Celebrating 100 years since the first BBC Radio Broadcast, NYMAZ and Brass Bands England (BBE) have partnered to host a series of composition workshops with a group of young composers. Compositions created over the course of the project have been focused on radio inspired themes and will be performed in a one-off free concert at Selby Abbey on Wednesday 19 November at 7.30pm. This project has been made possible thanks to the support of the North Yorkshire Music Education Hub.
Performing the new compositions at a free concert at Selby Abbey are players from Brighouse and Rastrick Band – winners of the British Open, and the Hepworth Band.
Weekly composition workshops have been led by performer, composer and educator Andrea Price. An acclaimed composer and educationalist, her works are featured on the ABRSM exam board syllabus. She is currently Head of Lower School at Chetham's School of Music and the Musical Director of Wingates Brass Band.
BBE’s Education and Development Manager Sarah Baumann commented “BBE and NYMAZ have been working in close partnership since 2019, creating opportunities for brass players in the North Yorkshire region. Encouraging opportunities for women in banding in the area has been a high priority throughout our projects, and Yorkshire Calling has been no different. Our active efforts have resulted in majority women-identifying young composers in the group, an all female brass ensemble performing the final work and the sessions led by the fantastic Andrea Price.”
Bethan Plant, Georgina Woodard, Ellena Newton and Toni Durrant have joined the budding composers in a session in advance of the final performance to workshop their pieces in progress.
Andrea Price commented: "It has been a real privilege to work with such talented young composers during the project; their ideas have been diverse and creative. It is fantastic that this project is enabling brass music to reach a wider audience, and is attracting new composing talent to the medium."
Hear the compositions performed
The culmination performance will be taking place at Selby Abbey, Crescent Road, Selby, YO84PU on Wednesday 16 November at 7.30pm. Admission for this concert is free of charge with no requirement to book in advance.
NYMAZ is a youth music development charity which champions the transformative potential of music for children and young people in North Yorkshire and beyond. www.nymaz.org.uk