Winter Project Week – Helix and In Accord
November 30th/December 1st 2011
The Winter Project Week linked with Jersey Tourism to give academy students the opportunity to perform for the opening of the ‘Fête dé Noué’. Students from the Junior and Lower Intermediate departments formed a large fifty-strong Samba group, led by the visiting Helix Percussion Duo of Louise Morgan and Catherine Ring. The first day was spent rehearsing, and learning the various rhythms and calls needed to create the Samba. Students from the Upper Intermediate and Advanced departments were led by the In Accord violin/accordion duo of Harriet Mackenzie and Milos Milivojevic, spending the first day learning a Ukranian Bell Carol, and then dividing into smaller ensembles to bring Polish Christmas carols to life.
The second day gave some time for final rehearsals and preparations before the start of the event itself at the Royal Square. Whilst it did not snow this year, the rain was absolutely torrential! This meant that the In Accord led group were only able to perform their Ukranian Bell Carol as it was too wet even to get the instruments out of their cases!
However, the Christmas Samba went ahead in full force, and the children were lit up with glowing bracelets and drums decorated with tinsel. They led the hundred-strong brave audience through town to the Spirit of Christmas market at the Weighbridge Place, bringing vibrancy, colour and sheer noise (!), leading very effectively to the switching on of the christmas tree lights and the firework display which followed to end the whole event. An absolutely wonderful time was had by all despite the weather!
(all photographs courtesy of the Jersey Evening Post)
During their stay on the island, the two visiting groups also gave concerts at Le Rocquier School, Victoria College and VCP, performing to over six hundred children during the course of the visit. Our thanks go to both Jersey Tourism and the Jersey Arts Trust for their support of this event.
Royal College of Music Junior Department
November 27th 2011
A group of six students aged 8-17 from the Royal College of Music Junior Department visited the island along with their teacher, professor Viktoria Grigoreva, for a day of masterclasses and a concert. The connection with professor Grigoreva was made during the International Music Forum and Competition in Madeira, which Chris George and Emmanuelle attended as adjudicators in March 2011. Plans were discussed during the summer term, and the event took place on Sunday November 27th.
During the morning, professor Grigoreva gave tuition to three local young violinists whilst the visiting students visited Mont Orgueil Castle, and during the afternoon they gave an excellent concert, performing side by side with various academy students. The concert itself was very well attended, and our thanks go to the Jersey Arts Trust for covering most of the costs associated with the tour.
European Festival Baroque Orchestra
November 25th 2011
During their visit to the island, organised by Music In Action, members of the European Festival Baroque Orchestra were hosted at the academy and kindly offered to perform an after-school concert introducing Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons. Led by Anna Smith from the BBC Symphony Orchestra, the group took the audience of children and families through the movements, explaining each incredible gesture and texture Vivaldi uses to mirror the storyline which underpins the music. This was a wonderful insight into the sheer detail the composer went into in order to evoke the words through music, and expertly performed by all players.
The concert at Fort Regent the following evening was very well attended and received excellent feedback. Pictured here are four of the members in full costume at the academy:
(photograph courtesy of the Jersey Evening Post)