Liverpool Hope University will play a role in the biggest event in the global music calendar as Liverpool hosts the 2023 Eurovision Song Contest on behalf of Ukraine.
The University will be involved in a number of activities as part of the city’s fortnight-long cultural festival to mark the landmark occasion.
This includes an education project with local schools, an academic conference and a series of performances from staff and students in the Eurovision Village at Liverpool’s iconic Waterfront.
Hope-led music project to perform at the Eurovision Village
Children from two special educational needs schools in Liverpool are set to enjoy the once-in-a-lifetime experience of performing at the Eurovision Village thanks to a project led by Professor Stephen Davismoon.
Pupils from Sandfield Park School in West Derby and Alt Bridge Secondary School in Huyton will take to the stage at the Pier Head on Thursday 11 May thanks to EuroLearn, a school engagement programme funded by The National Lottery Heritage Fund, with additional funds from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, Spirit of 2012 and the government’s UK Shared Prosperity Fund.
Professor Davismoon – Dean of the School of Creative and Performing Arts – was awarded funding by Liverpool City Council’s Culture Liverpool team, who curated EuroLearn as part of the Host City programme.
During the course of the project, the pupils have collaborated with Professor Davismoon and several music industry professionals to create a song called You Are Not Alone, which celebrates the musical heritage of Liverpool and Ukraine.
Students set for Eurovision performances
Hope’s Musical Theatre Choir and the Hope Big Band will both be performing in the Eurovision Village.
The Musical Theatre Choir will be on stage on Tuesday 9 May, whilst the Big Band will follow on Thursday 11 May.
Several students are also delivering pop-up performances as part of the Eurovision programme.
BA (Hons) Music and Music Production student, Lewis Young, and Jamie Clements from our BA (Hons) Music and Education course welcomed the delegation from the Czech Republic, whilst MA Creative Music Practice student, Anna Ho, is taking part in the Tickle The Ivories pop-up.
Tickle The Ivories is Liverpool ONE’s famous piano festival and returns for Eurovision as a way to champion local talent.
Five pianos will be placed across the shopping centre, encouraging both amateur and professional players to showcase their skills and Anna will be performing as part of the Penguins of Balboa duo with Dimitrios Tsarouchis.
Capstone Theatre to host EUROVISIONS International Conference
Fans will have the opportunity to find out more about the enduring impact of Eurovision at a conference the University is hosting at the Capstone Theatre.
EUROVISIONS takes place on 10-11 May and invites anyone with an interest in the song contest to come and find out more about its cultural significance.
The conference is free to attend and is organised independently from Eurovision itself, but has taken place at the same time and in the same city as the main event for the last six years.
The 2023 edition has a particular focus on Liverpool hosting the competition on behalf of Ukraine, and will also examine the role of national and cultural representation and how Eurovision is contributing to both promote and question stereotypes.
It features a host of academic speakers from around the world, as well as media professionals from the BBC, S4C and Culture Liverpool.