November Highlights...
For the second year in a row, Southampton Music Hub and Hampshire Music Hub are celebrating winning the prestigious Will Michael Award for Jazz Education award at the 2015 Music Educations Awards ceremony held at the Royal College of Music on 1 December.
Presented by UK Jazz Services, the Will Michael Award recognises the contributions of both hubs in introducing jazz into music education. The joint Southampton and Hampshire bid fought off competition from many other regional authorities to be named best in the UK.
Alongside several outstanding youth jazz groups, including the nationally renowned Southampton Youth Jazz Orchestra (SYJO), young musicians have enjoyed participating in free jazz improvisation workshops and composition masterclasses, and working alongside leading professionals.
This news comes in the same week that two SYJO members (who have also participated in other jazz activities) were offered unconditional places on the prestigious jazz degree course at the Guildhall School of Music at their respective auditions.
 SYJO at Montreux Jazz Festival earlier this year. (Photo: Colin Willshire)
Art Asia and Southampton Music Hub held the first Indian Classical Music Club evening on 19 November.
Internationally celebrated musicians Arnab Chakrabarty and Sanju Sahai captivated the large audience at Banister School and discussed their instruments and careers in depth at the inaugural event.
The club has been formed for those with an interest for Indian Classical Music and the evenings include presentations on the history, instruments, Ragas (Scales), Talas (rhythmic cycles) and short performances from renowned musicians.
Future clubs will take place on January 21, March 17, May 9, July 28 and September 15 2016 at the same venue.
The Sea Slugs schools tour
Southampton Music Hub was pleased to offer workshops
to schools across Southampton from eclectic eight-piece Afrobeat
group The Sea Slugs. Touring a variety of primary, junior and secondary schools, the workshops featured an interactive
performance, vocal routines and an introduction to the political and
cultural context that Afrobeat music reflects on. The band received great
feedback from students and teachers alike.
Richard Taunton's students wow at the Royal Albert Hall
Richard Taunton's Sixth Form College's Jazz Combo wowed the crowd when
they took to the stage at the Royal Albert Hall on 24 November.
Comprised of Adam Coffin, Alex Lockheart, August Fox, Jack Gallacher,
Joshua Attrill, Matthew Chappell and Quantae Ramdin, the group were
asked to play the iconic London venue as part of Music for Youth’s
Schools Prom.
Their performance follows the group winning an Achievement in
Innovation award at Music for Youth’s National Festival in July, when
they were praised for their creativity, energy and cohesive sound.
College Principal Alice Wrighton said: “Our amazing Jazz Combo performed
brilliantly alongside a variety of acts from all over the country. The
whole evening was inspirational and I felt proud and privileged to be
there."
A quick congratulations...
Congratulations to young Southampton musician Dominic Gardner for being awarded a place on the National Youth Orchestra (NYO) Inspire programme. NYO Inspire is a programme of orchestral music-making centred on the power of peer inspiration and sharing. In 2016, NYO will host 700 young musicians aged 13 to 19 years old in a series of free workshops, residencies and ensembles nationwide.
To celebrate Welsh National Opera’s 70th birthday and to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the battle of the Somme, a new opera called In Parenthesis has been commissioned. The opera tells the story of a young Welsh Solider who left on a ship from Southampton to fight in the Battle of the Somme.
In conjunction with this new work, Mayflower Theatre will once again be joining forces with Welsh National Opera to introduce more young people to the medium. The Mayflower are on the lookout for a group of young people aged 13 to 18 years old to be involved in this exciting project. The project will run on various dates between January and June and will culminate with a visit to Cardiff to perform and to see the new opera In Parenthesis.
The cost of this opportunity including the trip to Wales is £50. Call the box office on 023 8071 1811 to book. Further information can be found on the Mayflower website.
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