I arrived at the Ashmole Primary School a little nervous and also a little late, having got myself lost on route! On arrival I was introduced by Charlotte to a number of people whose names and roles I instantly forgot! (You would think as a teacher I might be better with names!) I then stood with Charlotte, and the person I now know to be Rachel, at the back of the school hall and watched as the room gradually filled up with parents, students and teachers, an activity accompanied by the sounds of a last minute Bridge Project rehearsal. As the yr 1 and 2 performance began, I looked on in fear, remembering the horror of a chorus of beginner violins from my youth with the local music service. But instead I looked on in amazement as the year 1 and 2 students played, not only in tune but as an ensemble and with confidence and skill! They finished with a slightly clumsy and very cute bow and were given a huge applause from the audience.
This was the beginning of my first day as an intern with London Music Masters, providing me with an instant understanding of the positive and outstanding musical outcomes of the Bridge Project. It also made clear the number of lives LMM is impacting through music and education. It was also really good fun!
When I read the advertised vacancy for the position of intern with LMM, I applied immediately. The opportunity looked too good to miss, and the most attractive thing about it was the dual nature of the organisation. The side which deals with recognising and advancing the careers of professional violinists, LMM Awards, excited me as someone who has learned the violin, and the educational programme within the charity, the Bridge Project, appealed to me due to my strong interest in education and my experience working in primary schools in the past.
LMM Artist Elena Urioste stepped in at the last minute to replace Tai Murray in a performance of Tchaikovsky's Violin Concerto with the Richmond Symphony Orchestra on March 20-21, and received an outstanding reception! An audience member tells us there was so much applause after the first movement that the conductor finally had to turn around to quiet the audience, followed by a standing ovation through 2 curtain calls at the end of the third movement.
The Richmond Times-Dispatch gave Elena a fantastic review:
London Music Masters' promotional video is now up on YouTube!
Take a look to find out more about London Music Masters' inspirational activities - the Bridge Project and the LMM Awards. Meet our founder (Victoria Sharp), Artistic Director (Itzhak Rashkovsky), and see excerpts from our three LMM Artists, winners of the first LMM Awards for 2009-2012: Jennifer Pike, Agata Szymczewska and Elena Urioste...