PANORPHEUS – A fascinating project featuring Commonwealth flutes and harps

23rd July 2015 | 0 comments

This unique project will be presented in Malta by The Commonwealth Resounds as part of CHOGM 2015 on Thursday November 26th.
There will be five concerts, each featuring new pieces and composers from different regions of the world performed by brilliant young Commonwealth musicians

Altogether, we are planning to present 53 newly commissioned pieces on this day!

Please click here for more information

A CALL TO COMMONWEALTH COMPOSERS

Selected composers will be given plenty of publicity and exposure as part of this exciting project. If you would like to be considered as the composer to represent your own country, please email Alison Cox on tcr2015@btinternet.com

Malta in November

13th June 2015 | 0 comments

A large team of musicians and singers from The Commonwealth Resounds, including the Royal Over-Seas League, The Commonwealth Festival Orchestra and Choir, The Purcell School and Chethams School of Music will be visiting Malta this coming November to take part in performances, outreach events, school workshops and masterclasses, collaborative events with the Malta Philharmonic Orchestra, the Malta Youth Orchestra, Keltica and other Maltese choirs and special projects created and developed by musicians from The Commonwealth Resounds

Annie-May Page

13th June 2015 | 0 comments

Annie-May Page is a young violinist who is part of the 2015 Commonwealth Team who will be travelling to Malta in November this year to run outreach programmes and school workshops, take part in concerts and special projects and share her skills with the Maltese community. She is raising funds to support her own costs and other young musicians (including disadvantaged ones from developing countries) who wish to join our programme.

http://www.futuretalent.org/index.php/news-and-events/

Commonwealth Observance Day

15th March 2015 | 0 comments

’16-year-old composer Thomas Carr meets The Queen after his composition ‘Maltugandata UK’ was performed by the Commonwealth Festival Orchestra and dancedigital during the Observance Day Service.’

On Monday March 8th and 9th 2015, groups of talented young musicians, dancers and singers from different cultural backgrounds took part in some very exciting, high-profile cultural events, organised by Westminster Abbey, The Royal Commonwealth Society, Morley College and The Commonwealth Resounds.

There were participants from many different regions of the UK, including Hertfordshire, Manchester, Bermondsey, London, Kent and Scotland – representing also a larger number of different cultural backgrounds from Africa, Asia and the Caribbean. Participating organisations and representatives included the Royal College of Music Junior Department, dancedigital, The Purcell School, Chetham’s School of Music, the Bermondsey Harris Academy and the Apollo Youth Choir.

Sunday 8th March

After a challenging day of rehearsals, The Commonwealth Resounds presented an enjoyable Gala Concert at Morley College. The programme included some of Morley’s spectacular Kathak dancers and Samba players, who captivated the audience, as well as two delightful, brand-new songs composed by groups of young people for the newly re-formed Commonwealth Festival Choir, and a wonderful new fanfare by young composer Max Bilbe from Chetham’s School of Music

Monday March 9th

Great excitement as everyone arrived at Westminster Abbey early in the morning for final dress rehearsals!

The Commonwealth Festival Choir and Orchestra performed in the Pre-Observance as guests arrived, including 1,000 schoolchildren, Commonwealth Religious Leaders and Delegates, Members of the House of Commons and the House of Lords and no fewer than SIX members of the Royal Family!

First to arrive were the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. They were followed by His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales and her Royal Highness the Duchess of Cornwall. At the arrival of Her Majesty The Queen, and His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinbugh, Max Bilbe’s specially-composed fanfare (performed beautifully by five young brass players from the Chetham’s Commonwealth Team) resounded through the Abbey!

For the main Observance Service, a brand-new piece was composed by 16-year old Thomas Carr, and choreographed for dancedigital by Commonwealth Music Ambassador Sarah Ndagire (Uganda). This colourful, dazzling piece delighted the audience, who greatly enjoyed the lively enthusiasm of the young dancers, and the skilful playing of the Commonwealth Festival Orchestra who accompanied them.

Comments by young musicians, dancers and composers

‘It was the best day of my life’

‘I never imagined how amazing it would be’

‘The Queen smiled at me as she walked past us!’

‘I can’t tell you how happy I was to hear my piece played on Monday and to be presented to members of the Royal Family! The event was wonderful and I am overjoyed to have been part of it.’  – Thomas Carr, 16-year-old composer of the dance piece ‘Maltugandata UK!

Photos © Westminster Abbey/Picture Partnership. A further selection of pictures/prints are available here.

SUNDAY MARCH 8th – Commonwealth Gala Concert Morley College 6-7pm

4th March 2015 | 0 comments

This short, lively and extremely attractive Gala Concert will celebrate both the 10th Anniversary of The Commonwealth Resounds and the 125th Anniversary of Morley College.

A fanfare, by young composer Max Bilbe

The Commonwealth Festival Orchestra and Choir

Young musicians from the RCM Junior Department

Young musicians from Chethams School of Music

dancedigital, and a new work ‘Maltugandata UK’ by young composer Thomas Carr

Young singers from The Purcell School for Young Musicians

Samba group from Morley

Kathak Dancers from Morley