Sound & Music Summer School

Faber Music and Sound & Music are offering ten young composers (aged 14 – 18 years) who may face financial barriers the opportunity to learn composition and develop skill on the Sound & Music Summer School 2021.

Provided by independent publishers Faber Music, the bursaries will cover the full cost of a place on the Sound and Music Summer School 2021 for ten young composers and music creators aged 14-18.

The bursaries have been created to ensure that young people from all backgrounds have more opportunities to learn composition and develop their skills.

Running throughout the first week of August, the summer school is the only annual residential course of its kind in the UK, providing young composers with the opportunity to explore and develop their musical interests alongside professional composers and musicians.

Join in with Big 10 Minute Sign & Sing

Whether you’re in a school bubble or an individual learning at home or a whole school participating you can choose any song from the Song Bank to participate in this project.  All ages and abilities are welcome to participate from pre-school right up to secondary school.

For each song you will find a tuition video (lasting roughly 10 minutes) teaching you Makaton signs and sometimes body percussion, along with some tips for singing, and then a performance video to practice with.

Pupils at home, in-school bubbles or whole schools can choose any song from Songbank to participate in this project. Video entries will be available on YouTube on 29 March.

 

Essex Young Musician Competition, 2021 – online

The John Lill Awards for the Essex Young Musician of the Year 2021

Ongar Music Club is delighted to announce the 2021 Essex Young Musician of the Year competition. Due to the uncertainty of the current situation, this will be held in two rounds – the first being by way of a single, unedited video recording. Successful candidates will proceed to the final round on Sunday the 4th July at 2:00pm. This will take the form of either an online concert with a further video submission ir, if permitted, a live concert to be held in Ongar.

If the final round is online, the performances will be presented in a ‘Zoom’ meeting for candidates and adjudicators. Members of the public will be able to purchase access to the final round. All candidates will receive a written report on their performances.

Full details of the competition are in the new prospectus which you can download by CLICKING HERE.The closing date for entries is the 31st May 2021.

If you need any further information, please contact the administrator, Roderick Elms, who will be pleased to help: administrator@ongarmusicclub.org.uk

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 to singers and *instrumentalists aged 26 or under on the 4 July 2021 and who have their home address, or, attend school or were born in Essex (including the old Essex towns of Ilford, Wanstead and Woodford).

ENTRIES CLOSE on 31 May 2021

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.

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.

Text for above taken from EYM website

Kids Megasong Premiere

What happens when a SPLASH of water falls to earth?
What makes it BURBLE along in the river?
Does it GURGLE while it’s being cleaned?
Do you know why it needs to WHOOSH on the way to your tap?

Hear the Magnificent MEGASONG created from these questions by a group of Essex children during workshops in early August. They had a bit of help from scientists from Essex & Suffolk Water, artist Jack Cornell and composer Cheryl Frances-Hoad – and of course workshop leaders from electric voice theatre and Essex Music Hub. Get ready for science, art, music and funny noises all wrapped up in H2O!

Summer Holiday Bandcamp – 27 July to 28 August 2020

Join our first virtual Summer Holiday Bandcamp – an online feast of instrumental, music tech, compositional and vocal workshops and projects!

If your child wants additional preparation for GCSE or A level before term starts, is curious about how music tech works, or just wants to play along with other young musicians, there’s something for everyone – even a daily SingGym!

The courses are grouped into four sections:

  • Bring your instrument! – an opportunity to join an online brass band, discover how to play jazz, learn the guitar, and the brilliant ‘In The Band’ programme
  • Create and Discover! – for those who need a boost in their music theory, want to learn how to arrange, or need a crash course in GCSE composition
  • Exploring Music Technology! – explore O-Generator and VIP Studios with our online cloud-based software, learn how to sample and master your own recording, or take a crash course in Music Tech A level
  • Find your voice! – for budding songwriters at whatever stage in their writing, or join a Soul and Jazz choir, or sing through your music theatre favourites with other young people!

The week-long courses range from £14 to £35, with something for everyone, and they’re mostly in the morning so that you can enjoy the rest of the day.

We’re also very aware of the importance of bringing young people together to help not just their musicianship, but also their wellbeing and helping to reduce anxiety before the return to school in September, and making music with others is a great way of finding some fun and enjoyment during the current crisis.

Click on the Booking Link to register.

Places are limited so do rush to join us for a glorious summer of music-making!

Free Songwriting workshops: Splash, Burble, Gurgle and Whoosh!

Free Children’s songwriting workshops: Splash, Burble, Gurgle and Whoosh your way to a MEGASONG with electric voice theatre and the Echoes from Essex Project.

Meet a real Water Scientist, investigate climate change with artist Jack Cornell and show off your music to professional composer Cheryl Frances-Hoad.

What happens when a SPLASH of water falls to earth? What makes it BURBLE along in the river?

Does it GURGLE while it’s being cleaned?…..and do you know why it needs to WHOOSH on the way to your tap?

RECOMMENDED AGE: Children 7 – 9 years.

There are daily, hourly slots starting Monday 3 – Friday 7 August 2020 and groups of 4 to each slot: 10.00am, 11.30am, 1.00pm & 2.30pm.

In just one week you will record your massive MEGASONG with Electric Voice Theatre and kids from all over Essex ready to be heard by the Virtual World.

All you need next is to create a free Zoom account here. Make sure you sign up at least 30 minutes before the first Zoom session as you will be asked to verify your account with them.

Click on the Booking Link to choose your daily hourly workshop.

Chelmsford City Theatres have teamed up with electric voice theatre and Essex Music Hub for Essex 2020 for this exciting project ‘Echoes from Essex’. This workshop is one part of the project.

Illustration by Amy Whiten

Essex Youth Orchestra’s Easter Egg-stravanganza

Essex Youth Orchestra, under the direction of Robin Browning, its resident conductor, will be performing its Spring concert on 18 April 2020, with pianist Jamie Cochrane.

This concert is sure to delight the audience with these three popular pieces:-

  • Rachmaninoff’s Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini – resembles a piano concerto despite being a single movement,and is one of the greatest pieces of the Romantic period.
  • John William’s Harry Potter Symphonic Suite is a marvellous medley of the enchanting themes from the beloved film series
  • John William’s Olympic Fanfare and Theme has been associated with the Olympics since 1984 with it victorious fanfare and magnificent strings.

To book your free seat to this concert, please click BOOK NOW below

For further information on how to join or hear any of our groups, please contact:-

Jenni Thomson – telephone 0333 013 9362 or email Jenni.thomson@essex.gov.uk

My Band needs you! 2-day Easter holiday course in Brentwood. Postponed

MyBand is a fantastic Song Writing, Playing, Performing, Recording Holiday Course for 11 to 18 year olds.

What is it?

Essex Music Education Hub has again partnered with Bassistry to offer a fantastic two-day holiday course where 11 – 18 year olds can try out song writing, performing, forming a band and recording. The two-day workshop, called My Band, takes place in Becket Keys School, Sawyers Hall Lane, Brentwood on 14 and 15 April 2019 for only £30 plus £5 booking fee!

The course is open to all young musicians playing any instruments! It offers the unique chance to explore different music genres, Rock, Pop R&B, Soul, Jazz, Hip Hop, there are no boundaries. Ability is not the criteria, but imagination and a passion for music are!

The course culminates with a performance to friends and family on the final day.

This course is being specially supported by the Essex Music Education Hub.

Still not sure what it’s about? 

Hear the music the groups made on a previous course on this MyBand link

Read below from parents of students who took part on the most recent course (February 2020). 

“I just wanted to say that Henry really enjoyed his course.  He was one of the least able musicians but he was really inspired by the other musicians and never made to feel he didn’t belong there.  He has very little confidence so I can’t actually believe that he stood up in front of all those people and played an instrument.  What a huge step for him even after just 2 days. Thank you again.”

“Max had such a great time at Myband and I wanted to express my thanks. It’s really quite remarkable what those children achieved in just two days and it’s definitely inspired Max to do more.  He’s finally got the chance to see what else he can do with his talent rather than just moving from one piano grade to another and doing nothing in between”.

Pictured are the group photo of all 22 young musicians who took part in the course.

Essex Young Musician Competition, 2020

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 to singers and *instrumentalists aged 25 or under on the 5 July 2020 and who have their home address, or, attend school or were born in Essex.

ENTRIES CLOSE on 31 May 2020

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.

My Band needs you! 2-day February 2020 Half-Term holiday course in Brentwood

MyBand is a fantastic Song Writing, Playing, Performing, Recording Holiday Course for 11 to 18 year olds.

What is it?

Essex Music Education Hub has again partnered with Bassistry to offer a fantastic two-day holiday course where 11 – 18 year olds can try out song writing, performing, forming a band and recording. The two-day workshop, called My Band, takes place in Becket Keys School, Sawyers Hall Lane, Brentwood on 19 and 20 February 2019 for only £30 plus £5 booking fee!

The course is open to all young musicians playing any instruments! It offers the unique chance to explore different music genres, Rock, Pop R&B, Soul, Jazz, Hip Hop, there are no boundaries. Ability is not the criteria, but imagination and a passion for music are!

The course culminates with a performance to friends and family on the final day.

This course is being specially supported by the Essex Music Education Hub.

Still not sure what it’s about?

Hear and read what happened at the Autumn Half Term 2019 workshop.

Life is Just a Dream written on the course by Sky 16

Marcel Pusey runs the My Band course and has this to say about the group Sky 16. “I was amazed that a group of boys, who came to Myband have now professionally recorded the songs they composed at our course. They are called Sky Sixteen The local community radio have played them. The recordings are superb. I got this lovely email from one of the students, Harry. This was student who has autism, and was in the end taken out of school to home schooled. He’s developed into a really lovely young man, and has a friendship group with the students from Becket Key now.” 

Harry from the band commented: “Hello Marcel It’s Harry. I wanted to email you because the band sky sixteen has recently recorded an EP, released it on Spotify and iTunes etc, and has been on the radio. We have sent it to lots of people but you was one of the first that I thought of because of the amazing course that you run and the band wouldn’t be here without you and your help, as well as the help from Eric and James. So from me personally and from the band, we would like to say a huge thank you for helping us alongside this journey. We are extremely grateful for everything. I’ll attach the links to this email for you to have a listen to and hopefully you enjoy them”.