Vladimir Ashkenazy – London Concert Day-Trip

December 11th 2011

A group of fourteen students had the opportunity to spend an action-packed day in London, the highlight of which was the chance to meet Vladimir Ashkenazy backstage at the Royal Festival Hall!

The day began with a very early meet at Jersey Airport, followed by the train to Victoria.  The walking route to the Thames presented the opportunity for the group to visit Westminster Cathedral and Westminster Abbey:

By 10am the group were standing under Big Ben in time to hear the chimes, and this was followed by a hot chocolate at County Hall on the river.  The next activity was a trip on the London Eye, quite a spectacular way of seeing the sheer size of the capital and the skyscrapers under construction.

Some free time at the Christmas Market outside the Southbank Centre was next, followed by lunch in the cafe.  After lunch, the Philharmonia’s principal Percussionist David Corkhill met with the group, a close contact of Chris and Emmanuelle from teaching at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama.  A trip backstage followed, a remarkable opportunity to see behind the scenes of one of the country’s leading concert halls, and Mr Corkhill was also able to introduce the group to the conductor of the concert, none other than Vladimir Ashkenazy:

The group spent a wonderful question and answer session with Maestro Ashkenazy, asking questions they had prepared earlier in the day and finding out about life as a pianist and conductor, the differences with working in contrasting concert halls and with various different orchestras.  This was truly a once in a lifetime experience for all.

The concert itself opened with a scintillating performance of Dukas’ The Sorcerer’s Apprentice, followed by Ravel’s Piano Concerto in G with pianist Jean-Efflam Bavouzet, who was encouraged through applause to give an encore of Debussy’s La Puerta del Vino.  The second half opened with De Falla’s Nights in the Gardens of Spain, and concluded with a seminal work which actually has a close connection to Jersey (as it is written that he actually started writing the work here) – Claude Debussy’s La Mer.  Of particular note was the rousing last movement, leading the whole concert to a truly epic conclusion.

A short train journey to Gatwick led to the group literally singing their way onto the plane with Christmas Carols!  We are grateful for the support of the Jersey Arts Trust in helping to cover many of the costs associated with the tour.

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.

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)

Jersey Eisteddfod Preparation Concert

October 23rd 2011

In preparation for the Eisteddfod, seventeen students of various ages performed in front of an audience of family and friends to give their pieces a ‘dry-run’ before the start of the festival.  For the Eisteddfod itself, in addition to all the solo entries various academy ensembles participated in the Langley Trophy class, two of them pictured here: