News Archive

International Music Research Centre Summer School – University of Reading

The third international Summer School of the Music Teaching in Professional Practice programme takes place July 18-25, kicking off with a two-day conference on Musical Teaching and Learning at the International Centre for Research in Music Education on the Bulmershe Campus. The keynote speaker will be Prof. Graham Welch from The Institute of Education, University of London, and 22 papers will be presented by researchers and practitioners from the USA, Australia, France, Spain, Cyprus and Israel. They will be joined by Mtpp students and visitors from all over the UK as well as Eire, Brazil, Gibraltar and Hong Kong. As usual, a number of events are open to the general public. The Summer School Concert this year will be given by Chaconne Brass, one of Britain's leading ensembles. This takes place on Sunday July 20th in the University Great Hall, London Road, and will include collaborations with advanced brass students from the Berkshire Young Musicians' Trust. There are again two Masterclasses which are open to visitors. On Tuesday July 22nd, also in the Great Hall, Prof. George Caird, Principal of the Birmingham Conservatoire, will lead a session on woodwind performance. On Thursday July 24th, in the McCulloch Theatre, Bulmershe Court, Andrew Leask, Head of Percussion for the Berkshire Young Musicians' Trust, will illustrate the foundations of percussion technique. For information about the Concert, the Masterclasses, the Conference or the Mtpp programme, contact: Daniela Brewis, tel. 01189 318843; email d.brewis@reading.ac.uk. Chaconne Brass Chaconne Brass, who gave nearly 100 performances throughout Britain and abroad last year, recently released their new album We Are Not Alone, which has established them as one of the country's most inspirational and innovative ensembles. Their music, which combines classical styles with influences from Africa, Latin America, and the world of jazz, has universal appeal and an infectious energy. There has been a growing interest nationally in Chaconne's work since Classical Music Magazine ran a 2 page article discussing the group and their album, and they appeared live on BBC1 on Christmas Day and were featured on Radio 3's award winning programme Late Junction. Highlights from their last season include well-received recitals at London's South Bank, St David's Hall in Cardiff, and Queen's Hall in Edinburgh. Chaconne have also been delighted that the majority of their engagements are requests for them to return to venues for a second, third or even fourth time. Chaconne Brass also received another grant from the National Lottery to present their unique interactive educational concerts throughout their home county of Berkshire. Recent developments have seen the group working with African drummers, singers and dancers, Brazilian Samba bands, and presenting large scale interactive educational projects with follow up work on science and music. Their concert for the Mtpp Summer School illustrates this commitment to the education of young musicians. In a varied and entertaining programme, the ensemble will present works by Ben Castle, Henry Purcell, George Gershwin and Jacob Van Eyck. They will also include their new commission Tango Oscuro by the much admired composer Cecelia McDowall, which they premiered at St. John's Smith Square and which is fast becoming recognised as one of the most exciting and powerful works for the medium. Further information on the group including their educational concerts, is available on www.chaconne.co.uk. For information about this concert, contact Daniela Brewis at the University (see above), or, for Chaconne Brass, James Doherty on 01483 570772, email james.doherty@tiscali.co.uk. For further details about the University's activities please contact Carol Derham or Sue Rayner, Communications & External Relations Office, University of Reading 0118 378 8004/5.