Jersey Eisteddfod
November 2010
Our congratulations go out to all the island’s young musicians who participated in this year’s Jersey Eisteddfod. In addition to all the academy students who entered various solo classes, there were three chamber music ensembles participating in the Langley Trophy for unconducted instrumental ensemble. All three groups had been rehearsing together during their group classes each week in the build up to this year’s festival, and the excitement was building during the final rehearsals before the class took place:
All three groups performed beautifully for the class, which took place in front of a good size audience at the Jersey Opera House. The whole evening had a great fun and light-hearted atsmosphere, and indeed all of the groups performing in this class did themselves, their teachers, and their parents proud! Congratulations go to the academy’s Advanced Ensemble for acheiving a Platinum certificate and winning the trophy!
A special congratulations goes to Finlay Hare, the young cellist who won the Overall Junior Instrumental Solo award this year. Bravo!
Adrian Brendel and Min-Yung Kim Masterclass
7th November 2010
Cellist Adrian Brendel and pianist Min-Yung Kim were visiting the island courtesy of the Sundeep Watts Memorial Fund, and were resident at the academy for their visit. A group of students and staff from the academy attended their concert at the Jersey Arts Centre on Saturday 6th November, which presented four contrasting sonatas for cello and piano – Zemlinsky, Beethoven no.2, Debussy and Brahms no.1. This event was very well attended and clearly this wonderful duo had the audience spellbound, leading to an encore of Bartok’s Romanian Folk Dances. The following morning the duo gave separate cello and piano masterclasses to a group of local young musicians who had enjoyed the previous evening’s concert.
We would like to thank the Sundeep Watts Memorial Fund for offering the academy the opportunity to host these fantastic musicians, and for the inspiration they were able to pass on.
Michael Collins Concert and Masterclass
19th October 2010
As Patron of the 2011 Liberation International Music Festival, world-class clarinettist Michael Collins was visiting the island to see the various venues next year’s festival will be using, and to offer his artistic input into the musical programme which will be on offer for the exciting event, now a integral part of Jersey’s yearly cultural programme. During his visits to various sites throughout the island he was kind enough to spend some time at the academy to give a short recital and to work with the island’s local young musicians.
His performance was given to a lucky audience of students with family members and friends, and moved through Schumann’s Fantasy Pieces to an incredibly virtuosic rendition of the Carnival of Venice. A short Q and A session followed, in which Michael was able to illuminate many interesting facts about the clarinet and the pieces performed. Following this performance Michael spent an intensive session working on Bartok’s Romanian Folk Dances with student Finlay Hare.
The 2011 Liberation International Music Festival, presented by Music In Action in association with the Jersey Academy of Music, will take place from May 6th-9th next year. Further information on all events can be found at www.liberationjersey.com.