London Concert Day-Trip


14th December 2014


Eight students aged 13-16 participated in this project to experience the Philharmonia Orchestra performing in the Royal Festival Hall.  After an early start the first visits of the day upon arrival in London were Westminster Cathedral and Westminster Abbey:


Westminster Cathedral


Westminster Abbey


The walking route from Victoria to the Southbank also gave the group the opportunity to see Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament:


Houses of Parliament


The rest of the morning incorporated some free time at the Southbank Christmas Market, and a trip on the London Eye:


London Eye


After a picnic lunch it was time to enter the Royal Festival Hall for the concert, featuring the Philharmonia Orchestra and an outstanding programme of Smetana, Brahms, and Tchaikovsky.  Arguably the highlight of the concert was Smetana’s Sarka from Ma Vlast, depicting the story of a female warrior tricking a group of soldiers to their grisly fate, a truly gripping performance from start to finish:


Royal Festival Hall


Our thanks go to the Jersey Arts Trust for sponsoring this and many other of the academy’s projects and events, and also the Dorothy Chapman Trust for their sponsorship of the concert tickets.



 

Winter Project Week – ‘Seriously Solos!’


1st-4th December 2014


This term’s Project Week gave all the students of every age and instrument the chance to perform a solo.  Four concerts took place during the week, focussing on the various instrumental disciplines of strings, woodwind, brass, piano and percussion, and in total the week presented over one hundred and fifty different performances!


Seriously Solos pre-concert


At the end of each concert the teachers performed too, and each evening concluded with a ‘post-concert party’ for all to enjoy.  On the Tuesday evening the event concluded with festive performance given by Vocalize Choir (pictured below), our thanks go to them for their involvement. The retiring collections during the week raised over £200 for CLIC Sargent (Jersey).  Congratulations to all involved!


Vocalize Choir performing




 

Royal College of Music Junior Department Residency


29th – 30th Nov 2014


Three young pianists aged 11-17 came over from the Royal College of Music Junior Department led by their teacher Professor Yekaterina Lebedeva.  During their short stay, a group of ten local young pianists from the academy had the opportunity to receive masterclasses from Professor Lebedeva, and this was followed by a buffet lunch for all the students and parents to have together with the visiting group.  The residency concluded with a concert given by the three visiting pianists, starting with John Gallant performing a programme of Bach, Czerny and Grieg, followed by Theodore Hayes with a programme of Scarlatti, Czerny, and Grieg, and concluding with Veronika Krasheninnikova performing an engaging combination of Bach, Beethoven and Chopin.  Our thanks go to the Jersey Arts Trust for their continued sponsorship.


Royal College of Music Junior Department Residency


 

Jersey Youth Chamber Orchestra Winter Course


29th Oct  – 1st Nov 2014


In a contrast to previous years, the Jersey Youth Chamber Orchestra’s winter session was held as a half-term orchestral course.  Starting on the Wednesday of half-term the orchestra came together for four full days of musical activity.  Led by visiting conductor Robert Roscoe, the orchestra worked on Offenbach’s Overture to Orpheus in the Underworld, Malcolm Arnold’s Little Suite no.2, and Khachaturian’s Sabre Dance.


JYCO Rehearsal


The additional rehearsal time afforded by the extended course meant that in addition to the regular sectional and tutti rehearsals the students also had the opportunity to learn a piece of Body Percussion music led by Russell Abraham, and took part in music quiz based on the music performed.  The lunchtimes and breaktimes gave the students the chance to enjoy the lawns, enhanced by some glorious sunshine.


JYCO lawn games


The concert on the Saturday evening was enjoyed by a full hall, requesting an encore of Offenbach’s Galop Infernal.  Next year’s session will take place in partnership with Chetham’s School of Music in February, leading towards a performance at the Jersey Arts Centre on  8th February, conducted by Chets Director of Music Steven Threlfall. The JYCO is run through the partnership of the academy with the Jersey Music Service, and supported by the Strasser Trust and Dorothy Chapman Trust.

 

French Horn Day


Sunday 19th Oct 2014


On October 19th 16 local French Horn players aged 6-18 met at Jersey Academy of Music, Chateau Vermont for the very first French Horn Day – organised in joint partnership between the Jersey Academy of Music and Jersey Music Service. The players split into junior, intermediate and senior ensemble groups to play horn repertoire before a well-deserved break for cake! Re-fuelled, the hornists then split into 2 groups and in what might be considered a rather musical version of hide and seek, they played horn calls to each other across the spacious grounds of Chateau Vermont.


French Horn Day


Much fun was had outside before returning inside for a session on gadgets and a competition to find a suitable name for the newly established group! les cors jèrriais (Horns of Jersey) was chosen, inspired by Ankita and JJ who both won a year’s subscription to the British Horn Society! les cors jèrriais are excited to continue working as an established group and watch out for them at an event or too in Jersey next year!


 

THE GREAT CHARITY PLAYATHON


26th-27th September 2014


On 26th September 2014, the Jersey Academy of Music hosted The Great Charity Playathon, a 24 hour event in aid of CLIC Sargent (Jersey) and Tearfund.


Playathon Logo


The Playathon was organised by Claire Boleat, flute teacher at the academy, with one of her senior students Lauren Gallaher (a talented local flautist and finalist in the Jersey Young Musician of the Year 2014).  The event involved hundreds of people and a huge variety of acts including Flutasia, Progressive School of Music, Beaulieu & De La Salle Big Band, Serenata Wind Quintet, Students from the Jersey Academy of Music, Keiran Brown, Alex Glendenning, B Vocal Jsy, Lillian and Grace Garnier, Eva Hsieh, Julie Robinson and Students, Sax Jam, and others too. As well as the performances, there were stalls for competitions, raffles, and a display from the music shop Broken Wind.


The whole venue was taken over with music from start to finish, with the 24hrs broken up into various themes: ‘Evening Drinks’ on the Friday, and the ‘Coffee Morning’ and ‘Family Fun Picnic’ on the Saturday, including a Samba Workshop with Alex Glendinning:


Alex Glendinning Samba Session


The event has raised almost £3000 for the two charities, CLIC Sargent (Jersey) and Tearfund. The Great Charity Playathon was supported by Dunells Wine Merchants, St. Peter’s Garden Centre, Le Quesne’s Nurseries, Murrays, The Fresh Fish Company, Ceri’s Cakes, Back to Balance, Adventure Diving Jersey, Chic Salon, Dye Another Day, Jersey Academy of Music, Aurum Jewellers and Harvey Music Jersey.


CLIC Sargent (Jersey) is a local charity who support the families of children and teenagers with cancer. They respond to the needs of sick children and teenagers, helping their families during difficult and stressful times with both financial and practical support. They aim to ensure that every Jersey child and teenager with cancer received the support they need.


Tearfund is a UK Christian relief and development agency passionate about relieving poverty which works in over 50 countries. In 2006 they launched a ten-year vision to see 50 million people released from material and spiritual poverty and since then more than 17 million people have been helped through community development projects. More than 175 unjust policies and practices have also been changed to deliver justice for poor communities. Lauren Gallaher (one of the event organisers) will be travelling to Cambodia in February to work for 6 months as a volunteer on one of their projects.


 

Folk Fiddle Music of the British Isles


13th-14th September 2014

 

Pete Cooper, an expert fiddle teacher and player, visited the island to lead two days of folk music.  On the Saturday a group of thirteen young violinists and violists aged 9-17 spent the day learning several folk tunes from different parts of the country, performing at the end of the session to family and friends.


Pete Cooper Folk Workshop


On the Sunday the morning was dedicated to adult violinists, involving a mixture of teachers and amateur musicians, focussing on various folk melodies and alternative fiddle techniques and styles of playing.  The project was coordinated by the academy in partnership with the Jersey Music Service, and we are very grateful for the support of the Dorothy Chapman Trust.


 

 

Musique et Aventure and Jersey International Masterclasses


28th July – 5th August 2014


A truly action-packed musical summer was presented with the combination of two music courses.  Musique et Aventure enjoyed its 8th successful year, involving thirty local young musicians aged 9-17 in musical mornings with activity-filled afternoons.  Simultaneously to this, Jersey International Masterclasses celebrated its second year, sponsored locally by the One Foundation, and involving twenty five music college students from many different countries led by an outstanding teaching faculty of international stature.  Utilising the combined facilities of Chateau Vermont, Grainville School, and Victoria College, with concerts at the Jersey Arts Centre, Georgetown Methodist Church, St Helier Methodist Centre, and of course Chateau Vermont itself, this was a truly spectacular way to end the academic year.


Musique et Aventure 2014

The participating students of piano, violin, viola, cello, saxophone, flute, percussion and brass were led by the Jersey Academy of Music’s team of teachers including Claire Boleat (flute), Pippa Lumbard (brass), Young-Pyo Lee (violin), Emmanuelle Dumas (cello), Chris George (piano), Eva Hsieh (percussion), supported by Grace Garnier (theory/aural) and Natasha Ronayne (theory/aural).  The mornings were spent at Victoria College with a fully-timetabled mix of one-to-one lessons, ensemble coaching, percussion workshops, and individual practice.


Piano duet coaching


The course linked together with Jersey International Masterclasses in various ways, with the students attending a music-college student lunchtime concert, joining in with various activities, and participating in a joint ‘Improvisation Workshop’ with the young students from the masterclasses.


Jersey International Masterclasses workshop

 

This was led by Hugo Ticciati from the Lilla Akademien, Stockholm, and gave all the students the opportunity to create wacky improvisation-based ensemble compositions which were performed at the end of the session.


Hugo Ticciati leading the workshop


During the afternoons everyone could let off some steam, and we had some lovely weather for the Surfing, Banana Boat and Crazy Sofa rides, Lawn Games, and Aquasplash.


St Ouen's Bay afternoon


The week culminated in the end-of-course concert at St. Helier Methodist Centre, and hats off to all for a wonderful concert!


Jersey International Masterclasses 2014

Once again, Artistic Director Viktoria Grigoreva was able to assemble an enviable line-up of outstanding teachers for this year’s masterclasses, including Nina Balabina (violin – Lilla Music Akademien, Stockholm, Sweden), Dimitri Bashkirov (piano – Russia), Boris Berman (piano – Russia/USA), Leonid Gorokhov (cello – Russia/Germany /UK), Leonid Margarius (piano – Accademia di Imola, Italy), Mark Messenger (violin – Head of Strings, Royal College of Music), Hugo Ticciati (violin – Lilla Music Akademien, Stockholm, Sweden), Maria Tarasewicz (piano – Ukraine/Belgium).


The participating students included various Jersey students who are currently studying at music colleges in the UK, alongside visiting students from many different countries, staying at the Runnymede Hotel, our partner hotel this year.  A full programme of concerts, lectures, masterclasses and workshops took place over the course, and students enjoyed private practice facilities inbetween lessons.


Jersey International Masterclasses is very grateful for the support of the following organisations: One Foundation, Vladimir Spivakov International Charity Foundation, Tsukanov Family Foundation, the Broun family, the Mensah family, Bedells legal support, and the overall guidance and support of the Royal College of Music and Jersey Academy of Music.


PARTICIPATING STUDENTS 2014

Geoffroy Chapelle, piano, from Belgium

Katherine Chulack, violin, student at St Pauls School, London

Alberto D’Algo, piano, student at Accademia di Imola, Italy

Cristina Dimitrova, violin, student at National Conservatory of Lisbon, Portugal

Rhys Evans, violin, violin, student at Sussex House, England

Line Faber, violin, student at Royal Conservatory of Brussels, Belgium

Igor Ferlan, violin, student at Royal College of Music, London

Mila Ferramosca, violin, student at Royal College of Music Junior Department, London

Finlay Hare, cello, student at Royal Northern College of Music, from Jersey

Elise Johnson, violin, student at Lilla Music Akademien, Sweden

Yoko Johnsson, violin, student at Lilla Music Akademien, Sweden

Liav Kerbel, cello, from Belgium

Krystian Lamb, piano, student at Royal College of Music, from Jersey

Giulia Rossini, piano, student at Accademia di Imola, Italy

Iona Russell, cello, student at Chetham’s School of Music, from Jersey

Lara Sallavuard, passive participant, from London

Elliot Samphier, violin, Royal Northern College of Music, from Jersey

Karin Sandström, violin, student at Lilla Music Akademien, Sweden

Laura Van Der Heijden, cello, student at Royal College of Music JD, London

Miklós Veszprémi, piano, student at Royal College of Music, London

Daryna Bezkosta, violin, student at Kharkhov specialist music school, Ukraine

Hannah Von Bergen, violin, student at Lilla Music Akademien, Sweden

Téa Von Bergen, violin, student at Lilla Music Akademien, Sweden

Julie Ye, piano, student at Guildhall School of Music and Drama, London

Polina Zheliba, piano, student at student at Moscow Central Music School, Russia

 

 




 

End of Year Concert at the Jersey Arts Centre


13th July 2014


The Jersey Arts Centre was truly ‘packed to the rafters’ for the academy’s End of Year Concert!  The concert featured a whole range of ages and instruments, and the focus this year was ‘Ensemble Music’, leading to a wide variety of duos, trios, quartets, quintets (see programme below).  The opening item featured various violin students of different ages performing together:


Violinists at Arts Centre concert


The concert moved through music for brass, flute, percussion (featuring a fun body-percussion perfomance by the VCP percussion ensemble ‘Twigz’), and one particularly funny performance was given by the Star Wars duo of Alex Robinson (as Luke Skywalker) and Charlie Morgan (as a slightly square R2D2!):


Star Wars piano duet


The Grande Finale of the concert featured a rousing performance of ‘Happy’ given by the Brass and Percussion Day ensemble.  Congratulations go to all the young performers in the concert for a great fun evening of music.


 

Brass and Percussion Day


6th July 2014


Led by Pippa Lumbard and Eva Hsieh, the Brass and Percussion Day involved thirty-two young musicians aged 10-16 in a whole day of different activities.  The day began with a short performance given by all the tutors, firstly featuring the brass quintet of Stuart Lumbard, Pippa Lumbard, Ken Laurens, Peter Smart, and Andrew Thompson, followed by the percussion duo of Eva Hsieh and Russell Abraham.  The percussionists had fun during the day with an ‘Orchestral Karaoke’, performing the full percussion score along to a recording of Bizet’s Overture to Carmen, and all students participated in a ‘Body Percussion’ workshop:


Body Percussion Workshop


The brass students broke of into various smaller ensembles to rehearse their music for the combined item ‘Happy’, which featured all the day’s young musicians and tutors, and was performed at the end of the day to an enthusiastic audience of family and friends:


Brass and Percussion Ensemble performing 'Happy'


This performance was such a rousing success that everyone agreed to perform it again as the Grand Finale of our End of Year Concert at the Jersey Arts Centre on Sunday 13th July.