The Crescendo programme is currently being delivered in four primary schools in the Colin and Shankill communities in North and West Belfast. Crescendo was co-designed by the Innovation Zones - QUB Social Charter, Ulster Orchestra, Shankill Children and Young People Zone and Colin Neighbourhood Partnership.

A chapter on the Crescendo research is provided in a new book Music and Social Inclusion: International Research and Practice in Complex Settings (edited by Edited By Professor Oscar Odena and published by Routledge). It sets out how Crescendo was designed and implemented in the Shankill and Colin communities. It also provides preliminary evidence of how Crescendo improves music and emotional skills of young children in primary schools facing multiple challenges.

The publication follows on from the PhD work of Dr Conneth Poland and is co-authored by Dr Liam O’Hare (SSESW, Director Innovation Zones) who supervised Dr Poland with Professor Sarah Miller (SSESW) and Dr Jennifer Roberts (SSESW). The other co-author Dr Leeanne O’Hara (MHLS) is lead researcher for the Crescendo programme.