Peter Banks, Author at Commonwealth Resounds

Creativity in the Commonwealth

23rd August 2019

On Tuesday May 14^th, Alison Cox OBE, TCR’s Founder and Chair of Trustees was invited to the Houses of Parliament by the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, UK to speak about Creativity in the Commonwealth, along with Mr Gee the Poet and Daniel Hatton from the Commonwealth Fashion Council.

Alison spoke about the importance of musical creativity, and the impact this can have upon musicians and their livelihoods. She mentioned the Commonwealth International Composition Award (TCR’s latest, high-profile project) and also some of the other projects we have run for CHOGM in previous years; for example, the Commonwealth Pianorama (53 short piano pieces from all over the Commonwealth, performed in Trinidad, London and Edinburgh in 2009/10) and Panorpheus (53 flute-harp pieces created for CHOGM 2015 in Malta).

The Commonwealth Resounds also organised some imaginative cultural entertainment for the Parliamentary Association . A spectacular Commonwealth juggler, Emmanuael the Magnificent, juggled with bowls, spinning plates, skittles and even with Parliamentary chairs! Emmanuel’s performance was enhanced by young jazz musicians from The Purcell School who created improvisations to accompany the performance.

The Commonwealth Resounds shortlisted for The 2019 Charity Governance Awards

23rd August 2019 | 0 comments

The Commonwealth Resounds was thrilled to be be shortlisted for the Charity Governance Awards 2019. Organised by the Clothworkers Company, the Charity Governance Awards have been presented regularly since 2016 and have helped celebrate and support the great work of many charities since then.

The Commonwealth Resounds has been shortlisted following a fantastic year of events and projects, including performing for the Royal Family and the creation of a brand new, unique, International Composition Award.

The Charity Governance Awards is an exciting not-for-profit initiative created to celebrate outstanding governance in charities both small and large. There are seven categories covering every kind of charitable organisation. Entries are accepted between October and January each year. The Shortlist is announced at the beginning of April, and shortlisted charities are invited to an exclusive Awards Ceremony and Reception in May where the winners will be announced. The winning charity in each category will receive £5,000.

We would like to wish all the charities shortlisted for this award the very best of luck and will keep you updated here!

Commonwealth Innovation Awards

23rd August 2019 | 0 comments

On Wednesday 19th September, The Commonwealth Resounds (TCR) was very happy to help celebrate the launch of the Commonwealth Innovation Awards at Marlborough House.

A brilliant young Commonwealth violinist called Litsa Tunnah performed two pieces with cultural connections to Sierra Leone, Africa and Australia. Litsa’s musicianship and skill was dazzling, and she received warm accolades from a number of the High Commissioners, Delegates and Commonwealth representatives present.

Baroness Scotland, The Commonwealth Secretary-General spoke glowingly about Litsa’s performance and TCR before she officially launched the Commonwealth Innovation Awards.

National Youth Choir of Antigua and Barbuda in the UK!

22nd August 2019 | 0 comments

On Thursday June 28th, The Commonwealth Resounds (TCR) was very proud to welcome the National Youth Choir of Antigua and Barbuda to Hertfordshire. Alison Cox, TCR’s Founder and Chair of Trustees worked closely with Karen-Mae Hill, The High Commissioner of Antigua and Barbuda whose amazing fundraising efforts enabled the choir to visit the UK in 2018.

As part of their programme, the National Youth Choir visited primary and secondary schools in Hertfordshire who had raised funds for Antigua and Barbuda as part of TCR’s Commonwealth Hurricane Support Concert Programme.

Firstly, they visited the Bushey Academy, who are donating the proceeds of their annual House Music Festival to Antigua and Barbuda. The young people at Bushey greatly enjoyed the choir’s performance!

The second concert took place at the Purcell School, who performed as part of CHOGM 2018 and raised funds for the Hurricane Appeal from two spectacular Commonwealth concerts in St James’s Church, Piccadilly and St George’s, Hanover Square. The choir gave a brilliant lunchtime concert, and then met young people from the Purcell School who will be coming to help with musical projects in Antigua and Barbuda in February 2019. Lots of new friendships were formed over lunch!

The final concert was at Bowmansgreen Primary School whose magnificent fundraising efforts were greatly appreciated by the High Commissioner and the choir members. The children sang a special song written by a 16-year-old composer called Elissa Street about Hurricane Irma. Everyone loved the song.

At the end of each concert, the High Commissioner thanked everyone warmly and invited us all to come and visit Antigua and Barbuda!

The Commonwealth International Composition Award – Official Launch

22nd August 2019 | 0 comments

We are delighted to announce the official launch of The Commonwealth International Composition Award will take place on 30th April 2019, in Marlborough House.

The evening will be presented by BBC Radio 4 presenter and newsreader, Zeb Soanes.

As well as The Commonwealth Resounds, the main partners and sponsors are the ABRSM and the Purcell School for Young Musicians which is the administrative base for the Composition Award.

Around the world, very few young people are learning how to to compose music This is why the Commonwealth International Composition Award has been created. It will be run and managed by The Commonwealth Resounds, an officially accredited Commonwealth musical organisation, supported by the ABRSM and have its administrative base at The Purcell School for Young Musicians.

In association with the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music (ABRSM) and the Purcell School for Young Musicians

Do you want to learn how to compose music?

If so, click here to find out how….

The Official Launch of the Commonwealth International Composition Award was held at Marlborough House on Tuesday 30th April. It was attended by many distinguished guests from the music profession and the Commonwealth and hosted by Zeb Soanes, BBC Presenter and Author.

Speakers included Her Excellency The Secreatry_General of the Commonwealth, Her Excellency the High Commissioner of Antigua and Barbuda, Geoff Parkin, Artistic Director, Royal Over-Seas League, Michael Elliot, Chief Executive, ABRSM, Paul Bambrough, Principal, The Purcell School for Young Musicians, Daniel Spreadbury, Marketing Manager, Dorico, Kuljit Bhamra, Composer, Tabla Explorer and De-mystifier of Indian Music and Alison Cos OBE, Founder and chair of Trustees, The Commonwealth Resounds.

Two exciting new pieces by young composers were presented. ‘Tiger Teeth’ by Sasha Scott aged 17 (cultural background from Barbados, Jamaica and the UK) performed by a school-age string quartet from the Purcell School for Young Musicians and ‘Adam’s Peak’ by Vionthya Perinpanathan (cultural background from Sri Lanka) performed by Kuljit Bhamra – tabla and Léonie Adams. – cello. Léonie is the Musical Director of Dionysus, Ensemble-in Residence for the Commonwealth Resounds.

There was a great deal of lively discussion! Guests had plenty of time in between speeches and music for networking and conversation. Everyone was treated to tasty snacks and canapés, prepared by Roberts Macnaughten and wines form Commonwealth countries, New Zealand Australia and South Africa!

The Composition Award is already running in four pilot countries – Antigua and Barbuda, India, Rwanda and New Zealand. Young people are being trained to compose their own music, and other countries (including Cyprus and Sri Lanka) are hoping to join them for the second phase of the award.

“A Connected Commonwealth is a Composing Commonwealth!” Her Excellency, Baroness Patricia Scotland, Secretary-General of the Commonwealth.

“Composition is a very special and personal thing. I am excited to see what the results will be from the four pilot countries!” Geoff Parkin, Artistic Director, Royal Over-Seas League and Patron of the Commonwealth Resounds

“I have no doubt that the Composition Award will flourish and deliver some life-changing experiences for young people across the globe.”Paul Bambrough, Principal of the Purcell School, the oldest specialist music school on the Commonwealth.

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