Tue 23rd Oct 2018, 6.30pm
The opportunity for all students participating in the Eisteddfod to try out their pieces in front of a friendly audience. Free entry with a retiring collection.
Sun 21st Oct 2018, 2.30pm-4pm
‘les cors jerriais’ are holding a ‘Spooky Workshop’ on Sunday 21st October 2.30-4pm. This fun session of music making is aimed at players from beginner to grade 5 level. Dresscode – Halloween inspired!
We look forward to a fun afternoon of horn playing!
Thu 22nd Nov 2018, 6pm
The opportunity for all students taking ABRSM and Trinity exams this term to try out their programme in front of a friendly audience. Free entry with a retiring collection.
Sun 9th Dec 2018
Following the success of the previous six London Concert Day-Trips, the academy would like to once more present a short tour aimed at students from Year 8 upwards. It will operate as a day-trip to London, giving the opportunity for local children to hear one of the world’s leading orchestras in one of the world’s best concert halls! The Philharmonia Orchestra will be presenting an outstanding programme of music at the Royal Festival Hall, including Mozart’s Piano Concerto No.24, and Elgar’s Enigma Variations.
9th and 10th June 2018
Visiting Suzuki specialists Sharron Beamer and Sue Hunt worked alongside Vanessa Moore for our annual Suzuki Strings Weekend. All the young children involved had the opportunity to receive one-to-one lessons with the visiting teachers, and at the end of the event a Playtogether took place in front of families and friends. Our thanks go to the Dorothy Chapman Trust for their support of this annual event.
Saturday 16th June 2018, 1pm-4pm
A lovely afternoon was enjoyed by lots and lots of families at our annual landmark event. The fayre opened with a blazing fanfare from Les Cors Jerriais:
This was followed by a wide range of instrumental concerts in the Chapel, piano concerts in the Concert Hall, and ensemble performances on the Outdoor Stage:
When not involved in performing the children could enjoy a fun selection of traditional stalls (including a beautiful vintage carousel), and games such us Splat The Rat, Coconut Shy, Guess The Baby Teacher, Bottle Stall, Personalised Magic Wands, and a tasty range of cake and snacks to compliment the picnics everyone brought along to enjoy on the lawns.
A whole team of volunteers helped the event to run very smoothly, and we were very lucky with the weather again this year (until the start of the Awards Ceremony which was quickly relocated indoors!). Congratulations to all the children who received Awards and Certificates, and this year’s overall prize winners were as follows:
| ACADEMY AWARDS 2018 | |
| BRASS AWARD | Ben Godel |
| PERCUSSION AWARD | Ruby Clarke |
| PIANO AWARD | Oscar Nimmo and Joshua Brown |
| STRINGS AWARD | Emilie Edelenbos |
| WOODWIND AWARD | Daisy Pendergast and Aisling O’Sullivan |
| EXAM MEDAL (highest exam result) | Chloe Connor |
| THEORY MEDAL (highest exam result) | Anna Edelenbos |
Sun 15th Apr 2018
An emotional and thoughtful afternoon of music, words, and artwork was enjoyed by a large audience at the Jersey Arts Centre on Sunday 15th April 2018. ‘An Afternoon with Leonard Bernstein’ explored the life and works of one of the world’s renowned musicians, Leonard Bernstein (1918-1990), whose legacy goes far beyond West Side Story, which he famously wrote the music for.
The event began with a film screening of a fascinating documentary entitled ‘A Total Embrace’, which was introduced on-stage by his daughter Nina Bernstein-Simmons, who had a pivotal role in the whole concert. This very moving and heartfelt film brought the audience into a very private world beyond the cameras and stardom which dominated his life.
This was very effective in setting up the atmosphere for the beautiful second half, in which over forty local young musicians took to the stage along with visiting young musicians from Chetham’s School of Music, Manchester, to perform many of Bernstein’s most personal pieces. The Musical Originals Singers began with some very well known numbers from West Side Story, including a very passionate performance of A Boy Like That delivered by Julia Calendar and Olivia Jones.
Nina Bernstein-Simmons then took to the stage to lead the audience through a wide variety of short piano pieces entitled Anniversaries, performed by the visiting pianists and thirteen local pianists from the Jersey Academy of Music. This was a fascinating insight into a very different, and often much darker, side to the composer’s personality. Each piece was dedicated to a key person in his life, and written as a musical description of their character and personality. Many of the pieces also had pieces of artwork displayed on a large screen behind the performers, which had been created by the young musicians themselves in response to the colours, characters, and emotions portrayed in their pieces.
This combination of words, music, and artwork made for a truly fascinating concert, and a particular highlight in this part of the event was the piano piece entitled ‘For Nina’, performed by Amy Creed, which Bernstein had written about his daughter who was present on stage. This was a bluesy and haunting performance, as we learnt that this piece was written shortly after the sudden death of his wife, actress Felicia Montanegre, and many of the complex feelings of that time had found their way into this work.
In response to the success of the event, Nina Bernstein-Simmons said “My father loved nothing better than meeting and working with talented young musicians. He would have been so proud of the singers and pianists who performed so beautifully at the Jersey Arts Centre yesterday. It was an honour for me to represent his legacy at the occasion.”
‘An Afternoon with Leonard Bernstein’ was presented by Jersey Academy of Music and Chetham’s School of Music, and sponsored by Harry and Laura Ross and Oakhurst Cars.
4th/5th May 2018
An outstanding percussion ensemble of young musicians from Wells Cathedral School were resident at the academy for a weekend of musical activity. A great project was had by all, with the Drumline Percussion Ensemble performing to VCP and Victoria College on the Friday. They were then joined by young percussionists from JAM and JMS for a performance at the Jersey Boat Show on the Saturday, blessed with glorious sunshine!
29th/30th June 2018
The Vermont Brass Guernsey Tour was a lot of fun & a real success!
The group performed in a concert on Saturday morning with Guernsey Music Service Brass at their music centre open day both on their own & they were also invited to join the Brass band to perform a lively finale of Riverdance.
After some free time in St Peter Port there was a moment for a photo shoot modelling the new JAM polo shirts:
This was followed by a well received session of busking:
Back to the harbour, and ice cream & some high drama table football teachers v students!! Safe to say the teachers did their best to hold their own against tough competition!! (I have a feeling the students won though!! )
A thoroughly enjoyable 24hrs of great music & performances! A big thank you to all involved & especially to Neill Hadden for helping to make it possible!
Pippa Lumbard
JAM Brass Tutor
Mon 2nd July 2018, 7pm
The opportunity for all children taking ABRSM and Trinity exams this term to try out their pieces in front of a friendly audience. Free entry with a retiring collection.