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Community Links
Britten Sinfonia is keen to
develop ongoing relationships with organisations in the communities where
we regularly perform. Click on a link to find out more.
Residency
at University of Cambridge
Britten Sinfonia is Resident Orchestra at the University of Cambridge.
The residency marks the ongoing relationship between Britten Sinfonia
and the music faculty, as well as collaborative projects with several
colleges.
Britten Sinfonia holds an annual
Composers Workshop for music students, where the handful
of lucky finalists have their pieces worked on and performed by professional
musicians in a public forum.
Teaching staff from the University music faculty are regular hosts of the 'In conversation' talks which precede Britten Sinfonia's concerts at West Road.
Britten Sinfonia donates 6
free tickets to music students at each evening concert and offers
further seats to all students at just £5 (£3 for Lunch concerts).
Demonstrating a new commitment to
providing the opportunity for student ensembles to have access to the
artistic skills and knowledge of Britten Sinfonia musicians, repertoire
coaching and master class sessions have taken
place at Queens College and will form the basis of a
new relationship with Cambridge University Music Society.
Hills
Road Sixth Form College
Britten Sinfonia has an ongoing relationship
with Hills Road Sixth Form College in Cambridge. Musicians
provide regular coaching to chamber ensembles at the college and we have
been delighted to see Hills Road students enjoying our lunchtime concerts
at West Road Concert Hall.
In December 2007, Britten Sinfonia musicians Miranda Dale (violin), Paul Archibald (trumpet) and Daniel Becker (piano) will be coaching three chamber ensembles at the college, and we look forward to hearing the results in concert in March 2008.
If you are a school in Cambridge
or Norwich and would like to find out more about how you could get involved
with Britten Sinfonia, click
here to email us.
Side by Side with Norfolk County Youth Orchestra
In November 2007, eight Britten Sinfonia musicians spent a wonderful weekend in the company of Norfolk's finest young musicians. In the inspiring surroundings of Bylaugh Hall, the teenagers were put through their paces by conductor Nicholas Daniel and seven sectional coaches.
Dvorák's Eighth Symphony and Rossini's William Tell Overture are both tricky pieces even for professionals, but the young musicians rose magnificently to the challenge, and enjoyed the experience too:
"It was amazing - the experience of a lifetime!"
"Having the sectionals was very helpful and I enjoyed the fact that everything was done professionally."
"We want more!"
We're pleased to say that the young musicians will be getting more of Nicholas Daniel and Britten Sinfonia musicians: two further visits and a concert are planned for next year.
Concert Links in Birmingham
Britten Sinfonia is delighted to be starting a new series of lunchtime concerts at Birmingham Town Hall, and we're looking forward to welcoming local school groups. In February next year, we will be bringing the magic of Ravel's Mother Goose Suite to Birmingham school children, with a project exploring fairytale themes.
Krakow Masterclasses
It may be a little further away than Cambridge, Norwich or Birmingham, but we are just as committed to taking Creative Learning projects to Krakow. In December, composer Richard Causton will be giving a masterclass at the Academy of Music in Krakow. This is followed in January by a strings workshop with Jacqueline Shave, and in March it's the turn of the brass, with Paul Archibald.
Fenland PRU
Britten Sinfonia musicians have been getting up to some very scary songwriting with the pupils at Fenland Junction Pupil Referral Unit for a ghoulish Hallowe'en special...
For the third of our sessions so far we set the students a task of writing their own storyboard and then creating a soundtrack for it, with devilish results!
Come back soon to hear some of the scary sounds (but listen at your peril...)
Bedwell Sounds
As part of a new project set up by Youth Music, Children's Trust Partnership Hertfordshire and Bedwell Children's Centre, Britten Sinfonia musicians are visiting pre-school settings on a regular basis to work with children under five. The aims of this project are to encourage and teach practitioners and musicians to use music effectively with this age group, and to inspire young children to enjoy taking part in music. This exciting project began in October and has been a great success so far!
The project is funded by Youth Music; anyone interested in this topic can find a wealth of links and resources on their website www.bongoclub.org.uk, which also lists music-making sessions taking place in your area.
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