Creativity in the Commonwealth

Creativity in the Commonwealth

15th May 2019

Creativity in the Commonwealth!

The Commonwealth Resounds at The Houses of Parliament

On Tuesday, 14th May, Alison Cox OBE, Founder and Chair of Trustees of The Commonwealth Resounds (TCR), was invited to the Houses of Parliament by the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, UK to speak about Creativity in the Commonwealth. She was joined by Mr Gee the Poet and Daniel Hatton from the Commonwealth Fashion Council.

During the speech, Alison emphasized the importance of musical creativity and its impact on musicians and their livelihoods. She highlighted TCR’s latest high-profile project, the Commonwealth International Composition Award, and other projects such as the Commonwealth Pianorama and Panorpheus, which were run for CHOGM in previous years.

The Commonwealth Resounds also organized 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

Launch of the Commonwealth International Composition Award

30th April 2019

Launch of the Commonwealth International Composition Award

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, Purcell School, the oldest specialist music school in the Commonwealth.

Concerts to support hurricane victims

Concerts to support hurricane victims

15th August 2018 | 0 comments

In 2017, Hurricane Irma created great devastation, especially in the Commonwealth countries of Antigua and Barbuda, St Kitts and Nevis and Dominica.

Before CHOGM 2018, The Commonwealth’s Secretary-General appealed to all Commonwealth Accredited Organisations, asking them for some help and support. The Commonwealth Resounds, as a musical organisation wondered at first how we could possibly do anything to help. Then we had an idea!

We contacted many of our musical outreach partners in the UK – primary and secondary schools, individuals, music hubs and others – and asked them to consider running their own Hurricane Support Concerts, educating children and audiences about the Commonwealth, the Caribbean and hurricanes, and raising funds to rebuild cultural programmes in affected countries. There was a very positive response to this appeal! Schools in London, Hertfordshire, Manchester and Norfolk responded and created excellent concerts, raising funds for the hurricane victims.

The Commonwealth Hurricane Support Concerts programme is making excellent progress, and more concerts will be taking place in schools  throughout 2018 and 2019.

To offer a concert, find out more or to support for the programme in other ways please email Alison Cox OBE, Founder and Chair of Trustees, The Commonwealth Resounds at alisonresounds@gmail.com Alison will be delighted to hear from you, and will be able to answer all your questions.

Ensemble in residence

Ensemble in residence

15th August 2018 | 0 comments

The Commonwealth Resounds continues to be very proud of its first-ever Ensemble-in Association, The Dionysus Ensemble. Cross-cultural musical projects run by these exciting, enterprising young musicians are highly valued by those involved, and the ensemble is flourishing. We look forward to future exciting collaborations during the term of their residency.

A Royal Performance

15th August 2018 | 0 comments

On Thursday 5th June a group of singers and dancers from The Commonwealth Resounds made their way to Marlborough House for a very special occasion! The Duke and Duchess of Sussex were visiting the Commonwealth Youth Leaders, and TCR was invited to compose a special piece in honour of their visit. Juan Pablo Barrios, a brilliant young composer with strong Caribbean family connections was invited by Alison Cox to compose the piece. This was performed by six musicians and three dancers, representing the different regions of the Commonwealth.

Performers – Gemma Riley (trombone) Samuel Mallia (saxophone) Pablo Barrios (steelpan), Abass Dodoo (djembe) Niki Moosavi (cello) and Lorraine Lionheart (singer) Dancers were Hannah Crown, Abbeyrame Sriharam and Shyam Dattani

The performers were applauded and congratulated by the Duke and Duchess and also by Baroness Scotland, the Commonwealth Secretary-General. Pablo presented them with a signed copy of his musical score.