ADOPT A COMPOSER
In 2015, the Jan Modelski Orchestra was chosen as one of only 6 orchestras and ensembles from across the UK to be part of the prestigious 'Adopt A Composer' scheme.The scheme is run by Making Music in partnership with Sound and Music (the national agency for new music) in association with BBC Radio 3. This was truly a great accolade for all of us and the following is a brief history of the exciting events that followed.
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Our composer - Chris Hutchings
Chris Hutchings, is an award winning young composer from Edinburgh who has already enjoyed a great deal of success, particularly as a choral composer but was excited to work with us to broaden his orchestral composing repertoire. To find out more, visit his website
Chris will be working alongside "mentor" David Horne, Composer and Senior Lecturer at RNCM Manchester, to compose a piece specifically for JMCO.
Chris will be working alongside "mentor" David Horne, Composer and Senior Lecturer at RNCM Manchester, to compose a piece specifically for JMCO.
7 November 2015
Chris' First Visit
A great turnout at this week's rehearsal when we welcomed Chris, our Adopted Composer, for his first visit to hear us "live". As we played and practised Chris mingled and moved around the sections to get a sense of how we sound. He also chatted with a lot of players at the break to get to know us.
Chris' First Visit
A great turnout at this week's rehearsal when we welcomed Chris, our Adopted Composer, for his first visit to hear us "live". As we played and practised Chris mingled and moved around the sections to get a sense of how we sound. He also chatted with a lot of players at the break to get to know us.
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10 December 2015
Our First Rehearsal with Chris
Wow!! What a great rehearsal on 5 December with Chris Hutchings, our Adopted Composer. Chris had prepared parts for all to try out and introduced us to interesting new ways of making sounds and music! Although we look a bit serious in the photo, we did have a lot of fun. Chris thought it went well. Poor Chris, wife and baby daughter had horrendous journey back to Edinbugh because of floods. Ended up in York for the night. They were relieved to get home to recover. However working with us and seeing the real Chester elephants at the zoo compensated for their troublesome journey!. Looking forward to next workshop in February when Chris will have developed his ideas!
Our First Rehearsal with Chris
Wow!! What a great rehearsal on 5 December with Chris Hutchings, our Adopted Composer. Chris had prepared parts for all to try out and introduced us to interesting new ways of making sounds and music! Although we look a bit serious in the photo, we did have a lot of fun. Chris thought it went well. Poor Chris, wife and baby daughter had horrendous journey back to Edinbugh because of floods. Ended up in York for the night. They were relieved to get home to recover. However working with us and seeing the real Chester elephants at the zoo compensated for their troublesome journey!. Looking forward to next workshop in February when Chris will have developed his ideas!
21 February 2016
Workshop
Chris arrived for the workshop full of ideas and energy in spite of having to travel by bus from Edinburgh to Lockerbie. The day was even more special with FOUR FRENCH HORNS playing! Chris has risen admirably to the challenges of our orchestra i.e a wonderful mixture of instruments, including 5+ clarinets and 5+flutes with saxophones various. As the session progressed we were able to appreciate how the sounds we made were telling the story of the birth of an elephant, his growth and development and adventures in a forest as Chris explained. Chris was accompanied by our mentor David Horne who was heard to say how much he liked our venue Barrow Village Hall.
Workshop
Chris arrived for the workshop full of ideas and energy in spite of having to travel by bus from Edinburgh to Lockerbie. The day was even more special with FOUR FRENCH HORNS playing! Chris has risen admirably to the challenges of our orchestra i.e a wonderful mixture of instruments, including 5+ clarinets and 5+flutes with saxophones various. As the session progressed we were able to appreciate how the sounds we made were telling the story of the birth of an elephant, his growth and development and adventures in a forest as Chris explained. Chris was accompanied by our mentor David Horne who was heard to say how much he liked our venue Barrow Village Hall.
16 April 2016
Rehearsal and Chester Visit
Photos of Chris Hutchings' visit to our rehearsal in Barrow and to trip to see Janya in Chester.
Rehearsal and Chester Visit
Photos of Chris Hutchings' visit to our rehearsal in Barrow and to trip to see Janya in Chester.
9 July 2016
The Big Day - Our Summer Concert
SUMMER CONCERT 9th July 2016 - What a success!! The Jan Modelski Orchestra performed the World Premiere of 'Janya' by Chris Hutchings at Caldy Valley church in Chester. The piece was well received by a large and appreciative audience at Caldy Valley.
Radio 3 were there to resord it and it will be broadcast in the New Year 2017. If you want a sneak preview, go to Chris Hutching's Facebook page.
The Big Day - Our Summer Concert
SUMMER CONCERT 9th July 2016 - What a success!! The Jan Modelski Orchestra performed the World Premiere of 'Janya' by Chris Hutchings at Caldy Valley church in Chester. The piece was well received by a large and appreciative audience at Caldy Valley.
Radio 3 were there to resord it and it will be broadcast in the New Year 2017. If you want a sneak preview, go to Chris Hutching's Facebook page.
What a fantastic experience for an amateur orchestra!
PRESS RELEASE
Adopt a Composer returns for 15th year
Adopt a Composer, a project linking the UK’s up-and-coming composing talent with its vibrant voluntary music scene, has launched for its 15th year. As the name would suggest, the programme works by enabling amateur music groups to ‘adopt’ a composer over the course of a year, with the composers each writing a new piece especially for their partnered group.
Adopt a Composer is run by Making Music in partnership with Sound and Music (the national agency for new music), in association with BBC Radio 3, and funded by PRS For Music Foundation. It works exclusively with composers at the start of their careers, giving them crucial ‘real world’ compositional experience, as well as guidance from established mentors – Colin Riley, Fraser Trainer and David Horne.
In return, the voluntary music groups get the chance to have a piece of music composed around their own particular styles and abilities, and to get directly involved in the composition process. The project also gives excellent exposure opportunities for both the composers and groups, with recordings of many of the pieces broadcast on BBC Radio 3.
“Adopt a Composer is a lively and challenging project for composers and ensembles alike. It has made a hugely positive impact on the skills and confidence of the many composers who have participated in it over the years. Sound and Music is very proud of its continuing partnership in this unique programme.” Richard Whitelaw, Director of Programmes, Sound and Music
"This is a favourite project with members and there are always more applicants that there are places available. Adopt a Composer's popularity shows the amateur music sector's appetite for new music and for their own artistic development. It is the amateur music sector which pioneers many living composers in every corner of the UK and this programme supports that amateur ambition excellently" Barbara Eifler, Executive Director, Making Music
Adopt a Composer returns for 15th year
Adopt a Composer, a project linking the UK’s up-and-coming composing talent with its vibrant voluntary music scene, has launched for its 15th year. As the name would suggest, the programme works by enabling amateur music groups to ‘adopt’ a composer over the course of a year, with the composers each writing a new piece especially for their partnered group.
Adopt a Composer is run by Making Music in partnership with Sound and Music (the national agency for new music), in association with BBC Radio 3, and funded by PRS For Music Foundation. It works exclusively with composers at the start of their careers, giving them crucial ‘real world’ compositional experience, as well as guidance from established mentors – Colin Riley, Fraser Trainer and David Horne.
In return, the voluntary music groups get the chance to have a piece of music composed around their own particular styles and abilities, and to get directly involved in the composition process. The project also gives excellent exposure opportunities for both the composers and groups, with recordings of many of the pieces broadcast on BBC Radio 3.
“Adopt a Composer is a lively and challenging project for composers and ensembles alike. It has made a hugely positive impact on the skills and confidence of the many composers who have participated in it over the years. Sound and Music is very proud of its continuing partnership in this unique programme.” Richard Whitelaw, Director of Programmes, Sound and Music
"This is a favourite project with members and there are always more applicants that there are places available. Adopt a Composer's popularity shows the amateur music sector's appetite for new music and for their own artistic development. It is the amateur music sector which pioneers many living composers in every corner of the UK and this programme supports that amateur ambition excellently" Barbara Eifler, Executive Director, Making Music
