4th, 5th, and 6th December 2017
Three evening concerts for all students to play pieces they have been working on this term in front of a friendly audience. Over fifty solos took place over the three concerts, many thanks to all the teachers for stewarding and organising.
3rd December 2017
A group of children travelled across for a day-trip to London to watch the Philharmonia Orchestra perform a programme of Russian music in the Royal Festival Hall. Arriving in Victoria Station after the flight across, the group walked down to the Southbank via the Houses of Parliament. There was time to visit the London Aquariam, and a particular highlight was the penguin area.
The concert took place at 3pm, and featured Tchaikovsky’s Piano Concerto with soloist Simon Trpčeski. A transfer back to Gatwick for the flight back that evening brought an action-packed day to a close.
20th November 2017
A concert for all the children entering ABRSM and Trinity practical examinations. Eighteen children participated, playing through their exam pieces in a friendly and encouraging environment.
November 2017
Barbara Parham, former Director of the British Suzuki Institute, visited the island to spend the week with Vanessa Moore giving tuition, observing lessons, and advising children and parents on good practice techniques.
October 2017
A wonderful residency from the 18-strong wind ensemble from the Lilla Akademien (Junior Academy) of Stockholm. During the week they spent the daytimes at Victoria College, performing to over five hundred children at Primary and Secondary level.
They also joined forces with the wind and brass instrument players at the school to create a giant combined band.
In the evenings they were divided into smaller ensembles along with JAM students of different ages.
All rehearsals culminated in a fantastic final concert in front of a packed audience at JAM. We are very much looking forward to their next residency in Autumn 2018, and will be arrange a tour to Stockholm for our students to work with them in Sweden.
6th October 2017
Les Cor Jerriais had a fun afternoon rehearsing and performing horn-calls in town with visiting French Horn soloist Martin Owen, who was on the island to perform a concerto with the Jersey Chamber Orchestra. Many thanks to Music In Action for allowing this event to take place.
29th July – 6th August 2017
The Jersey International Masterclasses is a summer music course based at the academy, and this year 22 students from England, Spain, France, Belgium, and Jersey participated in a full week of tuition and concerts.
The course is linked with Royal College of Music, and the teaching faculty is coordinated by Viktoria Grigoreva (RCM Junior Department), and Mark Messenger (Head of Strings, RCM). The full course information and faculty can be seen at the website – www.jerseymasterclasses.com.
In addition to several Lunchtime Concerts given by the visiting students, the group also performed at Georgetown Methodist Church on Thursday 3rd August:
The course culminated in a concert at St Helier Town Hall, and an evening performance in the beautiful courtyard at Jersey Zoo as part of the ‘Durrell At Dusk’ event on Friday 4th August:
Our congratulations go to all the visiting and local students for delivering such memorable performances, and we are looking forward greatly to next year’s Jersey International Masterclasses.
27th July 2017
Led by Claire and Andy Harvey, this involved an group of young flautists in a day of ensemble playing with a distinctly ‘animal’ theme! After the morning rehearsals the group performed open-air at Jersey Zoo, in the courtyard of the beautiful manor house. A combination of solos, duets, and ensemble pieces made for a lovely programme:
The group met again in the evening to perform at Georgetown Methodist Church, in a concert also featuring diploma recital performances from pianists Oliver Scott and Esther Cushen, and saxophonist James Poingdestre. This concert raised £260 for the church, congratulations to all involved.
Saturday 17th June 2017
A glorious day of sunshine ensured that our annual flagship event was enjoyed greatly by all. The event combined musical performances with traditional stalls, bouncy castles, a fantastic raffle, and as more and more people arrived throughout the afternoon the academy became truly packed!
Over one hundred performances took place, using the Chapel, Recital Hall, and Open-Air Stage, and a range of different stalls, games, including two bouncy castles and giant sumo suits, meant that when not either watching or participating in a performance there was absolutely loads to do. The Open-Air Stage featured performances from the Amity Singers, Vermont Brass, Flutasia, and the VCJ Big Band Theory:
The event concluded with the Awards Ceremony, in which Primary Certificates were given out to some of the youngest members of the academy, and the Secondary Awards featured medals and trophies for selected young musicians, based on their commitment and progress through the year.
| ACADEMY AWARDS 2017 | |
| BRASS AWARD | Blackburn, Kathryn |
| BRASS MEDAL | Durham-White, Liam |
| PERCUSSION AWARD | Merren, Alexander |
| PIANO AWARD | Matheson, Rebekah |
| PIANO AWARD | Richardson, Hannah |
| PIANO MEDAL | Brown, Joshua |
| PIANO MEDAL | Cushen, Jonathan |
| PIANO MEDAL | Deacon, Lucy |
| STRINGS AWARD | Deacon, Libby |
| WOODWIND AWARD | Henman, Katie |
| WOODWIND AWARD | Journeaux, Seamus |
| EXAM MEDAL (highest exam result) | Scott, Oliver |
| THEORY MEDAL (highest exam result) | Russ, Julia |
The much-anticipated Raffle brought the event to a close (with Harrison Caldeira winning the much coveted Nintendo Switch!). A huge thanks go to all the people who gave up their time to ensure that the event ran smoothly, what a wonderful day!
10th June 2017
Thirty five academy instrumentalists joined forces with the forty-strong visiting Durham University Palatinate Orchestra for a full day of orchestral playing. During the morning, the group was divided into ensembles to learn the repertoire led by the visiting students and our team of teachers from the academy.
The groups then gradually came together through the day, firstly as separate strings, winds, and brass sections, and then finally as the full combined orchestra.
The project was run in partnership with Hautlieu School, and a number of their young instrumentalists also participated, with the concert taking place at Hautlieu School in the evening. The combined orchestra performed Grieg’s Hall of the Mountain King, and Bizet’s Toreador’s Song (from Carmen). The visiting orchestra also performed Rachmaninoff’s Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini with local virtuoso pianist Isobel Osborne (who is studying music at Durham, and was one of the driving forces in enabling this project to happen).
Our thanks go to all the visiting students, Isobel, and DUPO’s outreach coordinator Zoe Wardell, a wonderful project enjoyed greatly by all!