In Harmony is England's answer to Venezuela's El Sistema, bringing instrumental learning to young people in deprived areas of the country. Children as young as four will have instrumental lessons and musicianship classes, leading to the formation of children's orchestras.
More importantly, In Harmony aims to nurture children's aspirations, self-esteem, creativity, commitment and teamwork.
Three initial projects have been announced, in London, Liverpool and Norwich. Marcus Patteson tells us why he's excited about bringing In Harmony to Norwich.
"The difference between us and the other projects is that we're a community music organisation, we're very much grass roots," says Marcus Patteson from Norwich and Norfolk Community Arts (NORCA). "We're looking to find the marriage between conventional classical music teaching and community music principles.
"What we do is about improving quality of life through engagement in the arts. We're quite a small organisation and it might have surprised some people that we've been chosen for a pilot, but it's a fantastic opportunity."
For In Harmony, NORCA is working closely with community charity the NR5 Project. The two organisations already have relationships with their target areas: Wensum, Mile Cross, Catton Grove and Bowthorpe, which are some of the most deprived areas of Norwich. They will be linking up with key community organisations in each area as well as with high quality classical musicians from the UEA School of Music and Chamber Orchestra Anglia.
NORCA will be recruiting children to the projects through schools, starting out with two centres, which will eventually be drawn together. The target age is four- to five-year-olds, although some older children who already play instruments will also be able to get involved.
"We're working with six instruments: violin, viola, cello, double bass, clarinet and flute, and we'll also have a core skills unit, where we get all the kids to work with percussion and singing. Every day we're going to run parallel groups. So if a child who's playing the violin turns up on a Tuesday and that's the day for the cellos to work, he can always come and take part in the singing and percussion. There's always something for them to do."
Like other In Harmony leaders, Patteson thinks one of the challenges of the project could be the perception of classical music as "something for posh people", and yet initial conversations with the communities were very positive. "They were saying they'd love their children to have this opportunity," he says.
"The issue is not so much engaging people at first, but keeping people engaged. If we're successful then the momentum that comes with being part of a bigger project will keep kids moving forward. Getting the whole community behind it is important, and having good support staff; being able to see them through the tricky times.
"What I want to see is a project that has really engaged the community that we're working with, that has put in place a large ensemble of people who are working together and inspiring yet more people to get involved. Something that people would not dare take the funding away from. A project that's making its mark."