London Symphony Orchestra announces Elmer performance

The London Symphony Orchestra (LSO) is creating a musical performance based on the Elmer book, Elmer’s Walk, to celebrate the patchwork elephant’s 30th anniversary.

Paul Black, PR and brand director at Andersen Press, which publishes the Elmer books, said: “We’ve worked in collaboration with LSO for a number of years now, but this is the first time we’ve worked with them on an Elmer story, and there’s no better time to do it as we celebrate 30 years of Elmer. Partnering with LSO on the mindful Elmer’s Walk is a unique and fun way for fans old and new to see the story brought to life, by world-class musicians.”

The performance, created for the under 5s, features specially commissioned music by composer Lillie Harris and will take place at The Jerwood Hall in London at 10am and 11.30am on 23rd June.

The Elmer series was created by illustrator and author David McKee and Andersen published the first book in the series, entitled Elmer, in 1989. Other 30th anniversary celebrations have included a McKee retrospective at Seven Stories in Newcastle and public art displays with Wild in Art in Tyne and Wear, Suffolk and Plymouth.

McKee was also this year’s ‘illustrator of the fair’ at London Book Fair.