'Yorkshire Calling' Composition Course

LVI Music Scholars and A Level Music students Lucinda and Zoe have been taking part in the NYMAZ 'Yorkshire Calling' Composition Course this term, having workshops and tuition with renowned composer Andrea Price. On Wednesday, the course culminated with them having their works performed professionally by a Brass Quartet in Selby Abbey - an event also commissioned to celebrate the 100-year anniversary of the first music broadcast on BBC Radio.

The course is also supported by Brass Bands England and was particularly aiming to support new women composers of brass music, currently an underrepresented demographic in this field. This is such a great example of the way our girls are making headway in the wider community to break boundaries and address gender equality in the arts.

They were the only A Level students on the course among Music undergraduates,so have done fantastically to be working at this level with the other participants. Their pieces certainly held their own amongst the university-level scores, and we all left the concert feeling so proud of their achievements. The girls were supported by our A Level students and some fellow musicians from the Lost Sock. Watch this space for an update when we receive footage of the performances!

Lucinda writes, 'For the past month or so we have really enjoyed learning to compose for a brass quartet made up of cornet, tenor horn, euphonium and trombone. We have been attending weekly sessions at Selby Abbey under the tuition of Andrea Price, a world-renowned composer and performer.

We have learnt many compositional skills including secret code! We were delighted to have our pieces performed at the Abbey on Wednesday evening in front of a large audience - what a great end to a wonderful experience. '

Lucinda and Zoe aren't the only QM musicians making their mark in the wider community. This week, Yanni had her first rehearsal as part of the Opera North Youth Chorus and had a fantastic time starting rehearsals towards Britten's Ceremony of Carols. Alongside singing, Yanni plays the Flute and has also signed up for 'Yorchestra' at Christmas at the suggestion of our teacher, Miss Evans, who also tutors on the course.