The World-Famous Minack Theatre hosted a concert recently in which several CMST ensembles performed including
Sax Is Our Business
Cornwall Youth Brass Ensemble
Penzance Youth Wind Band
Terpsichore (Baroque ensemble)
Flautistas
Two Guitar Ensembles
We would like to thank Lynn Batten for taking these fantastic photos during the event!
An application form can be downloaded here. Please complete and return to jfindlay@cornwallmusicservicetrust.org
Thank you.
Our Spring 2018 Newsletter is available to download here.
From 30 July to 3 August AMATA is hosting a music and dance collaborative Summer School run by Patrick Bailey and Grace Clayton. It is open for young people between the ages of 14 to 18 and will allow the musicians to explore composition, technique, improvisation, choreography and a variety of skills involved in creating dance and music collaboratively. There are still Early Bird tickets available for music. See flyer, below, for details.
Congratulations go to Rafi Oakes who has been awarded the CMST Pupil of The Month Award for March, 2018.
Rafi is a committed Trumpeter who has shown great development and a lot of this is due to fantastic support at home along with a structured rehearsal routine. He has also flourished as an ensemble member which, he says is a major contributing factor in helping his rapid progress. Rafi is taught by Claire Churcher, Brass Team Member, and she had some wonderful things to report on when being spoken to about the POTMA award.
“Rafi always comes to his lessons well prepared and very keen to learn. He was so keen to join a county ensemble that he is, I believe, the youngest member of Cornwall Youth Wind Orchestra (CYWO) and I am informed that he and his parents often stay behind and help with the packing down of the kit.”
Claire continued to say “He has thrived on doing exams and has reached a grade 5 standard in a relatively short amount of time. Rafi is an extremely polite young man and an absolute pleasure to teach, he has even been helping his dad at home with his trumpet work.”
Gareth Churcher, Head of Service for CMST, commented “I have had the privilege of working with Rafi in preparation for his exams, and although not everyone chooses to take the examination route, it has been a real driving force for his progression. I also can very clearly see that in the majority of cases, when analysing the statistics, that those children who learn an instrument and take part in an ensemble demonstrate higher rates of progression. More importantly the social skills and well being development are evident and have been proven in many research studies.”
Mr Churcher summarised by saying “This in conjunction with studies that prove children who learn an instrument do so well academically all adds to the argument that more music is better for your overall education. Well done Rafi and keep up the good work!”
Over 50 flute players of all ages and abilities took part in the 3rd Cornwall Flute Festival on 24 and 25 March 2018. This event encompassed a whole weekend of inspiration, enjoyment and flute fun. Guests for the weekend were UK leading flautist and composer Ian Clarke and renowned accompanist Tim Carey.
Activities included workshops, warm up activities, rehearsals with piano, flute choirs, masterclasses, foyer performances, junior flute workshops, chamber music.
Kate Whetter, CMST event organiser, said "Ian Clarke has really inspired our local flautists, in particular with regard to some of the new exciting techniques seen in contemporary repertoire - it was wonderful to have such a high calibre flautist here in Cornwall teaching and performing". She continued "one of the most exciting parts of the weekend was when a scratch massed flute choir was formed to perform Ian’s ‘Walk Like This’".
Some photos from the weekend
The Saturday evening recital by Ian and Tim was a highlight of the weekend. Their programme included a first performance of Ian’s new work ‘White Staircase’ as well as by Faure, Hindemith and Debussy.
The event was supported by Truro School, Just Flutes, Wonderful Winds, Jessica Rance Instrument repairs and Cornwall Music Education Hub.
#cornwallflutefest
Congratulations go to Esme Dyer who has been awarded the CMST Pupil of The Month award for February, 2018.
Esme is an aspiring Violinist who is taught by Karen Frost, CMST string teacher and string team manager. Esme has made an excellent start to her musical career with rapid development as you will read below.
Karen Frost, when interviewed, had some wonderful things to say about Esme. “Esme is a model pupil. She only began playing the violin in September 2017, but I am nominating her for the POTMA because of her amazing progress and commitment in such a short time. Practising everyday of the week, she goes home after her lesson on a Friday and teaches her Mum what she has learnt in her lesson that day.”
Karen continued to say “Mum, although never having learnt an instrument before, has her own violin and this parental involvement is a huge contributing factor to Esme's success and enjoyment of learning. Esme is one of the most pleasant pupils I have had the good fortune to teach and I would like her (and her mum) to be rewarded for her achievement and dedication.”
Gareth Churcher, Head of Service for CMST, commented “It is really lovely to read about the family involvement with Esme and her Mum and this type of skill sharing really demonstrates how music making can bring a family closer together, not to mention the knock on educational benefits for Esme. When we look at this through a wider lens the power of music to bring communities together is something that we must not lose sight of. Well done Esme and congratulations to Mum too!!!”