Educational Partners
On this page we would like to acknowledge some of the many educational institutions that we have worked with. Their support has helped to make The Commonwealth Resounds! projects as successful as they are.
Guildhall School of Music and Drama
For CHOGM 2007, Guildhall School of Music and Drama sponsored five present and former students to participate in The Commonwealth Resounds! Emma Pritchard (trumpet) worked closely with Peter Harvey helping find new instruments for the M-Lisada and FDNC Youth Bands, Joseph Walters supported Yogesh Dattani in his work with young musicians in the Tabla Project and directed a wind quntet performance in the Gala Concert of a work by Dr Justinian Tamasuza from Makerere University, Uganda. Lawrence O’Donnell and Chris Rawley were invaluable as bassoonists in many of the projects and also in the Mozart Requiem, and Louise Whipham also played oboe in the wind quintet and organised concerts to raise money for Ugandan orphans. In 2009, Theresa Goble, a distinguished vocal tutor from GSMD and her outstanding student Beth Lynch ran a brilliant choral programme in Trinidad in partnership with many schools and teachers called the Commonwealth Chorale.
The Purcell School of Music
The Purcell School has regularly covered teaching responsibilites for Alison Cox when she has to take time off as the Musical Director of The Commonwealth Resounds! In 2005, The Purcell School gave The Commonwealth Resounds! a lot of encouragement and support when preparing for the project in Malta. In 2007 they sponsored an additional staff member, Margaret Moore to come and help with the project. The students who came in 2007 and 2009 not only raised enough money to cover their own expenses, but also organised fundraising concerts and other events to help raise extra money to support deserving musical charities. The Purcell School also generously hosted a lunchtime concert to welcome the African Children’s Choir as part of their UK tour in March 2008. A young Purcell School musician from Malta, Cecilia Sultana de Maria, donated money to the choir from a special fund she created to help young musicians. In 2009, The Purcell School covered the costs of two staff members, Jane Hunt and Quentin Poole to come and help with the musical projects.
Chetham's School of Music
In 2007 Chetham's School of Music joined The Commonwealth Resounds! and helped support four students, who travelled to Kampala with Nicholas Oliver, Joint Head of Accompaniment. The four Chetham’s students were an enormous asset to the project and made valuable contributions to the many projects and performances in which they were involved. Nicholas Oliver also generously accompanied musicians from The Royal Over-Seas League in the Gala Concert and from The Purcell School in a concert at the National Theatre ‘Kampala Music School Resounds!’, and in the final Gala Concert at the Ndere Centre. In 2009, Chetham’s brought six students to Trinidad, including Lloyd Coleman who also came to Uganda in 2007. The students were again accompanied by Nick Oliver, and also by Sarah Noon, the school’s Head of Academic Music. The students raised enough money from fundraising events they created by themselves not only to cover their own costs but also to help support some village musicians from Guyana. As in 2007, the Chetham’s team in 2009 made a tremendous contribution to The Commonwealth Resounds!
The Royal Academy of Music
The Royal Academy of Music partially sponsored two musicians, Katie-Bethan Holmes and Theo Balkwill in 2007. Katie spent a lot of time trying to help find instruments for young musicians in Uganda. She collaborated with Merton College, who generously donated and repaired a number of unused string instruments to send to the Kampala Music School.
The Royal College of Music Junior Department
The Royal College of Music Junior Department enabled their staff members Joy Hill and Peter Harvey to come and run their projects in Uganda for CHOGM 2007. They also allowed four students to come - Daniel Smith, Charlotte Walters, Alexandra Welbourn and Alexandra Davies. These enterprising students took part in many of the project and performances in Uganda and also raised extra money to help young musicians in Uganda. After Kampala, Joy Hill and the RCMJD team made a huge effort and managed to arrange a special UK tour for the African Children's Choir, including a performance in Westminster Abbey as part of Commonwealth Observance Day 2008. Her Majesty The Queen was delighted to meet the young choir members.
Makerere University Music Department
We are grateful to Makerere University Music Department, Uganda, who hosted the highly successful third and final day on the FIM Music Business Seminar during CHOGM 2007.
The Kampala Music School
The Kampala Music School encouraged and coached many of their students in preparation for 'The Commonwealth Resounds! and helped with many of the logistics for projects and performances in Kampala. We are especially grateful to Fiona and Graham Carr, Simon Yiga, Bob and Jane Barsby, Fred Kiggundu and other dedicated KMS supporters who helped bring about the success of events linked to CHOGM 2007.
The Humphry Davy School - a Community Music College
Extract from the school’s outstanding 2009 OFSTED report
“The school is developing students’ understanding of the wider community in Europe and globally, and recently established international partnerships, linked with schools in very different parts of Britain, will further support this. Understanding of the needs of the local community is strong and the school is now evaluating its community strategy in order to plan for further development.”
Alison Cox and her outreach students at The Purcell School have established a special relationship with this wonderful school, situated at the furthermost end of Cornwall, in Penzance. The Humphry Davy School will be developing some exciting international projects in partnership with The Commonwealth Resounds!
The University of Trinidad and Tobago
The UTT hosted some memorable workshops involving Commonwealth Resounds! musicians, generating some very exciting and dynamic skill sharing sessions between students playing different musical instruments.
The UTT also hosted the World Premiere of the Commonwealth Pianorama.
Grateful thanks to Dr. Vertrelle Cameron-Mickens and to the highly distinguished Professor Emeritus, Kenneth Julien who enabled us to experience the UTT's great facilities and wonderful personnel