11 – 15 July 2011

Gateshead Music Service celebrated an outstanding year’s achievement with a hugely successful Music Celebration Week.  Sponsored by the Music Service’s principle education partner the Avison Ensemble, a series of recitals, open rehearsals, concerts and large scale singing events involving well over 1,000 young participants; who ranged from an immensely talented 4 year old violinist playing Vivaldi; to senior students who are leaving to study music at University or Music College.
This year’s emphasis was giving young musicians’ access to a wide range of musical experiences in a variety of venues all around Gateshead.  These included the St Mary’s Visitors Centre, the Baltic, The Old Town Hall, the Dryden Centre and Gibside 18th Century Pleasure Gardens.
The Music Celebration Week took several months careful planning and ran very smoothly indeed.  We were proud to be invited to provide daily concerts by various ensembles within the Baltic Café – the first time music has been performed in this venue.

Tuesday 12 July

The first large scale event took place at The Old Town Hall Gateshead.  A ‘sing-a-long’ organised and led by Mrs Anne Porter for primary age pupils.  The children sang a wide range of songs, accompanied by a band of Gateshead Music Service colleagues.  Guest singer/story teller Tony Wilson was on particularly good form.
Later on Tuesday evening, the Junior Showcase event was held at the same venue.  A wide variety of wind and string ensembles entertained an appreciative audience.  The audience were particularly delighted by four year old Leah Zhu’s performance of the first movement of Vivaldi’s Violin Concerto in A minor, played from memory.

Wednesday 13 July

On Wednesday morning, a group of students from Dryden School enjoyed a short performance by the Music Service’s “A Team” – one of four immensely popular teams of musicians who visit primary and special schools throughout the Borough.  The “A Team” then performed at the Baltic Café – the first group of musicians to perform in this venue.
On Wednesday evening the ‘Wopping* Big Picnic’ took place at Gibside 18th Century Pleasure Gardens. Rowlands Gill.  The weather was fine and certainly enhanced the outdoor event. Young violinists and trumpet players joined a small band and the Gateshead Youth Orchestra, in an event led and organised by Mrs Lucie Davis of the Gateshead Music Service for children who are taught under the *Wider Opportunities programme ran by Gateshead Music Service.  An audience of family and friends enjoyed the performances, as well as the barbecue and drinks provided by the National Trust at this fine venue.

Thursday 14 July

The Dryden Centre was the venue for another singing project during the afternoon.  This was the culmination of a term’s work on two particular topics: “Carnival des Animaux” -  Four schools had composed original songs in French which received their first performance accompanied by an ensemble from the Gateshead Youth Orchestra;  and “Blow the Wind Southerly”  ‘Concert Royal’s’ Peter Harrison and Margaret Garvey had visited eight primary schools, leading workshops on Victorian Tyneside as seen through these songs.  The afternoon was most enjoyable with some beautiful singing, ably accompanied by several members of the Gateshead Youth Orchestra.
Thursday evening saw the Senior Showcase Concert at the Dryden Centre.  The performance contrasted several senior Gateshead bands, including: Whickham Cello Ensemble, Strings Attached, Gateshead Senior Wind Band, Little Big Band, Paraffernalia and the Gateshead Youth Orchestra.  All the performances were enjoyed by an appreciative audience, and some of the band leaders remarked that their groups played extremely well.  The Youth Orchestra had just returned from a successful tour of Provence in Southern France, and the period of intense rehearsal and concert giving was certainly reflected in the high quality of performances.

Friday 15 July

The final day, saw the Gateshead Viol Consort and Whickham Cello Ensemble perform firstly at St Mary’s Visitors Centre and then at the Baltic Café; where they played 16th Century Viol music and 18th Century music for strings in very pleasant environments.  St Mary’s Visitors Centre is proving a very popular venue for our young performers and the Baltic Café has provided a wonderful new experience for all our performers.
The final event of the Music Celebration Week took place on Friday evening at the Dryden Centre.  The Collichon Ensemble (Mr John Finnon, Viol de Gamba; Dr Naomi Barker, Baroque Flute and Mr John Treherne, Harpsichord) performed a programme entitled “Visitors in London during the 18th Century”.  The music was enhanced by appropriate readings and the audience appreciated both the humour and musical performance of the ensemble and the refreshments provided bt the Friends of the Gateshead Youth Orchestra.
Altogether this proved to be a most enjoyable week.  Some 1500 young musicians performed to appreciative audiences in a variety of venues.  Members of the Music Service staff worked hard to prepare the young musicians and organise the events; and the youngsters’ talents were well showcased.
We are most grateful for the financial support of the Avison Ensemble and it was a pleasure to welcome Frances Benton to our celebration week.
Barbara Murray, Music Service Administrator, played a major part inensuring that everything ran smoothly; her input cannot be overestimated.
Finally we must acknowledge the great support of the committee of the Friends of the Gateshead Youth Orchestra, who worked tirelessly during the week.  Mr Barry Taylor, Dr Lynne Bloxham and Mrs Dawn Bonney were always a tower of strength, helping this diverse range of events to take place so smoothly.
We look forward to next year’s Music Celebration Week with great anticipation.

A video about the event can be found via the Avison Ensemble’s youtube channel here

Photographs of the events can also be foundvia the Avison Ensemble’s Flickr page here

Parents please note: you may contact us for photographs of your children at any of these events. Please email info@g-y-o.org.uk for details.