Our Music Scholars recently joined forces with postgraduate students from The Royal Academy of Music (RAM) for a collaborative day of masterclasses, workshops and joint rehearsals.  A spectacular evening of music-making in the Prospect Theatre was the culmination of a special day for both groups of students.

Throughout the day, postgraduate students, from the Academy, led masterclasses, listening to Scholars play a host of solo and chamber music works and giving constructive technical and performance-based feedback.  In the afternoon, both groups of students got together to rehearse a collaborative work; Argentine composer Astur Piazzolla’s ‘Le Grand Tango’, arranged especially for the project by internationally renowned Orchestrator Simon Whiteside, whose credits include the Harry Potter films, Downton Abbey and working with Jamie Cullum.  The result was a concert, featuring solo and chamber performances, which culminated in a breathtaking rendition of Piazzolla’s epic orchestral tango.

Harry White, Curriculum Manager for Music spoke enthusiastically about the day commenting “This was a unique and very special project.  The Royal Academy of Music is the most prestigious and outstanding institution of its kind in the world and our music department has enjoyed a longstanding working relationship with them.  Our Scholars have historically benefited from receiving tuition in London, through the Advanced Scholarship Scheme.  Today’s event has taken our collaboration to a new level.  Our students now have the confidence and belief that they can aspire to reach new heights and the students from the Academy have enjoyed a unique opportunity to work with talented sixth-formers, from both a creative and pedagogical perspective.

I was especially impressed with how both sets of students worked together on their performance of Piazzolla’s tango.  To perform to such a high standard, after only two hours rehearsal, was miraculous and provided a hugely important insight for our students into the working environment of professional musicians.”

Professor Jonathan Freeman-Attwood, Principal of the Royal Academy of Music, said “This was a wonderful opportunity.  I know the benefits of such days are very significant to our students, but never more so than in the exceptional context of the College, here in Farnborough.”

Tenor Richard Robbins, a first year postgraduate at RAM added “I can’t believe a Sixth Form College music department of such quality as this exists!  I hugely enjoyed meeting, working and performing with everybody and was impressed by the commitment and attitude which the Scholars showed towards their music making and each other.”

Second year Music Scholar, Lottie Day said of the day “I found the experience incredibly exciting and unique.  The opportunity to work with someone who is doing exactly what I’m aiming for, was amazing.  I learned so much.”

Composition Scholar, Tom Mungall, whose work for Flute was workshopped and premiered in the evening concert, by Academy Flautist Anesha Dexter, commented “I found the whole experience of working through a composition extremely productive.  Anesha taught me a lot about both the Flute and the music industry itself, whilst making the whole experience immensely enjoyable and inspiring.”

Find out more about studying music at the College here.

Find out more about the Royal Academy of Music here.