Brit Awards cellist Elliott comes home to promote Concerteenies kids’ book project

Cellist Elliott Bailey played at the star-studded awards ceremony last month alongside rapper Stormzy.

The widely-toured player is coming back to Rotherham for a concert as part of Musical Stories South Yorkshire, which is being organised by award-winning Sheffield music producer Concerteenies.

The project reimagines four illustrated children’s books using storytelling, music and audience participation and includes performances at Rotherham schools plus family events at venues including the Civic Theatre.  

Concerteenies founder Polly Ives, who created the project with award-winning composer Paul Rissmann, said: “We are so excited to be bringing these incredible stories to Rotherham.

“We hope having home-grown talent like Elliott on board will be particularly inspirational for local youngsters.

“For 95 per cent of children at these concerts, they have never seen a musical instrument up close and it is their first musical experience.

“Presenting it through a story makes it really accessible, fun and comfortable.

“A lot of children will have read the books so it is about introducing other elements to make it a sensory experience, bringing the story to life.”

Each book has a positive message for children and is matched with a particular instrument — cello, clarinet, harp and the percussive marimba.

The concerts are suitable for youngsters aged between three and seven and aim to reach underserved communities, while bespoke project resources will also improve access for children with special educational needs and disabilities and those who are neuro-diverse.

The events started at schools earlier this month and will run until June.

Family-friendly performances will take place at Wath Festival on Saturday, April 29, with Elliott on cello and Polly narrating the children’s book The Dinosaur Department Store by Lily Murray and Richard Merritt.  

Other books to feature include Mixed by Arree Chung and Mouse and Bear by Kev Payne.

Rotherham Civic will play host to a new musical play session for youngsters aged zero to three, which Grimm and Co will debut on Friday, June 2.

A Musical Stories concert will take place there on the same day, with award-winning percussionist Matthew Brett on the marimba and Polly retelling The Dog Who Could Dig by Jonathan Long.

Tickets are available at www.concerteenies.com/events.