Bright Sparks | 28 June 2011
Composer Charlotte Bray knew she had a challenge on her hands when we asked her to create an original work for orchestra, soloist and an 80 strong violin ensemble made up of 7-8 year olds!
She described her “excitement and trepidation” at embarking on the project saying “the [creative] possibilities seemed endless”. 28 June saw the realisation of her creative efforts as LMM Award Holder Jennifer Pike, Bridge Project students from Ashmole and Jessop Primary Schools and LMM’s Creative Partner the London Philharmonic Orchestra (LPO) joined forces at the Royal Festival Hall to perform Charlotte Bray’s 'Scenes from Wonderland' as part of the LPO’s Bright Sparks schools concert series in back-to-back concerts.
The children had spent the previous term getting to grips with the new music and could be heard singing the refrain “Alice, Alice” around the school as the concert approached. On the day itself, the early morning start and torrential downpours did nothing to dampen the spirits of performers or audience. A parent who watched the concert remarked “the performances were beyond magnificent, they were brilliant! The kids were fantastic…they played beautifully and skilfully”. One of our violin teachers observed a Bridge Project student playing her tricky violin part later on that week at the school summer fair. Who says children can’t handle contemporary music?!
Elena Urioste recital at the Two Moors Festival
Every year Two Moors offers a performance opportunity to one of the most talented professional young artists to emerge onto the concert scene and we are delighted that Elena has been selected for this honour as the Festival enters its second decade.
Elena will be performing a richly diverse programme of works by Amy Beach, Mozart, Strauss and Ponce arranged by Heifetz and shall join some of the world’s leading musicians also performing at the 10-day extravaganza, including Maxim Rysanov, Julian Lloyd Webber and Jonathan Kelly, principal oboist with the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra.
Tickets: 01643 831006 | www.thetwomoorsfestival.com
bridgefest
African drumming, singing, string quartets, music and art, a trumpet group, a big band, 100 violinists...where else would you get all this in one day other than at bridgefest?!
Our annual summer festival once again celebrated the successes of the Bridge Project with the children, schools, parents and communities that make it happen. On 8 July, Ashmole Primary School hosted a day of music workshops, working with incredible musicians from the London Philharmonic Orchestra, Royal College of Music, Live Music Now and South London Jazz Orchestra. The Year 1 and 2 classrooms were gate-crashed by trumpet group Bella Tromba as well as Painting Music, a small ensemble who helped the students explore live music through art. Working with the older year groups in the school for the first time, the talented Jess Maryon-Davies led singing workshops with Years 4 and 5 and West African percussionist Adesose Wallace helped the Year 6 class find their rhythm! South London Jazz Orchestra filled the school with the sounds of swing, as well as lending musicians to help with the day’s activities. The day ended with an afternoon performance, showcasing the day’s creativity and bringing everyone together for an exciting end to the school year!
Oxford bound!
On a lovely sunny Saturday in June, Team LMM went on yet another mini adventure to hear Jennifer Pike give an incredibly beautiful performance of the Rózsa Violin Concerto with the Oxford Symphony Orchestra at Oxford Town Hall.
 We also took with us 10 children from the Bridge Project and their families and had a fantastic day out with lots of great music and glorious sunshine.
The Bridge Project students were completely blown away by Jennifer’s performance and really enjoyed speaking with her and conductor Robert Max afterwards, asking such questions as: “How long do you practise each day, Jennifer?” and to Robert “Why do you stand and wave in front of the Orchestra and what does it mean?” to which Robert very kindly gave us all a quick masterclass. It was splendid to see so many little arms practising to conduct in 4/4!
The children also had the opportunity to play their violins and gave an extremely confident performance of the repertoire they have been learning in lessons this year. It was wonderful to see that Jennifer and so many members of the Orchestra were just as keen and enthusiastic to hear the Bridge Project students perform as the children were to hear the ‘pros’.
Planning for a premiere!
We are becoming increasingly excited about the premiere of Martin Suckling’s Violin Concerto for Agata Szymczewska! We are very close to finalising the exact date of the first performance with the London Contemporary Orchestra (LCO) in December and its repeat performance with Southbank Sinfonia in spring 2012. We have also got the ball rolling on developing a set of workshops for the Bridge Project students so that they too can take part in this new commission.
Working with Agata, Martin and musicians from the London Contemporary Orchestra, up to 70 children will create and perform their own pieces inspired by Martin’s composition, led by an LMM animateur. They will also have the opportunity to hear the commissioned piece in rehearsal with LCO ahead of the premiere. Agata and Martin are very much looking forward to working together in creating a new and exciting work for the violin concerto repertoire, as well as with the Bridge Project students at the workshops. Martin will even be taking his own violin along to the workshops to get stuck in with everyone else!
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LMM Volunteer Profile
MARY SUTHERLAND
Volunteer musician from South London Jazz Orchestra
Mary worked with Michele Wolfson in musicianship workshops with the Reception class at our event bridgefest in July. She demonstrated the flute and piccolo, and the young children had the chance to conduct her specially composed pieces!
“I really enjoyed the day – I think I learnt as much as the children! The Bridge Project is a marvellous scheme and has marvellous teachers manifesting it.”
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Get involved!
VOLUNTEER WITH LMM!
We need an extra pair of hands! You can help us by being involved with our events, assisting with teaching or helping to support lessons.
For more info, contact Rachel Wadham on 020 7216 4742 | 07583 072241 | rwadham@londonmusicmasters.org
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Your generosity can help support the LMM Awards and the Bridge Project.
Donate online or contact us for more information.
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