LONTANO

Lontano are resident ensemble at Kings College London, working with young composers, rehearsing and recording their works. The work of the ensemble is now central to the curriculum. 

Lontano are involved in educational and community work in London and abroad. If Walthamstow Market Could Sing, Unheard Voices, In Praise of Our Families and Voices of Youth, are projects involving both parents and children and are making a difference in a highly culturally diverse community.

Under the sponsorship of the British Council Lontano ran workshops in Macedonia – with over 100 newly graduated high school students from the newly formed republic. And more recently they have worked on a project linking the Tango with African influence in Argentina – with primary, secondary and tertiary schools in Buenos Aires. An experience that deeply touched all involved.

During May-July 2011, they put on an educational project titled A Sweet Olympiad of Sounds with 10 schools from Waltham Forest borough – one of the Olympic boroughs. Performances took place in the Walthamstow Assembly Hall and at the Leytonstone Festival. In the autumn and winter of 2011-2012, with a grant from Youth Music, Lontano worked in Southwark and Greenwich boroughs with a project titled Connections. It featured the culture and music of Roma, Gypsy and Traveller communities residing in those boroughs. Similar projects is took place in the London Borough of Redbridge from May 2012 to April 2013.

Lontano have been awarded a three year grant from the City Bridge Trust in support of their educational and community work with the Roma people.