Following on from composer Max Charles Davies last blog post, he and musical director of Côr Crymych a'r Cylch, Angharad, prepared detailed briefs for the head teachers and poets in the choir, which were sent out in mid-February.
I knew that my composing time was going to slightly suffer due to teaching and conducting commitments until about May-time, but this was timed purposely in terms of the project as it would take that long to assemble all of the texts.
Composer Max Charles Davies finds a minute to look back to 16 January, his inaugral Adopt a Composer session with Côr Crymych a'r Cylch.
These last months have seemed to go by in a frenzied blur, but I’m very grateful for this opportunity to reflect on the first workshop.
Suzanne Griffiths-Rees of Côr Crymych a'r Cylch tells of the incredible events exchange between them and composer Max Charles Davies that have come about as part of Adopt a Composer Choir.
We were told of the importance of building a relationship with our composer during the induction to the Adopt a Composer scheme and we took this advice to heart!
It's just a few weeks until the premiere performance of Step Up, the collaborative piece for Adopt a Composer by Gaynor Barradell and the Edinburgh Concert Band. Mike Knox, Trombone & ECB Librarian reflects on their recent rehearsal.
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The fabulous composer, Gaynor Barradell, talks to us about the inspiration for her piece for the Edinburgh Concert Band, Step Up.
Director Rebecca Hanbury and composer Alex Groves, commissioned by Sky Arts and funded by Arts Council England, are looking for choirs to co-create a British Songbook that celebrates what it means to be British through the power of song.
They are conducting a nationwide listening project to collect stories about British life in 2018 and want to hear from a huge array of people and communities to take a snapshot of different lives across the UK - exploring our commonalities and celebrating our differences.
Sound Connections works on behalf of children and young people to strengthen the music sector, bridge gaps in provision and deliver landmark music programmes to this age group. It has recently published the findings of a consultation with 2,200 children and young people about music and the arts.
Judy usually plays Bb Clarinet with the Edinburgh Concert Band, but when the chance to try her hand as a percussionist arose as part of their collaboration for Adopt a Composer, she didn't know quite what she was letting herself in for.
"We need a volunteer for percussion - anyone up for stepping up for Gaynor’s ‘Step Up!'...?"
At Rockschool, our ethos has always been to empower musicians and help them achieve their aims, whether they’re applying for university, passing on their expertise and advice, or simply just having some fun with the music they love.
Learning via a graded exam system is often seen as something for younger learners and may seem daunting to adult learners. However, after talking to many Rockschool teachers up and down the country, we have learned that their adult students find doing grades to be fun and fulfilling.
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