Hear the Essex Youth Jazz Orchestra for Free!

Jazz Hands for the Essex Youth Jazz Orchestra

Led by resident director, Martin Hathaway, the young musicians are excited to share new music with an audience and show that live music has well and truly returned to Essex.

Formed in 1991, the orchestra will return to performing around the County under its director, Martin Hathaway, one of the countries leading jazz musicians.

As Beverley Heard, Ensembles Officer said: “I am overwhelmed by the enthusiasm of the young musicians to get back to playing together after such a long break.  We had record numbers auditioning for our Jazz programme this year and some real emerging talent will be heard at this concert”.

For further information on joining our Essex Youth Jazz Orchestra or any of our instrumental and also vocal music groups, please telephone Beverley Heard – 07786 125 703 or  0333 013 9361  or email beverley.heard@essex.gov.uk

COVID safe Concert experience protocol:

If you display any of the symptoms of COVID, please do not attend the concert.  We will not permit anyone presenting with COVID symptoms to enter the buildings.  Symptoms include:

  • a high temperature
  • a new, continuous cough – this means coughing a lot for more than an hour, or 3 or more coughing episodes in 24 hours (if you usually have a cough, it may be worse than usual)
  • a loss or change to your sense of smell or taste – this means you’ve noticed you cannot smell or taste anything, or things smell or taste different to normal

Please note that the concert area is large and well ventilated.  Audience members are encouraged to wear masks and to take lateral flow tests before attending.

Essex Young Musician Competition, 2022

The Essex Young Musician of the Year Competition was established in 1984 through the enthusiasm of key members of Ongar Music Club.

It aims to support and encourage young Essex musicians of talent and potential, who will enjoy competing and performing in a welcoming, pleasant environment.  Past prize winners have gone on to enjoy successful professional careers.

John Lill CBE. the distinguished Essex-born pianist and Ongar Music Club president, has generously supported the competition and has consented to the awards being in his name.

ENTRY IS NOW OPEN UNTIL 7th JUNE to singers and *instrumentalists aged 25 or under on the 3rd July 2022 and who have their home address, or, attend school or were born in Essex (including the old Essex towns of Ilford, Wanstead and Woodford).

TO APPLY  please click the BOOK NOW link below.

PRIZES – the winner will receive £1,000.00, the John Lill Awards trophy and the offer of a recital for the Ongar Music Club.

Other prizes totalling more that £1,000

The whole event is open to the public with the Finals presented as a concert and the awards being given at the end of the evening.

PAST WINNERS

Anthony Marwood, violin, Alison Baker, piano, Jane Webster, soprano, Pauline Dowse, cello, Helen Knief, viola,  Gregory Bennett Walmsley, cello, Nikos Zarb, viola, Zoë Mather, piano, Sarah Barnes, cello, Siân Philipps, violin,  Rachel Barnes, bassoon, James Scannell, saxophone, Joseph Tong, piano, Anthony Woollard, cello,  Tammy Se, violin, Clive Carroll, guitar, Janey Miller, oboe, Jane Stoneham, marimba, Thomas Oxley, bassoon, Benjamin Grosvenor, piano, Victoria Goldsmith, violin, Suzanne Thorn, oboe, Sophie Biebuyck, soprano, Timothy Wayne-Wright, counter-tenor, Tamsin Thorn, bassoon, Joanna Marie Skillett, soprano, Sarah-Jane Lewis, mezzo-soprano, Matthew Lewis, trombone, Matthew Paris double, bass, Rebecca Leung, piano, William Knight, clarinet, Elodie Chousmer-Howelles, violin, Rebecca Silverman, soprano, Kayleigh McEvoy, soprano.

*not organists, unfortunately, due to the lack of a suitable instrument.

Saffron Walden Children’s Orchestra – Summer course

Saffron Walden Children’s Orchestra (SWCO) is a training orchestra for young musicians living in and around Uttlesford.

Young orchestral instrumentalists who are Grade 1 to 5 standard and who want to have fun learning how to play in an orchestra.

Courses help children to develop as musicians and to enjoy learning how to play with others in a large ensemble. Children work together with section coaches, and then on the final day all join together to perform as an orchestra.

For more information and prices click Book Now

Essex Youth Orchestra perform at Chelmsford’s New Year Charity concert

Hear Harry Potter’s Symphonic Suite performed by the Essex Youth Orchestra conducted by Robin Browning.

This concert also features two of Rimsky-Korsakov works.  Firstly, his masterpiece, Scheherazade, with its stunning melodies painting dramatic scenes of the sea and the Orient throughout its four movements.  Secondly, Rimsky-Korsakov’s lesser-known suite from his opera, The Snow Maiden, adding even more seasonal flavour to the concert.

Previous concerts have always been a great success with the young musicians performing to a Cathedral full of families, friends and the general public.

To book tickets telephone (01245 467335) or email alanswash@btinternet.com

The last time our musicians performed at this event, the then Mayor of Chelmsford said on Twitter “I could not get enough of the brilliant Essex Youth and Youth Jazz Orchestras at the Chelmer Bridge Chelmsford Rotary Concert in Chelmsford Cathedral. From improvisation to Swan Lake, there was something for every appetite!”

“I happened by chance to go into the cathedral in Chelmsford on the 29 December and caught the youth orchestra practising. I was blown away after hearing them play after never been interested in classical music. I’m now wondering when and where they will be next playing so I can begin my journey on the classical music adventure.” said Freda Longhurst.

Funds raised from ticket sales will be donated to the Chelmer Bridge Rotary Club and its associated charities.  Essex Youth Orchestras have performed at the New Year Concerts for over 20 years and enjoy participating in this magical start to the year. In previous years, the Essex Youth Orchestra and Essex Youth Jazz Orchestra raised over £2,000 which went towards Home Start (support and friendship for families) and Dance 21.

For further information on joining our Essex Youth Orchestra or any of our instrumental and also vocal music groups, please telephone Beverley Heard – 07786 125 703 or  0333 013 9361  or email beverley.heard@essex.gov.uk

COVID safe Concert experience protocol:

If you display any of the symptoms of COVID, please do not attend the concert.  We will not permit anyone presenting with COVID symptoms to enter the buildings.  Symptoms include:

  • a high temperature
  • a new, continuous cough – this means coughing a lot for more than an hour, or 3 or more coughing episodes in 24 hours (if you usually have a cough, it may be worse than usual)
  • a loss or change to your sense of smell or taste – this means you’ve noticed you cannot smell or taste anything, or things smell or taste different to normal

Please note that the concert area is large and well ventilated.  Numbers will be limited to allow the audience to be seated socially distanced.  All audience members will have their temperature checked on entry and will need to wear masks at all times except when seated.

Hear the Essex Youth Jazz Orchestra for Free!

The Essex Youth Jazz Orchestra perform its first concert since March 2020!

Led by resident director, Martin Hathaway, the young musicians are excited to share new music with an audience and show that live music has well and truly returned to Essex.

As Beverley Heard, Ensembles Officer said: “I am overwhelmed by the enthusiasm of the young musicians to get back to playing together after such a long break.  We had record numbers auditioning for our Jazz programme this year and some real emerging talent will be heard at this concert”.

Essex Youth Jazz Orchestra will be joining Essex Youth Symphonic Wind Orchestra and Essex Youth Brass Ensemble for a tour to Prague in August 2022.

For further information on joining our Essex Youth Jazz Orchestra or any of our instrumental and also vocal music groups, please telephone Beverley Heard – 07786 125 703 or  0333 013 9361  or email beverley.heard@essex.gov.uk

COVID safe Concert experience protocol:

If you display any of the symptoms of COVID, please do not attend the concert.  We will not permit anyone presenting with COVID symptoms to enter the buildings.  Symptoms include:

  • a high temperature
  • a new, continuous cough – this means coughing a lot for more than an hour, or 3 or more coughing episodes in 24 hours (if you usually have a cough, it may be worse than usual)
  • a loss or change to your sense of smell or taste – this means you’ve noticed you cannot smell or taste anything, or things smell or taste different to normal

Please note that the concert area is large and well ventilated.  Numbers will be limited to allow the audience to be seated socially distanced.  All audience members will have their temperature checked on entry and will need to wear masks at all times except when seated.

Essex Youth Choir hit all the high notes with Gabrieli ROAR!

Revel in the majesty of Haydn’s The Creation, as singers from Gabrieli’s choral training scheme, Gabrieli ROAR, including our Essex Youth Choir, take to the stage alongside world-class period instrumentalists and singers, and renowned soloists.

In the October 2021 half-term holiday, our choir will be joined by other youth choirs from the south of the country and will be expertly coached by choral specialists from the Gabrieli Consort team and their conductor (who originally hails from Essex), Paul McCreesh.

The performance on 13th November 2021 in the unique setting of Ely Cathedral is the culmination of an ambitious scheme to reinvigorate youth choirs around the country, who have faced acute challenges during the pandemic. Led by Gabrieli’s Artistic Director, Paul McCreesh, this concert promises an inspirational and uplifting evening of some of the most glorious music in the classical canon.

Haydn’s The Creation, considered by many to be one of his masterpieces, is a work for vocal soloists, choir and orchestral accompaniment written in the late 1790s. The work depicts and celebrates the creation of the world as described in the Book of Genesis. The joint choir of 250 young people will be supported by the Gabrieli Consort and Players, and the soloists will be leading singers Sarah Tynan (soprano), Andrew Staples (tenor), and Ashley Riches (bass).

For further information about our Essex Youth Choir, please email beverley.heard@essex.gov.uk

Saffron Walden Music Festival in Saffron Hall

Celebrating the musical talent of local Essex young people

The Saffron Walden Music Festival 2021 takes place over two days in Autumn 2021.

All  young musicians taking part will be given written feedback and a certificate.

Entries are available for six sections – Vocal, Guitar, Brass, Piano, Woodwind and Strings

Each section has various classes from pre-Grade 1 to advanced level and the winner of the Challenge
Cup Class in each section (Grades 7 to 8).

The adjudicators will select an overall winner from each Section to go through to the Finale Concert on 20th November at 6pm

To celebrate the importance of playing together, there are ensemble classes in all Sections and the adjudicators will give feedback on these.

The Saffron Walden Music Festival is sponsors by the Saffron Walden Rotary Club.

Free ActivATE SEND Summer Holiday Club

Free Summer club for Primary school aged children with mild to moderate Special Educational Needs.

This club is completely free for young people who are eligible for benefits based free school meals, as well as children from working families who would benefit from this additional support.

The club will feature inclusive physical and musical enrichment activities, as well as nutrition education plus, each child will receive a tasty, nutritious lunch! It takes place from 10am – 2pm, Monday – Friday from Monday 26th July to 13th August 2021.

ActivAte SEND club is made possible by Essex Music Education Hub in partnership with Active Essex.

Any questions, please contact Beverley Heard, Music Service Ensembles Officer

Summer Holiday 2021 Musical Activities

Join our Summer Holiday programme for a feast of making music!

If your child wants to play along with other young musicians, join an African Drumming workshop, try a new instrument or join an Arts Award course – there is something for everyone! These will take place in the Summer holidays in various venues and on a selection of dates in Essex.

In addition to these face to face opportunities, there are also online music courses in Theory, GCSE and also  Music Tech support.

Costs are from £5 to £45 with discounts available to anyone with a *Tuition Discount in place.

Any questions, please contact Beverley Heard, Music Service Ensembles Officer

BBC Open Music Training

BBC launches Open Music Training scheme to encourage creative diversity.

Open to applicants aged 18 and above from across the UK, the scheme will provide participants with a tailor-made programme covering making music, presenting, radio and event production, and sound recording and engineering.

The scheme is open to all, regardless of qualifications or experience, and the BBC is keen to hear from those from Black, Asian or ethnically diverse communities. Candidates must have an interest in the creative industries and a desire to learn.

The BBC hopes that the programme will develop new collaborations and ideas that reflect today’s audience for live orchestral music.

Alan Davey, controller BBC Radio 3, said: ‘Open Music is an important way to engage people of all classes and backgrounds and to help them to develop their talents. It’s not just a good thing to do, it is a real investment in the future of music and radio.

‘At BBC Radio 3, the Orchestras and Choirs and the BBC Proms, we want to broaden and deepen the music we play, the people who play it, the audiences we play it for and the creative culture that underpins all of our work. Creativity – from people with different backgrounds, who bring different ideas through such initiatives – can help us with this. The end result will be even better content for our audiences.’

Alongside training sessions, hands-on experience, masterclasses and mentoring, successful candidates will have the opportunity to work with the BBC Concert Orchestra and BBC Proms to create a concert at the BBC Proms 2022.

Over 12 months of bespoke opportunities, participants will work a minimum of 12 paid days, including travel expenses for those outside of London.

Mary Anne Hobbs, Open Music ambassador said: ‘It’s always exciting to imagine a BBC Prom in a different way. It’s what I did with Nils Frahm and A Winged Victory For The Sullen in 2015. This time, we’ll be collaborating with a diverse group of participants who will bring their own creative agenda, and form part of the whole eco-system of performers, technicians and broadcasters that come together to deliver a Prom.’

Nitin Sawhney, Open Music ambassador said: ‘I’m very excited to be involved in a programme that will bring more diversity and inclusion to radio and music, hopefully creating an unforgettable experience for all involved.’

Applications are open now and the deadline is 8 July 2021.

If you have any questions about Open Music or need any reasonable adjustments made in order to apply, please contact us at openmusic@bbc.co.uk