparently, Barcelona is the noisiest city in the world!

Throughout the conference, I had the chance to chat with other participants and hear their thoughts on the event. Many expressed how energised they felt by the opportunity to come together and exchange ideas. One colleague from Poland mentioned that, being part of a very small team, they often felt isolated. For them, this group is essential in feeling connected to a bigger picture and having allies with similar goals and passions. Another participant from Brussels shared their experience with a massed choir project, which involved 15 choirs from the city singing in 10 different languages to celebrate the ethnic diversity within the groups.

In the afternoon, Katherine returned to talk about the ECHO Rising Stars programme and how we can involve those musicians in our education work. We brainstormed ways to strengthen the relationship between musicians and the ELP teams in our halls, exploring how we can make their visits more meaningful and collaborative. It was particularly encouraging to hear that today’s musicians are more engaged and eager to get involved in this kind of work than ever before.

A memorable moment

One of the standout moments for me was when Ryan Bancroft, conductor of the Stockholm Philharmonic, spoke to our group about his journey into conducting. Ryan grew up in Los Angeles, where his family faced significant challenges, including gang involvement. But thanks to the support of teachers and mentors, he found his path in classical music and hasn’t looked back since. His story resonated deeply with me, as it mirrors much of the work we do at The Glasshouse – supporting young people who face barriers to realise their potential through music. Ryan is an inspiring role model, and it was heartening to know that others around the world are working towards the same goals we have: to make music a force for positive change.

Leaving Inspired

I left Stockholm feeling revitalised and inspired. At The Glasshouse, we see the transformative power of music every day – how it changes lives, brings people together, and opens up new possibilities. Hearing the stories from across Europe only reinforced how important this work is, and I’m excited to take everything I’ve learned and continue pushing forward with our mission to support young people to realise their dreams through music.