BBC CBeebies Prom, Wildlife Jamboree

A jamboree is a boisterous day of singing and dancing, and this relaxed prom was a fabulous introduction to the pleasures of live music for very young children. We journeyed to various habitats around the world, learning about unusual animals – did you know that ants squeak to each other by rubbing their back legs together? – to collecting our Hey Duggee badges. Classical music concerts offered as suitable for children can be hit or miss. If the programme comprises the more popular classics, the ones featured on every tinkly nursery toy, it can be dull. A running time that’s too long, or an atmosphere that doesn’t accommodate little ones’ desire to move about, crunch snacks and ask ‘why’ repeatedly and it’s excruciating for parents and carers. The CBeebies prom hit a perfect balance of a relaxed atmosphere, interesting musical choices and enough spectacle to keep children entertained. Overall, it proved a fabulous introduction to the pleasures of live orchestral music for small children.

Sometimes perhaps slightly overshadowed by the screens and lights, the Sinfonia Smith Square orchestra conducted by Kwamé Ryan played an unexpected programme of music to accompany beautiful filmed sequences of some of the more unusual wildlife from around the world: the world premiere of the exquisite When the Rains Came by Sarah Class, commissioned by the BBC specially for the CBeebies Jamboree Prom, through to the familiar Lovely Day by Bill Withers, arranged by Iain Farrington and sung by the CBeebies East London Schools Choir. Between each piece, the CBeebies presenters Andy, Chantelle, Maddie, Jen, Rhys and Dodge T. Dog, provided songs, dances and slapstick. A particular highlight was Leia Zhu’s fun demonstration of how to generate different animal sounds from her violin.

At the end of the performance, when we’d all been awarded our Hey Duggee badges, the adults were encouraged to light their phones up with a glow worm animation, and the children thoroughly enjoyed waving them about during the last piece (the traditional song Hello, arranged by Adam Walters), and then it was time to exit the magical atmosphere of the Royal Albert Hall into the bright sunshine. We can’t wait for next year!