Making Musicians

MAKING MUSICIANS - Music scholarship Programme

Making Musicians is an exciting programme for developing the very best musical talent at Norwich School and beyond. Singers, instrumentalists and composers both from within the school and the wider community participate in an annual series of workshops, lectures, visits, masterclasses and recitals designed specifically to nurture young musicians.

All Music Scholars at Norwich School are offered a place on this scheme and pupils from other schools are also welcome to join us free of charge upon successful application.

MUSIC WORKSHOPS

Making Musicians revolves around regular workshop days, usually eight in each academic year. On these special days, participants attend bespoke workshops to enrich and enhance their musical learning.

Workshop days might involve masterclasses with world-class instrumental experts, lessons in mastering the stage and dealing with performance anxiety, or compositional techniques and practical interpretation skills - just to name a few of our past offerings.

Recent workshops:

Brass masterclass led by Amos Miller, Head of Brass, Royal College of Music.
World music workshop led by Kabantu
Lecture on how music can help those living with dementia, Heather Edwards
Flute masterclass given by RNCM professor, Laura Jellicoe
Masterclass given by celebrated soprano, Elizabeth Watts
Baroque masterclass given by Matthew Wadsworth, lutenist
Jazz workshop led by saxophonist Finn McEwen ON
Harpsichord day, lessons given by Mr Steven Devine, harpsichordist for the Orchestra for the Age of Enlightment
Visit by Robert Cohen, professor of cello at Royal Academy of Music
Project with London Bulgarian Choir, learning about different cultures through music.
Conducting workshop delivered by Alice Farnham.
Weekly visits to the Mancroft Ringing Discovery Centre to learn more about the art of campanology.

Upcoming events:

Baroque string workshop with Jim O'Toole - Thursday 13 June, time TBC

RECITALS

Making Musicians recitals bring together Norwich School Music Scholars and talented pupils from other East Anglian schools to perform in a prestigious concert setting. Performers receive one-on-one coaching from senior Making Musicians staff, as well as supportive accompaniment from our team of pianists. Performers are also offered the chance to have the recital recorded live, or at a later date in our professionally equipped recording studio.

Recitals held recently in the School Chapel were recorded and sent to local care homes. They are available to watch on our Norwich School YouTube channel.

Upcoming recitals:

Thursday 9 May, 13:10 - Norwich Cathedral, south transept.
Antonia Williamson, voice accompanied by Simon Durant, guitar. Colette Maxwell Preston, cello accompanied by Brenda Blewett, piano.
Thursday 13 June 13:10 - Norwich Cathedral, south transept.
Recital given by Cathedral Choral Scholars.
Monday 24 June, 13:00 - St Edmunds Church, Southwold.
Alice Platten, soprano and Tristan McCardel, violin. Accompanied by Brenda Blewett, piano.
Monday 1 July 17:30 - Norwich School Chapel.
Almary and Barbirolli string quartets. Programme to include Mendelssohn Octet, first movement.

ADDITIONAL BENEFITS for Norwich School Music Scholars

Working alongside their instrumental teachers, participants receive direct guidance and support from the Head of Making Musicians throughout the academic year. They also have the chance to take special trips to attend professional performances and external masterclasses, and to put their musical abilities to good use in a rewarding community outreach scheme.

Recent visits:

Trip to St Peter Mancroft Church to hear renowned cellist Sheku Kanneh Mason performing with the Fantasia Orchestra.
Visit to Royal Opera House, Covent Garden to watch rehearsal conducted by Sir Tony Pappano and to attend evening performance.
English Touring Opera performance at Theatre Royal, Norwich

Financial Benefits

There are two sources of funding relating to the music scholars/exhibitioners.

Source one - instrumental/singing lessons

Both music scholars and exhibitioners can claim for instrumental/singing lessons by sending receipts to afa@norwich-school.org.uk in the Trinity term.

Please refer to your personalised letter from the Head for the amount you can claim for.

Source two - financial assistance towards items required to enrich pupils learning, for example:

Specialist sheet music
Consultation lessons with leading professionals
Concert visits
Seminars
Grants towards maintenance/repair/purchase of instruments
Hire of instruments
Grants towards music software
One-to-one performance coaching
Accompanists (for lessons, performances, competitions, exams)
Alexander Technique
Examination and Diploma costs
Trial organ lessons
Fees towards music courses

Source two is only for music scholars and in addition to source one. Please contact cspeca@norwich-school.org.uk or rmclanaghan@norwich-school.org.uk if you are considering a claim from this fund and we can let you know if it will be approved. We will require you to pay upfront and provide receipts. We will then request a refund to be paid into a nominated bank account. Receipts can be sent at any time of year.

HEAD OF MAKING MUSICIANS

Mrs Caroline Speca was a professional violinist with the Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, where she worked for fourteen years with the world’s leading conductors, singers and orchestral musicians. Today, she is a music educator, community musician, and ambassador for Britten Pears Arts, an Arts Council England National Centre of Excellence for musical talent and creative health. Her repertoire ranges from classical opera and ballet to traditional ‘palm-court’ dance music, musical theatre and contemporary improvisation. She has a passion for identifying and nurturing young musical talent, and for music with a social purpose. Mrs Speca holds a Bachelor of Music from Guildhall School of Music and Drama, a Postgraduate Certificate in Music for Dementia from Roehampton University and a Postgraduate Certificate in Collaborative Music Practice for Health from Anglia Ruskin University.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION

For further information, or to apply for a place on the scheme, please contact the Head of Making Musicians at cspeca@norwich-school.org.uk