1. Opening Ceremony
Music
As part of
Delivered by the
Youth Sport Trust

2. The Opening Ceremonies of the
Olympic and Paralympic Games
‘Music is always important in a Ceremony
because it gives people an emotional
connection with the show. So, when we
want people to feel happy, we play happy
music; when we want them to feel serious
we play something more serious, and we
may even want them to feel a bit sad at
some points so we might play music that
goes along with that.
‘Music is even more important in the
It is an honour to have been chosen as Host City London 2012 Ceremonies because, as a
for the 2012 Games and enormous amounts of country, one of the things we are most
time, effort and energy have already been put in famous for around the world is music,
by many thousands of individuals to make sure particularly pop and classical music, so
London 2012 is a huge success. We welcome we’ve taken a lot of time to think very
the world and open the Olympic and Paralympic carefully about how we produce music
Games with the Opening Ceremonies, and music within our Ceremonies.’
is a crucial component of this welcome. Music,
from classical to pop, is something Britain is Martin Green,
famous for all over the world and has a language Head of Ceremonies for the London
of its own. As such, it is something that will create 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games
a huge impact during the Opening Ceremonies.

3. ? Your opening ceremony
D id y ou know
When you are planning your own opening
–
Working with an internationally ceremony you need to think carefully about
renowned orchestra of around 60 the music.
musicians, 12 hours’ worth of music
will be created. Clare Hazeldine is Music Department
–
Three months will be spent recording Coordinator for the London 2012 Ceremonies
in the studio prior to the London team and it is her job to supervise the music
2012 Games. recorded in the studios that will be used on
–
There will be 36 hours of dedicated the day. Clare believes that teamwork and
drum tuition. enjoyment are crucial to a successful ceremony
and that it is all in the planning.
Music wisdom from Clare Hazeldine
Have a session where you create musical instruments of your own. Be imaginative – an object
on its own might make no sound but combined with something else it could sound spectacular.
‘Look at what you’ve got around you and be creative in terms of musical instruments so that
everyone can get involved. Percussion is very important in Opening Ceremonies and can take
on many forms – from dustbin lids through buckets and sticks to a full set of drums.’

4. To help you plan your event, here are
some key things to remember:
1.
Assemble your music team and allocate roles
to everyone so each person knows exactly
what is expected of them at a given time.
This way you will avoid any confusion.
2.
You could appoint a musical director who
is responsible for coordinating the different
elements of performing and stage managing.
3. and involve as many people as you can
Try
– this is supposed to be a big, all-inclusive
event and even if people who want to
perform don’t play a recognised instrument
they can make one.
4.
Will you be using any pre-recorded music
like Clare? If so, make sure you have all the
CDs or devices clearly labelled so it is easy
to see which one should be played at the
right moment. Put someone in charge of pre-
recorded sound.
5.
The person in charge of pre-recorded
sound will also have to ensure, before the
ceremony, that the right equipment is in
place to play the music. If you have several
elements of pre-recorded sound you may
need a few sound engineers to operate the
equipment (tape recorders, CD players,
laptops and so on).
6. you have a band or a group of musicians
If
or singers performing at your opening
ceremony you will need to ensure they have
time and space to rehearse before the event.
7.
Will you be using existing music or writing
something new? Creating an original piece
will give you a real sense of ownership over
your ceremony – why not give it a go?
8.
Have a run-through or dress rehearsal of your
opening ceremony the week before if you
can, to iron out any problem spots. A run-
through often highlights a technical issue that
may not have been obvious in the planning
stages and it’s crucial to sort these things out
prior to an audience being present.
Music wisdom from Mik Auckland:
‘Know when your deadline is and work
everything back from that date.’

5. 3-11 years
Ac tivity ide
a
Activ ity idea 11-19 years
–
Choose a song that would be appropriate –
Choose three pieces of pop music and two
for an opening ceremony (think why it is pieces of classical music to include in your
appropriate) and ask your school choir opening ceremony and explain why you
to sing it. Choose a conductor and try have chosen them.
singing loudly and then softly and see –
What impact can different instruments
how the atmosphere changes. make? Use different instruments, or
–
Stand in a circle and ask each person to different combinations of instruments,
create a single sound that in some way to create different emotions appropriate
links to the Games, slow or fast, loud to the different parts of your
or soft, that they can repeat in the same opening ceremony.
rhythm – it could be a vocal sound , clap – the things that make the Olympic and
List
or a click of the fingers. Then, starting Paralympic Games so important to people
with one sound, work your way round the around the world and the emotions the
circle gradually introducing sounds one at Games create. Then select a set of
a time until everyone is joining in and you pictures to represent these emotions.
are all making music together. How could Finally compose a piece of music to be
you use this in your opening ceremony? played alongside the images you have
–
Think of every possible type of musical selected. Your aim is to provoke in a
instrument from ones everyone knows, spectator or listener the emotions you
like drums and trumpets, to those that you listed at the start.
can make at home or in the classroom. Look back at previous Opening
–
How have the more traditional instruments Ceremonies, what kind of music was used
been used in ceremonies and what impact in each? Why do you think it was chosen
are they used to create? How might you in terms of the impact on the Ceremony
combine these traditional instruments with and the statement the Host Nation is
your own new ones to create a unique trying to make about itself at that time?
sound for your opening ceremony? –
There might be several different elements
to your opening ceremony such as an
athletes’ parade, a dance or a flag
moment. Think what kind of music
might be appropriate for these different
elements and how that can help.
Clare’s challenge for all schools
Work as a team and have fun doing it.
You need a team to create great music on
this scale so try to make sure everyone
in the team – from composers through
musicians to equipment operators –
remains excited and motivated, and pulls
together to make some wonderful music
that helps convey and underline the story
of your opening ceremony. If you enjoy
making the music, everyone will enjoy
listening to it.

6. An interview with…
Clare Hazeldine
Music Department Coordinator for the
London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games
What did you do before this job?
I managed to get into musical theatre and events early on
in my career. In the West End I have been on the technical
production side of things, being involved in everything from
stage management to shipping costumes around the world.
Why do you think Opening Ceremonies are important to an Olympic and
Paralympic Games?
They are a massive part of the Games. They showcase the tremendous talent of Britain in terms of
our creativity and technology, and announce to the world ‘the Games are here!’
Do you have a favourite moment in a previous Opening Ceremony?
This document and the official Emblems of the London 2012 Games are © London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games Limited 2007–2012. All rights reserved. LOC2012_IEP_1928
Two, really: Beijing for its scale and Athens for its beauty and serenity.
Do you have a favourite ‘lighting of the Olympic Cauldron’ moment?
Sydney – it was not only fantastic but the way the organisers covered the technical glitch which led
to the Olympic Flame being stopped mid-journey to the Cauldron for four minutes was superb. There
must have been chaos backstage, though!
In your job role, what will you make happen?
I am responsible for music that is recorded in studios. More than 2,000 amateur musicians have
been involved working on many different types of music including: contemporary, ‘historic’ music
(up to 300 years old), orchestral, percussion, popular and choral, with up to 400 people in a choir.
How do you plan for one of the biggest televised moments in the world?
You have to be very organised in terms of using the musicians, as you may only get one set of
musicians for a couple of days in a studio and you have to record all the different pieces of music
you may need from that group in that time.
Explain more about why ‘your’ element is so important in the Opening Ceremony.
Music is incredibly important to all of us: it is a part of who we are and can convey emotion within
seconds without the need for words. On top of this, music will enhance the texture and creative
impact of the Ceremonies immeasurably. Finally, Britain is fantastic at creating new music and this is
a chance for us to show that off.
What is your one wish for the London 2012 Watch out for…
Olympic or Paralympic Games Opening the thousands of volunteers,
throughout the Ceremonies, who
Ceremony?
have given up their time to be a
That people watch it and are proud of what we have in
part of the Ceremony – see what a
this country.
fabulous time they’re having and,
above all else, be proud.