THE Workers’ Music Association (WMA) was formed in 1936 via a conglomeration of workers’ choirs, including the London Labour Choral Union, and other working-class groups and thanks to the leadership of individuals like Alan Bush and Rutland Boughton (among others).

Included in the early aims of bringing the greatest amount of music to the widest spread of the working-class, the Summer School has been a key element of the work and a continuing source of joy and enthusiasm among attendees and those close to the WMA.

Since it started in 1946, the Summer School has been continuous event, with the exception of the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, which made this year a cathartic and joyous experience.

This year the Summer School returned to Ingestre Hall, Staffordshire on August 12. It has been a chance to see old friends again, and to make new friends, and to make music with a socialist or working-class sensibility in large numbers for potentially the first time since 2019.

Across the week, there was a huge wealth and breadth of music. Often, an accusation levelled at “working-class culture” is that it is twee folk, or lowest common denominator art, or just naff attempts at agitprop or poor imitations of the Internationale.

The reality is it is so much broader and varied and the Summer School does well to serve and expand the interests of those attending – be it a modest production of Mozart’s Marriage of Figaro, pro-peace songs associated with the CND, a Worker’s March by former WMA president Audrey Bowman, or big band favourites.

The composition class even brought in discussions about composers like Kaija Saariaho, Gerard Grisey, Alois Haba, and Luigi Nono. What it demonstrated is the attendees are hungry for more and deeply engage with what they hear.

Alongside the wonderful music, there was a great camaraderie which extends beyond just those there in person. On Wednesday 17, we witnessed the planting of a memorial rose bush and plaque for Mavis Cook – the lifelong Labour Party activist and supporter and campaigner for the WMA.

The ceremony was modest but deeply heartfelt, starting with a song, then a description of the incredible life and work of Mavis and the impact she has had on the WMA. Then, the plaque and Benjamin Britten Rose was planted to forever look at the artistic activities that go on at Ingestre Hall.

Overall, this year the plucky and enthusiastic group of 50, full of beans and gumption, has made literally tons of music. The experience and ability did vary, but that is to the School’s credit – a week of music where there isn’t internal politics of “who sits on the lead seat” or catty gossiping about how “X” missed those high notes, instead, there has a genuine comradery where this mixed grab bag of musicians make something together for the sheer love of it.

For the hardened trade unionists, or curious readers of our paper the Morning Star, you may wonder what my week of music making has to do with the trade union movement?

What it comes down to is this, the WMA and the Summer School are both great ventures created by workers which brings the best of music from around the world to us all – regardless of ability or prior knowledge.

The WMA was born with the understanding that the working people of Britain need music in their life, because it is not only a joyous thing, or pleasant distraction, but can be a useful tool to explain life or to elevate our homes with beauty.

The Summer School was was set up as an annual, but condensed opportunity to explore this and hopefully take home your discoveries with you when you go back.

As readers will have deduced from my article, I truly value what the WMA stands for and truly believe in the influence it could achieve.

What it needs are trade unionists, workers, and ordinary folk to get stuck into it. The Summer School will be back in Stafford next year, the rooms and walls of Ingestre Hall will ring with workers’ songs, new friendships will be made, and that comradery will return.

I sincerely hope readers will have been convinced by my enthusiasm and will get themselves signed up to join us next year. We don’t care about ability, or knowledge, but what we want is enthusiasm!

So do look out for our items online and do get yourselves signed up! And I sincerely hope to see as many of you in Ingestre Hall on the August 11 2023!

Find out more about the WMA at facebook.com/WMA1936 or Twitter @music_workers