Partnership working and possible selves in music education

Between 2008 and 2010, the internationally acclaimed London Symphony Orchestra worked in partnership with the Guildhall School of Music & Drama and 10 East London Music Services, delivering a range of music education projects that involved professional musicians, classroom teachers, primary school-aged pupils and college students. This article considers qualitative and quantitative findings from an evaluation of the partnership and explores the extent to which participation influenced the aspirations and self-concept of those actively engaged stakeholders. The data are interpreted through the possible selves construct (Markus & Nurius, 1986), which offers a framework for understanding the partnership as the medium through which the formulation of aspirations and goals may be interpreted.