This annual scheme, supported by the Musicians Benevolent Fund, Ernest Cook Charitable Trust and the Thistle Trust, enables musicians starting their careers to make their first steps in exploring work within learning and community settings.
Places are advertised nationally during the Summer, with auditions and interviews taking place in Autumn. Each trainee receives a small bursary to enable their involvement. Many of our trainees have gone on to work within the music sector, including Tower Hamlets Arts and Music Services, Vital Arts, Opera North, Aldeburgh Music, Manhattan School of Music, Viva and Tower Hamlets Summer University as supporting musicians and workshop leaders.
This year’s successful trainees were Tim Davy (tuba), Chris Dowding (trumpet), Sophia Efthimiou (voice), Bobbie Gardner (piano), Helen Smith (clarinet) and Ayanna Witter-Johnson (cello). Each trainee worked alongside our creative teams on our learning and participation projects throughout the year, taking a full part in the planning and delivery of the projects.
During 2008/09 we worked with the inspiring musician and animateur, James Redwood as the lead mentor for all of our participants. James oversaw the whole scheme, working individually with the trainees to get the most out of the opportunity. A key element of the scheme is the training provided, which covers support for development of skills as a workshop leader and information about the wider education sector. James led seminar sessions focusing on topics such as workshop games, warm up and techniques and project planning.
A new element to the course this year was the opportunity for the trainees to design, plan and lead their own primary school projects. Working with two of our partner schools, Osmani and Hague primary schools the projects ‘Dazzling Dreams and Nasty Nightmares’ and ‘Maui’s Myth’ were a fantastic success! Click here to listen to some tracks
Our trainees are now working towards an accredited qualification as a result of participating in the scheme. The accreditation of this scheme is run in partnership with Roehampton University and results in a Postgraduate Certificate in Community Music.
Festivals & Events
