Recently, The Commonwealth Resounds was asked by The Royal Commonwealth Society to find a group of talented young instrumental musicians to perform at Westminster Abbey on Monday, 13th March, just before the Commonwealth Service. After careful consideration, we decided to partner with the Royal Academy of Music Junior Department, who consistently produce some of the most promising young musicians in the country.

We would like to extend a special thanks to John Hutchins, the Director of Music at RAM, and Susan Torke, the Director of the Wind Quintet, who worked tirelessly to prepare a beautiful programme of music. We also had the privilege of inviting Tiana Oberoi, a brilliant young Indian singer, to join the ensemble.

One of the highlights of the performance was Tiana singing “Ari We Ari,” a traditional folk song from India arranged by Tom Kirby, aged 18, who studies at The Purcell School for Young Musicians in Hertfordshire. The programme also featured other items arranged and composed by young Commonwealth composers, including Laila Arafah, Maddy Chassar-Hesketh, Edward Tait, Chloe Harrison, and Felix Ho.

The performance was a resounding success, with the audience left in awe of the level of talent and skill displayed by the performers.

Yuliia Chorna of the BBC Events Team said:

“I am writing to express my sincere gratitude on behalf of the BBC Events Team for the exceptional performance delivered by The Royal Academy of Music Junior Ensemble at the Commonwealth Observance Day service held at Westminster Abbey on the 13th of March. The level of talent and skill displayed by the performers was truly remarkable, and it was an absolute pleasure to witness such an impressive performance.”

We would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to all those involved in making this event a success, including the Royal Academy of Music Junior Department, Tiana Oberoi, and the young Commonwealth composers who contributed to the programme. We are excited to see what the future holds for these talented young musicians and look forward to supporting them in their musical journeys.

As part of the Birmingham 2022 Festival, BCMG presents Flourish!, a Creative City Project generously funded by Birmingham City Council.

Flourish! seeks to re-imagine the fanfare – a ubiquitous part of sporting ceremonies – for the 21st Century and bring together communities through the medium of music. Throughout the spring and summer of 2022, we will be working with 10 ‘musical triangles’, each comprising of a non-professional or youth ensemble, a composer, and a Commonwealth connection, to create fanfares inspired by and celebrating the Commonwealth – its nations, individuals and values of diversity and tolerance.

Each composer will work collaboratively with their ensemble to create a brand new fanfare which will be performed live this Summer, as well as filmed and shared as a digital concert. BCMG’s Flourish! is a partnership with The Commonwealth Resounds.

You can read more about this exciting project here

Read below some lovely comments from young composers who participated in BCMG’s Creative Composing Lab, composing 1-minute fanfares, directed by David Horne and Kuljit Bhamra