INSPIRATIONAL JUNE PERCUSSION WORKSHOP WITH DELIA STEVENS

On 29th June NYO hosted a fantastic percussion workshop with the inspirational and energetic Delia Stevens (https://www.deliastevens.com). Delia, a professional solo percussionist, is Creative Lead for the National Youth Orchestra (GB) and a Creative Tutor at the National Children’s Orchestra who “reimagines classical music through bold cross-genre collaborations.”

Percussionists from all the NYO orchestras, joined by some visiting percussionists, were treated to a performance of Delia's reimagining of The Lark Ascending, a variation on Vaughan Williams's theme with wonderful vibraphone flights of airborne fancy that differed from the original. She then took everyone through a number of tricky warm-ups and circle rhythm games that required fierce concentration and an ability to communicate musically with the other participants.

Delia's aim for the second half of the session, was to explore the young musicians' creative side and she hoped that everyone would leave not just as percussionists but as artists. A thorough exploration of the complete range of timbres of the many different orchestral percussion instruments available ensued, with encouragement to find unconventional ways to play them. The percussionists found their imaginative sides and, to round off a full afternoon of activities, the young musicians treated each other and parents to two group performances of their compositions. Everyone did very well.

NYO hosted this workshop with the very kind support of the Peter Handley Percussion Award whose primary objective is to advance the music education and skills of young percussionists in England, in all genres of music, through the provision of grants or instrument loans (https://www.petehandleypercussionaward.org/home)