Following our successful brass workshop earlier in 2024 and summer string workshop for our senior string players, we are delighted to announce a FREE Woodwind Workshop with the wonderful Tailleferre Ensemble 1:30-5:00pm Sunday 2nd March 2025 at our usual rehearsal venue The Becket School (Main Hall).
How to sign up (NYO members)
We hope woodwind players from across our orchestras will be able to join us. The workshop will be inclusive of all players and standards from Grade 3 to Diploma. In order for us to assemble a register for the afternoon, please can NYO members sign up here (pre-registration is essential):
NYO members Sign-up: https://forms.gle/wAwLDiZbB2qho48H6
Bring A Woodwind Friend for FREE! (non-NYO members)
We would love to invite external student woodwind players (Gd 3-8+) so that others outside NYO can benefit from Tailleferre’s expertise. If you have a friend who plays a woodwind instrument (flute, piccolo, clarinet, oboe, cor anglais, bassoon) please invite them! Participation does not automatically guarantee a place in one of our orchestras, but it should give players an idea of the fun extra events we do aside from concerts. The form for students who are not NYO members is here (again pre-registration is essential):
External students Sign-up: https://forms.gle/tGB6P4MVFLa2JXYQ9
About The Tailleferre Ensemble (pronounced ‘tay-fair’). They are a UK based chamber collective founded by oboist Nicola Hands, who is a Nottingham Youth Orchestra alumna and is looking forward to working with us.
The ensemble have performed at top concert venues in the UK and their members also play with well-known UK professional ensembles. Their work encompasses diverse instrumentation, time periods and genres as well as underrepresented works, including promotion of women in classical music. They recently released their debut album which reviewers have praised as ‘exceptional’ for ‘superb musicianship’ and ‘effortless’ performance. You can find out more here:
https://www.tailleferre-ensemble.com/bio
Workshop Afternoon Timetable
1:30-3:00 Rhythmic Warm Ups and Ensemble Skill Building
3:00-3:30 Break (please bring a snack & drink as there will be no tuck shop)
3:30-4:30 ‘Side-by-Side’ rehearsal
4:30-5:00 Question & Answer session
For those interested in the detail!
Rhythmic Warm Ups & Ensemble Skill Building
To include work on rhythm/subdivision, tone production and tuning, using a variety of fun and slightly silly warm ups. These warm ups will be written specifically for NYO, and are likely to include some singing and body percussion.
Side-by-Side Rehearsal
NYO players and Tailleferre musicians will form an ensemble together. We feel this can be an incredibly useful experience for young players in order to develop their understanding of how to be a good orchestral player - quite different from being a good soloist! Tailleferre will choose repertoire which may be unfamiliar, but a pleasant surprise to students. Perhaps something composed by Alice Smith or Amy Beach, for example, and this will be carefully chosen to suit the players in attendance.
Question & Answer Session
This will be structured by Tailleferre musicians. There will be time for NYO players to ask any questions they have (so have a think!), but Tailleferre will also have planned things to discuss, such as what a musical career might look like, advice for music college auditions/Junior Conservatoire auditions etc. These topics will be adjusted once we know the grades and interests of the students present.
Another diary date?
The Tailleferre Ensemble will be performing at Trent University 7pm Monday 3rd March ‘25, so whether you can or cannot attend the workshop they would love to see you there:
https://www.ntu.ac.uk/about-us/events/events/2025/3/tailleferre-ensemble-at-university-hall