Commonwealth Music Relay
Together, you created a truly inspiring musical journey that connected the 56 nations of the Commonwealth through creativity and collaboration.
About the Commonwealth Music Relay
Building on the success of our Queen’s Platinum Jubilee project in 2022 — broadcast globally from Buckingham Palace — the Commonwealth Music Relay invited young musicians worldwide to take part in a unique musical challenge.
Two age categories were included:
- Under 18 (as of 1st September 2023)
- Aged 18–40 (as of 1st September 2023)
The project launched with an original song, ‘Symphony’, composed by five young artists from different Commonwealth regions:
- Siri (India)
- Jahfari (Antigua and Barbuda)
- James (Australia)
- Jacob (Malta)
- Ajiri (Nigeria)
The young composers collaborated in online workshops with professional songwriters Pam Sheyne and Richard Harris, along with composers Jack Pepper and Alison Cox. The song was then arranged and performed by pupils from The Purcell School for Young Musicians.
Listen to ‘Symphony’
How the Relay Worked
Participants were invited to respond creatively in two ways:
- Arrange the original song ‘Symphony’ in their own style, including translation into other languages
- Compose a new piece inspired by elements of ‘Symphony’, creating a variation
The Journey of the Relay
Musicians across the globe not only submitted their own music but also passed it on — starting mini-relays and creative exchanges in schools, communities and countries around the world.
What Happened Next?
- Outstanding entries were selected for live performances at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Samoa
- Every submission was added to our interactive map, showing how far the music travelled
Thank You
The Commonwealth Music Relay has been a joyful celebration of youth, creativity, and global unity through music. We are proud of every participant and look forward to future projects where young voices continue to be heard around the world.
- Show all
- Commonwealth Music Relay Leaders
- Commonwealth Music Relay Composers
- Commonwealth Music Rotary Relay Performances
- Commonwealth Music Relay Performances
- Leaders
- Performances
Listen
FIRST OF ALL – we would like you to listen to this song, ‘Symphony‘ written by young composers living in the five regions of the Commonwealth, arranged and performed by school-aged pupils from The Purcell School for Young Musicians.
Create
Next, you should use the song as INSPIRATION for your own performance or creative musical idea.
Choose one of these two different ways of using it:
EITHER
You can arrange the song ‘SYMPHONY’ and sing or play it in your own way. This can be in a different language if you want.
OR
You must use fragments of the lyrics and the music from ‘Symphony’ to make up (compose) your own piece of music or song which will be a VARIATION of the original.
Here are some helpful tips for arranging and composing your music
Record
Film or record your new version of the song
Then you should film yourself (this can even be on a mobile phone) singing or performing your own music. This doesn’t need to be a studio recording or have much cost involved.
See our top tips for recording your music.
Upload
Send us your music
You will need to send your music to us. There are lots of different methods to achieve this. Please share your files using any platform you are comfortable using. Google Drive, WeTransfer, Apple,
Pass it on!
Pass your own music on
Share this project with others! We’re going to be tracking this relay around the world and will be looking at how the music has been passed from one musician or group to another so that it reaches every country in the Commonwealth.
Pass your own music onto another school or musician and ask them to make a variation of YOUR music!
Don’t forget to send them a link to this page!
commonwealthresounds.com/relay
