String Team - Learn To Play Day a Great Success!

Brother and sister Erin aged 6 and Rowan aged 8 from Truro playing the double bass:

Truro Library was buzzing with excitement for the Learn to Play Day on Saturday March 23rd where Cornwall Music Service Trust focused their event on the instruments of the String Family. The double bass proved to go down a storm with a number children wanting to give this instrument a go.

From the moment the library opens its doors we had a constant stream of people from age 3 to 63 interested to see what was going on in the normally quiet venue. A very successful event indeed and our thanks go to Crea and the staff at Truro Library. 

Photo of the CMST teaching staff from left to right.
Jane, Sian, Claudia, Karen, Hywel.

CMST are GOLD Award winners!

Our team of Healthy Workplace Champions, Christine Judge, Janet Elston and Karen Frost proudly received the GOLD Award at the Healthy Workplace Conference in Wadebridge on March 18th. This is an NHS programme that encourages good health in the workplace. Not just physical health, but mental health and well-being. You need good health to work, and work can give good health. So it matters to employers and employees to invest in Workplace Health. The programme has three levels of achievement, Bronze, Silver and Gold.

Karen Frost says ...“We are thrilled to have received the GOLD Award today, and lovely to be recognised for all that we do for our staff, the information we share and the social activities we arrange”. 

Calling string players of all ages!

An opportunity to explore the wonderful world of the String Quartet focusing on Mendelssohn’s String Quartet No 1 in E flat major, Op 12.

Sunday 23 June 2019, 10am – 5.30pm

Lavethan, Near Blisland, Bodmin PL30 4QG

Tutors: Members of the Dante String Quartet

Standard: Intermediate to Advanced

Violinist Krysia Osostowicz and her experienced Dante colleague Richard Jenkinson (cello), bring their innovative and exciting approach to the special Benslow Music Group Quartet concept, where tutors sit and play within the group, approaching everything as large-scale chamber music. Individual responsibility and initiative are encouraged, as is discussion on musical issues and techniques.  Krysia and Richard will offer their personal insight into rehearsal tips and techniques.  The workshop is a fantastic way to observe and participate in a professional rehearsal environment.

Cornwall Music Service Trust Pupil of the Month Award (POTMA) - January 2019 Winner

Congratulations go to Jonah Woods who has been awarded the CMST Pupil of The Month Award for January 2019.

Jonah’s teacher Hywel Webley tells us “Jonah has had lessons with myself for many years and has made steady progress, sitting an exam every year for the past 4 years with very good results”

Jonah is currently working towards his Grade 5 exam which he hopes to take in the summer. This is a very high standard for someone in year 7 to achieve.

Hywel goes on to say “Jonah is naturally musical, he is always committed to lessons and practices regularly at home”

Jonah is a keen and committed member of Caradon Strings and has been so for several years.

Gareth Churcher, Head of Service for CMST, commented “The progress Jonah has made is incredible, it really is key to find a good practice routine which it seems Jonah has done. Another very important word is commitment, making that commitment to an ensemble and indeed a practice routine will prove invaluable. Very well done Jonah, keep up the great work”

Cornwall Music Service Trust Pupil Of The Month (POTMA) December 2018 Winner

Congratulations go to Thomas Findlay who has been awarded the CMST Pupil of The Month Award for December 2018.

Thomas’s teacher Jacqueline Kershaw tells us, “Tom is Principal Horn of both the  Cornwall Youth Orchestra and the Cornwall Youth Brass Ensemble and has recently completed his Music College auditions”

Tom has auditioned at 4 music colleges. At each he was accepted and offered a scholarship which in itself is an amazing achievement and now leaves Tom the tough decision as to whether to attend the Royal College of Music or the Royal Academy of Music.

Jacqueline tells us that Tom is also a very talented composer. He composed a horn quartet for the 2018 Cornwall Horn Festival to much acclaim and upon Jacqueline’s request Tom produced an arrangement for the Cornwall Youth Brass Ensemble and Sax Is Our Business to perform together at their Christmas concert.

“The arrangement appeared in my email inbox within 4 hours of my request and it was brilliant! Tom is such an incredible musician and thoroughly deserves to be rewarded as 'CMST Pupil of the month'” Jacqueline concluded.

Gareth Churcher, Head of Service for CMST, commented “I have had the privilege of hearing Tom play on many occasions. Tom is a fantastic musician and I am delighted he is taking an interest in composing and arranging, something I am passionate about myself and something we hope to develop more in the County.”

We wish Tom all the best with his future music making.

Free Vocal Masterclass!

Cornwall Horn Festival - Public Performance This Saturday

Our next Cornwall Horn Festival is taking place this weekend in Truro. We have a public performance at 12.30 on Saturday by a leading exponent of the Natural Horn (not often heard in Cornwall) Anneke Scott along with our resident Horn specialist Jacqueline Kershaw and accompanist Paul Comeau. We hope to see you at the concert.

Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra - Resonate Strings - Music While You Eat!

A String Quintet made up of players from the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra will entertain diners at the Norway Inn at Perranarworthal this Friday 15th February. Proceeds from the event will help to fund CMST String provision in Cornwall. Details of tickets are on the poster, below:

Chris Treglown Foundation Award 2019

CMST Concert at the Dracaena Centre, Falmouth

Fantastic concert on Saturday 30th March with a wide variety of ensembles performing!

David Frost Composition Competition 2019-2020

Cornwall Music Service Trust are excited to announce details of the David Frost Composition Competition. It is open to all young composers up to the age of 30 and has a prize of £1200! Please share this post so that as many budding composers as possible have the opportunity to take part in this fantastic experience!

Cornwall Music Service Trust Pupil Of The Month Award (POTMA) - November 2018 Winner

Congratulations go to Jack Gibbs-Rich who has been awarded the CMST Pupil of The Month Award for November 2018.

Jack's teacher, Sara Munns, tells us “Jack has a strong commitment to do well with his Trumpet studies and does so in the face of many challenges.”

 Mrs Munns continued to comment “Jack loves playing his trumpet. He has worked really hard on his Initial grade pieces and has mastered ‘When The Saints’ so well that he is is now keen to play to the rest of his school class. Jack is an incredibly sensitive young man and I am thrilled that he has made this amazing progress”.

Gareth Churcher, Head of Service for CMST, commented “I have had the privilege of seeing Jack play and I love the way that engaging with a musical instrument can so easily breakdown very many barriers for young people. It really demonstrates that music has wonderful therapeutic natures and sees children thrive in areas that they never imagine they could. Well done Jack and keep up the good work!”

 We have one more announcement to make regarding the 2018 awards and then our independent adjudicator will have the unenviable task of deciding on CMST Pupil of The Year, 2018!

Watch this space……….