You have until April 20th to apply for a place in the Pilot Phase of the Brent Music Academy for Young People

 Young people taking part in the launch

From the Royal Philharmonic Newsletter

 

The weekend of March 26^th local partners including the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra (RPO), Brent Music Service, Brent Council, Young Brent Foundation, The Institute of Contemporary Music Performance (ICMP) and Brent Black Music Co-Op (BBMC), launched a new music academy for Brent. There is still time for young musicians to apply for a place in the pilot – deadline Wednesday April 20^th 2022.

 

This cross-genre academy will provide a pathway to careers throughout the music industry, from music production and administration to performance in any musical style or genre.

 

Created in collaboration with and for the people of Brent, discussion and research with the community will continue to inform all aspects of the academy from the format of delivery and selection of training on offer right through to the name. This unique music development programme will provide professional-level training across the music industry for young people in Brent, regardless of background, prior achievement, financial or other barriers.

 

Designed in consultation with music and youth providers in the borough, the academy will complement provision already available for young people in Brent, creating progressive opportunities and tangible links to further education and careers through training and industry connections.

 

The first major stage of the academy will be a pilot programme that will take place from May to July 2022, and we are looking for passionate young people who are playing or making music in any genre or style, or with interest in music production, business, or administration to take part. If you think that you know a young person who would be interested, please visit rpo.co.uk/brentmusicacademy to find out more.

 

We are grateful for the generous support of Stefan and Simona Voloseniuc of SF Stefan Civil Engineering who have made possible the pilot phase of the project.

 

Who is the new music academy for?

 

The academy is for passionate young people who have an aptitude for music performance in any genre, or an interest in any aspect of the non-performing side of the music industry.

 

The Performance Pathway is designed for young people who sing, play an instrument or compose their own music, working in any genre or style, with a passion for collaborating and performing with others.

 

The Industry Pathway will explore non-performance elements of the music industry, which might include audio engineering, music production, marketing, talent promotion, event management, programming, or any other related fields.

 

There are no formal entry requirements. While the academy is open to all young people regardless of genre, background, or prior experience, it will cater for participants expressing a commitment and keen interest in the music industry.

 

Eventually, the Academy will cater for young people aged 4 – 19 years old, grouped based on skills and experience.

 

During the Pilot Phase, we will work with reduced numbers of young people in order to trial the model. Cohorts we are looking to work with during the Pilot Phase are:

• Performance Pathway – 3x cohorts based on experience:
• Young people not yet learning/practicing an instrument but demonstrating good musical foundations (Suggested ages: school years 5 – 7)
• Early career players, learning/practicing an instrument for 1 – 2 years, demonstrating commitment and keenness to learn. Roughly equivalent to ABRSM grades 1 – 2 if relevant. (Suggested ages: school years 5 – 8)
• Advanced players, with good technical proficiency and an interest in developing further. Roughly equivalent to ABRSM grades 5+ if relevant. (Suggested ages: school years 7 – 11)
• Industry Pathway – 1x cohort for young people aged 14 – 18 years old with an interest in, and desire to explore one or more aspects of the music business, production or administration.

 

·       What does it cost? 

·       There is no cost for attending the music academy during the pilot phase. 

 

·       How can I apply?

 

·       You need to be referred by a teacher, music professional, youth club or group leader, faith leader, social worker or other educational professional using the form below by 20th April 2022. We are not currently accepting applications from parents or young people themselves; please speak to a trusted adult professional and ask them to complete the form on your behalf. 

 

·       The academy team will be in touch by 22nd April 2022 to let you know if your referral has been successful and with further details. Successful referrals will be invited to take part in informal ‘audition’ workshops during the weekend of 7/8 May to give potential participants a taste of the academy programme before joining the Pilot.

·       Fill in the referral form here

 

Have your say on an exciting proposal for a Brent Music Academy accessible to all

 From the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra

 We are working with local partners to create a brand new Brent Music Academy that will offer advanced training and work experience opportunities for talented young people from across the borough. From performance (any genre/instrument/style) to behind-the-scenes production and business experience with our industry partners, we’re hoping to provide additional professional opportunities to young people showing an aptitude and interest in the industry, regardless of background, formal training or prior achievement.

 

We know there is so much excellent music provision going on in the borough and so many talented young people with a range of interests and skills, so we are hosting a series of Zoom consultations over the next weeks to find out how the Brent community would like this new initiative to look and work. From content and types of training or opportunities offered, to location, dates/times, fees, etc., we’re looking to hear from any potential stakeholders (young people, parents, teachers, professionals, community groups) to help us design this new organisation.

 

Online FORM HERE

Wemba's Dream in Wembley Park showcases local creative talent and the Royal Philharmonic in a fusion of colourful costumes, dance, music and spoken word

 

 Photo: Chris Winter

 I was really sorry to have missed Wemba's Dream on Saturday due to other commitments.The event by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and local talent included fusions of orchestral music with contemporary dance, theatrical performances, carnival arts, film and spoken word showcases. A creative experience for audiences of all ages within the community across several sites in Wembley Park.  These photographs give you an idea of what took place.

 

Looks amazing!

 

Photo: Chris Winter

 

 

Photo: Chris Winter

 

 

 

 

Photo: Chris Winter

 

 

Photo: Chris Winter

 

 

Photo: Chris Winter

Free Performance of 'Wemba's Dream' with Royal Philharmonic Orchestra & local creatives on Saturday 11am-4pm

 

 

Readers may recall from Philip Grant's local history articles that Wembley gets its name from Wemba, who founded his family's settlement here and 'lea' meaning a clearing in what was then a forest - 'Wemba Lea'  (Yes, the cry of football fans, 'Wemberley!')

The Royal Philharmonic Orhestra who are soon to moved to Wembley and local creatives are putting on live performance experience for people of all ages in different venues around Wembley Park (see map below).

 

There will be four performances featuring music, dance, carnival, spoken word, film and theatre.

 

Performances are only 15 mins long and repeated throughout the day, so you can come along and make your own timetable.

 

All the performances have been created in collaboration between Royal Philharmonic Orchestra musicians and local creatives to explore the theme of dreaming and dreams…

 

rpo.co.uk/wembasdream

 

 

Royal Philharmonic Orchestra marks its move to Brent with a collaborative live performance on the Kilburn High Road ahead of the September 11th 'Wemba's Dream' weekend

 

 

 Young Brent people aged 14-16 years old in performed two twenty minute concerts today with musicians from the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra after taking part in a 3 day workshop.

The concert was the grand finale of a creative music project which saw young people from Brent and RPO musicians write brand new pieces on the theme of ‘Wemba’s Dream’ – a creative project exploring the hopes and dreams of Brent residents.

Wemba was the name of the tribe or its leader that  long ago cleared the local woodland to make an open space in which to live - a lea - hence Wemba Lea: Wembley. It was first mentioned in a charter of 825.

Last week Wembley Park announced the performance of'Wemba's Dream' on September 11th:

The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra is celebrating its 75th anniversary in September this year by announcing a permanent move of the Orchestra’s headquarters to Wembley Park. The Orchestra is delighted to build on more than 20 years of work with Brent Music Service to make our new home in Brent, and are eager to reach out to local residents to find out how we can engage in meaningful ways over the next months, years and decades.

To celebrate our new announcement, the RPO are working with Wembley Park to put on Wemba’s Dream, a fun-filled ‘festival’ of performances featuring RPO musicians and local artists during the weekend of 11 September. We would love for as many local people as possible to get involved in the celebration, both as audiences attending the weekend performances but also as artists, exploring the project theme through various mediums and sharing their responses with the RPO and the wider community. In the lead up to the performance weekend, the RPO therefore invites local residents to create their own artistic responses on the themes of ‘Brent’ and ‘Dreams’ and submit them to be included HERE, to create an online gallery of local people’s works. 

To find out more about the project theme and how to submit work, dowload the Wemba’s Dream Creative Resource Pack.

   

UPDATED WITH CAPTIONS: The wonderful children of Brent perform in 'SPARKS FLY' - an anthem for Brent in troubled times

 

 

Composed by thousands of Brent school children and young members of Brent Music Service orchestras, alongside award-winning composer James Redwood and Brent-born poet Momtaza Mehri. The Brent Anthem represents the kind of united, diverse community we have in Brent and London. Young people collaborated with musicians from the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and Brent Music Service in physical and virtual workshops throughout the year, writing lyrics and composing melodies to create this special song as a gift to their home borough. In celebration, a special 3-minute video and audio track titled 'Sparks Fly' has been released.

 Find out more: www.brent2020.co.uk/whats-happening/programmes/the-brent-anthem The Brent Anthem has been created by RPO Resound, the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra’s community and education department, in collaboration with Brent Music Service, made possible with the generous support of John Lyon’s Charity and the Brent 2020 Culture Fund.

The Lyrics

 

RPO Brent Anthem 2020 ‘Sparks Fly’

We stand on this hill, the city a silhouette on the skyline

We stand on this hill, the city a silhouette on the skyline

We stand on this hill, the city a silhouette on the skyline

Streets like a map of hope, our song carried by the breeze

River Brent take me with you

Winding down brooks and underground streams 

Following the roar of the crowds to a rainbow of dreams.

The arch like a stretch of arms reaching across the sky

A bridge to connect us, standing proudly 

Standing proudly, flying high

This is our time this is our place 

 

Chorus 1

Whoah, Hear our voices rise 

Whoah, Sparks Fly, streamers in the sky

Colours swirling like autumn leaves

Spirits high our voices full of pride 

There is so much joy is these busy streets

Whoah... Whoah....Whoah...

We are marching to our own London beat.

We are more than a country, more than a continent

We are the whole world in a line of shops

We bring our own colours

We bring our own flavours

We’re always moving forward and we’re never going to stop.

 

Chorus 2

Sparks Fly, streamers in the sky

Colours swirling like autumn leaves. 

Spirits high, our voices full of pride

There’s so much joy is these busy streets. 

Whoah... Whoah....Whoah...

We are marching to our own London beat. 

We are marching to our own London beat. 

We are marching to our own London beat.

 

'Once in a lifetime' opportunity as Brent youngsters compose amd perform ANTHEM FOR BRENT 2020 with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra

Reposted from the website of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra LINK

This autumn, the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra’s (RPO) community and education programme RPO Resound has been building on its thriving relationship with Brent Music Service (BMS) and today marks the culmination of this very special collaboration. Brent is The Mayor’s London Borough of Culture for 2020 and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra has been working in partnership with BMS, award-winning composer and music leader James Redwood, the poet Momtaza Mehri and more than 8,000 Brent school children and young members of BMS orchestras to compose and perform Anthem for Brent 2020.

Young people from Brent have been involved in the anthem-writing process throughout 2020, and, for the final stage of the creative process, a further 15 young creatives (aged 10-18) and 8 choir members took part in digital workshops (October-December), collaborating with professional composer James Redwood and nine musicians from the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. The participants wrote lyrics, composed melodies and music, worked with a film director to create an accompanying film, and recorded themselves singing and performing alongside world-class professionals.

A video of the Anthem for Brent 2020 will soon be available to view on this page and on the RPO YouTube Channel. 

You can also view or download the lyrics to the 2020 Anthem here.

This project was generously supported by John Lyon’s Charity, and Brent 2020, London Borough of Culture.

Here is some feedback from parents of some of the young participants.

As a participant’s mum, I’d like to express my thanks to you all for everything you have done to encourage my son to have a go at the tasks during the writing workshop over the last four days. 

"When my son realised he had been selected to participate in this workshop he was very excited. He couldn’t quite believe it. However, he did feel a little scared because he has never done anything like this before. Thanks a lot for being so lovely to him and for making him feel confident and comfortable to express his thoughts. I think he may be the youngest participant but he never felt left out. I appreciate there are a lot of talented youngsters in the session however you guys and girls made sure everyone was included regardless of musical talent or ability."

"My son says he has learnt a lot. The following I quote  from when I asked him about the sessions........”My English is going to be so much better when I go back to school & I know more about music now too. I’m very thankful that I was chosen because it has inspired me to continue to try my best with music as it will all help me to be a musician when I’m older. The “teachers” are so good.”

"My son thinks you are all amazing. He loves music, he sings with a Choir and was learning to play the violin & had a few piano lessons prior to our national lockdown in March. Unfortunately, the instrumental lessons haven’t resumed yet but he enjoys his weekly choir zoom call. He keeps telling us he will be a musician when he is older. Therefore having the opportunity to work with and listen to such talented individuals is inspiring and an experience he will never forget. He was fascinated by how quickly everything came together this week. [The Workshop Leader] James made a lasting impression on  my son. “oh my, how does he do that?” was a phrase I’ve heard a lot of over the last few days."

We have some feedback from young participants too: 

"A quick note to say that, I found the experience of creating the anthem highly enjoyable and enriching. I was glad to be selected to take part in this unique opportunity. 

It is a privilege to work on a project with high calibre musicians from the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and Brent Music Service. Thank you, James, Rupert, Sophie, Gerald, Orli and Tim. I look forward to finishing off the project."  Male participant.

"Thank you for the once in a lifetime opportunity to work with the RPO musicians and for allowing me to write music for the Brent Anthem." Female participant/Sister.

"Thank you all RPO musicians for coming to assist us and create the first anthem for Brent."  Male participant/Brother.