In 2013 the Britten-Pears Foundation has developed a partnership with the British Council, specifically via their Connecting Classrooms Initiative, to create a unique international project for young people around the world that celebrates the life and work of Britten through a newly created animated film illustrating Britten’s seminal piece The Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra.

Using Britten’s The Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra, young people in three countries – Russia, Brazil and the UK – will create short animations to accompany the piece of music. These different sections, made by pupils from 15 schools, will be woven together to create a short animated film illustrating the complete piece from beginning to end. The final film will be presented at a performance in London during Britten’s centenary year, and online to an international audience who can follow the animation process from beginning to end.