NCEM Autumn 2008 news

intune

autumn 2008

ISSUE 5

a chance for you to get involved!

Welcome to the NCEM’s education and community newsletter – the space for you to find out more about events and activities.

In this issue, find out about the new NCEM Composers Award, theYork Early Music InternationalYoung Artists Competition and the new Historical Performance Course.

BBC RADIO 3 AND

THE TALLIS SCHOLARS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE NCEM

The National Centre for Early Music is delighted to be working in partnership with BBC Radio 3 and The Tallis Scholars on the new prestigious NCEM Composers Award.

This is a National competition open to young composers from across the UK who are invited to compose a new a cappella (unaccompanied) work for Soprano, Alto,Tenor and Bass which will be sung by The Tallis Scholars in York Minster at the opening concert in the 2009 York Early Music Festival.

Delma Tomlin, Director of the National Centre for Early Music, spoke about this new partnership and the opportunity it offered young people: “Working with BBC Radio 3 and The Tallis Scholars is a huge privilege.The young composers who get shortlisted will benefit enormously from this partnership, not only will they have their piece performed by these internationally acclaimed singers in one of the most magnificent Cathedrals in the world but they will have the opportunity to visit the BBC studios in Manchester to find out more about how early music is recorded.”

There are two age categories for this Award: up to 18 years and 19 to 25 years.The submission piece should be three to four minutes long and the lyrics should be of a text that is suitable to be presented within York Minster.

www.ncem.co.uk

Expressions of interest must be registered with the NCEM by Friday 27 March and the deadline for the submission of the final score is Friday 3 April.

Those shortlisted as finalists will be invited to the NCEM on Thursday 14 May to spend the day working alongside composer Christopher Fox and the York based Ebor Singers, who will perform the pieces in a public concert.The pieces will be judged by Peter Phillips, Director of The Tallis Scholars; Chris Wines, Senior Music Producer, BBC Radio 3 and Delma Tomlin.

Information and application forms are available to download from the National Centre for Early Music website at www.ncem.co.uk/composersaward email ailsa.reid@ncem.co.uk or ring 01904 632220 for further information.

The NCEM Composers Award will be an annual event and will be presented in a different part of the country each year, giving new audiences an opportunity to hear the finalists’ pieces performed

by The Tallis Scholars.

All the shortlisted pieces will be recorded by students from the University of York and each finalist will be awarded a pair of top-price tickets to The Tallis Scholars’ concert in York Minster on Friday 10 July 2009.

The Tallis Scholars

get involved

Image: Holbein,The Ambassadors (detail) © The National Gallery, London

Competition Chat with FINAL CALL FOR ENTRIES

YOUNG ARTISTS COMPETITION The prestigious York Early Music International Young Artists Competition will take place at the National Centre for Early Music as part of the 2009 York Early Music Festival.

The competition is regarded as one of the greatest opportunities in the world for young artists to launch their international careers in early music.

Applications must be submitted by Friday 5 December and the competition will take place at the National Centre for Early Music in York from Thursday 16 – Saturday 18 July 2009.

This is the 13th competition and some astonishing young musicians have used this platform to their benefit. Delma Tomlin, Director of the National Centre for Early Music added: “We are delighted to host this important competition and provide a platform for young musicians to perform.

To take part, artists need to be aged between 17 and 30 (35 for singers); to be part of an ensemble of at least three persons and to be presenting music in a historically appropriate style.

“All shortlisted groups will be expected to present a short recital under the guidance of one of the world’s most respected singing teachers - Evelyn Tubb - as well as entering the competition itself. Winners can expect a major boost to their professional careers with broadcasting, recording and touring opportunities.”

Previous winners of this internationally recognised competition include the Palladian Ensemble, I Fagiolini, Le Jardin Secret and Stile Antico – who won the York Early Music Festival Friends’ Prize in 2005 – all have gone on to enjoy immensely successful careers.

Early Music groups who are interested in taking part should log on to the NCEM’s website for details www.ncem.co.uk/youngartists. For further information, please contact info@ncem.co.uk or ring 01904 632220.

recorder player Pamela Thorby Winner of the competition with the Palladian Ensemble in 1991 What has the competition done for your career?

As a founder member of the Palladian Ensemble, I remember the impact that winning had on our group. It gave us an instant status which allowed all kinds of new doors to open.

Not long after, we were named joint winners (with pianist Freddy Kempf) of the South East Arts Scheme, following which we were then booked for a large number of concerts in the coming season and caught the attention of LINN Records who subsequently went on to record 10 albums with us.

How is the atmosphere at the competition?

I have experienced the atmosphere at the competition from both sides of the platform; as a competitor and more recently as an adjudicator. On both occasions there was a very positive and almost festive vibe to proceedings.

The York Early Music Festival audience is warm and well-informed which gives the competitors an incredibly welcoming and nurturing setting in which to do their best.You feel that everyone in the room wants each group to excel.

Is there enough long-term support for winners?

Yes. A competition should be a springboard for an emerging talent, whether or not that ensemble can sustain a long career is down to their own hard work, commercial appeal, business sense, tenacity, people skills and a bit of luck. In the case of the Palladian Ensemble, long term support has meant repeated invitations to return to York, Beverley and venues for promoters who first heard of us through the competition.

Pamela Thorby is now regarded as an internationally renowned recorder player. She is in demand as a soloist, chamber musician, session player, orchestral principal and teacher.

For more information go to www.pamelathorby.com

creative learning

NCEM’S FIRST HISTORICAL PERFORMANCE COURSE The National Centre for Early Music will be working with the University of York’s specialist early music Ensemble in Residence Compagnia d’Istrumenti to run its first Historical Performance Course in April 2009.

The course, which takes place from Saturday 4 to Monday 6 April 2009 at the National Centre for Early Music, is aimed towards undergraduate and postgraduate music students, offering the opportunity to explore the traditions and techniques of performing baroque music. It will include tutti rehearsals, specialist wind and string technical sessions and chamber music focussing on the different national styles of the French, Italian and German baroque.

Ailsa Reid, Course Co-ordinator, elaborated: “This is a fantastic opportunity for students from institutions around the region to learn more about the historically informed performance of Baroque music for strings, wind and harpsichord. It will offer participants the chance to meet and form groups with likeminded students who are studying at different institutions and to learn from tutors who have specialist knowledge of performing baroque music”.

Players are invited on period or modern instruments at A=440 pitch. The following instrumentalists are invited to apply for places: Violin,Viola, ‘Cello and Double Bass; Recorder, Flute, Oboe, Bassoon; Harpsichord (first study only).

The course costs £160 (accommodation at the University of York can be arranged at an additional cost) and the deadline for applications is Friday 30 January 2009.

During the autumn members of Compagnia d’Istrumenti will be visiting the Universities of Huddersfield, Hull, Manchester, Newcastle, Sheffield and York to lead workshops which will give students a taster of what the course has to offer.

Full details and application forms are available on the NCEM’s website at www.ncem/latest/hpc.htm

MINSTER MINSTRELS PERFORM ‘GREEN GROW’TH THE HOLLY’ The well established Minster Minstrels Vocal and Instrumental Ensembles are now busily preparing for their next performance as part of the annual York Early Music Christmas Festival.

The concert, which was highlighted in The Guardian as one of the top Christmas events, has proved so popular that it has already sold out!

Singing expert, Sue Hollingworth, is directing the Vocal Ensemble this term, fresh from success in the BBC Radio 3 Choir of the Year Competition where she directed the Scunthorpe Cooperative Junior Choir to win the Open Category Final at the Liverpool Philharmonic Hall.

The ensemble, which is run as a partnership between the National Centre for Early Music and the City of York Council’s York Arts Academy, meets on Saturday mornings during term time at Canon Lee School. For more information about Minster Minstrels, please contact Ailsa Reid at ailsa.reid@ncem.co.uk.There is also now a Minster Minstrels Facebook Group.To find them search for Minster Minstrels Extreme Appreciation Society.

MINSTREL profile Profile with Katie Bower, 15, clarinet player Why did you decide to play the clarinet?

I started playing the clarinet in primary school after a group of musicians came in to show us woodwind instruments and told us that we could have music lessons at school on an instrument of our choice.

What sort of music do you enjoy listening to in your spare time?

I have a wide taste in music, I enjoy listening to RnB, dance and new music. I also like some bands like ‘Take That’ but I mainly enjoy dance music.

Has playing in the Minster Minstrels changed the way you listen to music?

Yes, I am more aware that there is a lot of music still being played and listened to no matter how old it is. It has also made me aware of how much work the composer must have put into producing some of the music we play.

What are you learning from the musicians who are teaching you at Minster Minstrels?

Compagnia d’Istrumenti

I have learnt lots of different techniques of playing my clarinet including learning breathing techniques. Playing in the group has also helped me learn how to keep in time.

latest news

TEENAGERS TAKE TO THE

STAGE AT MUSICPORT Music4U – the Humber Region Action Zone – co-ordinated by the National Centre for Early Music, gave 20 teenagers the opportunity to accompany the Niger band Etran Finatawa on stage at Bridlington’s World Music Festival which took place at The Spa in front of a massive audience in October.

This project, which was also a collaboration with BBC Blast, allowed GSCE and ‘A’ level students from Headlands Secondary School in Bridlington to work alongside these talented band members.

They prepared three numbers to perform at this prestigious Festival, which really brought the African music section of the music syllabuses to life!

Joined by Music4U’s community musicians Carol Dawson, Donna Smith and Lisa Oliver the students got first hand tuition and learnt new African singing rhythms, drumming and guitar playing. Music proved to be a universal language as no barriers were

SUMMER SCHOOL DATES The 2009 NCEM musical play in a week summer school will take place from Monday 10 – Friday 14 August. The theme will be Handel’s Water Music.The workshop is suitable for young people between the ages of 9 and 14 years and runs daily from 10.00am to 4.00pm with an hour long performance on the Friday night for family and friends.The summer school is extremely popular and usually sells out so if you want a place please book early. If you would like to be kept informed, email your details to info@ncem.co.uk

created by the lack of a common language between the musicians and the students.

Guitarist Peter Kench, 18, had enjoyed the completely different approach to music making. He commented:“This project has really given me new ideas and has opened my mind. It will definitely change the way I play the guitar and will be experimenting with some of the different tunings I have learnt.”

Delma Tomlin, Director of Music4U, said that the project had been a tremendous success and had

connected young people in the community with world music. She added:“We were very impressed with the students, the teaching period was intense and they all worked extremely hard to prepare themselves for this performance and they did themselves proud!”

Those who took part in this project have the opportunity to share their music with others by uploading it to the BBC Blast website at www.bbc.co.uk/blast

YORK SCHOOLS TO TAKE PART IN SCHOOLS PROM Plans are afoot for the NCEM to work with Sing Up and for 300 primary school children from York to perform as part of the Schools Proms at the Royal Albert Hall in London on Monday 9 November 2009.

More information will follow in the next Newsletter.

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contact us For further information about any of the activities, events or resources mentioned in this Newsletter please contact the NCEM on 01904 632220 or email info@ncem.co.uk To book tickets for events, please contact the Box Office on 01904 658338 or visit www.ncem.co.uk National Centre for Early Music, St Margaret’s Church, Walmgate,York YO1 9TL The Tallis Scholars All details are correct at the time of going to press but we reserve the right to amend the published programme if necessary.

Promoted by York Early Music Foundation Registered Charity No. 1068331