MUSIC in DASP
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A Concert for Julia's House
The Corn Exchange in Dorchester was packed recently to hear a special concert by over 100 young musicians from the First, Middle and Upper schools in the Dorchester area in aid of Julia’s House, the Dorset Children’s Hospice. The event was hosted by the Mayor of Dorchester, Cllr. Andy Cannings, and raised just over £850 for the charity.
The audience enjoyed a wide range of music from the First Schools Orchestra, the Flute Choir, Harmony Group, Thomas Hardy Ukulele Troupe, and the Middle Schools Orchestra, with some traditional music as well as some really modern pieces, ending in an exciting rendition of “Skyfall”
The event came at a special time for the charity – it is just 10 years since the very first Dorset family received care in their own home from a Julia’s House nurse. Today the hospice is still leading the field in community care for children with life limiting conditions. No other children’s hospice in the UK offers the level of home-based support which Julia’s House families receive.
Julia’s House is so grateful to the schools and young people involved in this concert as well as the parents and members of the public who came to support the charity.
More pictures of the concert can be seen at the Music Gallery page
Music for Youth 10th Anniversary Concert
Hannah McFarlane, a pupil at St. Osmund’s School, was one of six young soloists performing in the Dorset Chamber Orchestra’s “Music for Youth: Encore!” concert on Saturday March 9th St Mary’s Church Dorchester. Hannah performed with the orchestra in 2011 as their youngest ever soloist and had been invited back to play her ’cello in this Gala concert.
The orchestra, as in all previous “Music for Youth” concerts, were joined by their patron, Martin Clunes, who read from the writings of Shakespeare and others.
Combined Thomas Hardye School and ICSO concert at St Marys Church
Fantastic singing, wonderful weekend, suberb orchestra – just some of the comments from a hugely appreciative audience at the combined Thomas Hardye School and ICSO concert at St Marys Church, Dorchester. Nineteen musicians from the Thomas Hardye School and the local Middle Schools joined the Imperial College Symphony Orchestra for a performance of Vaughan Williams English Folk Song Suite. Conducted by Richard Dickins, this opening item of the concert was the culmination of many hours of individual practice by these young performers and what a thrill it was for them. They each played their heart out and their enthusiasm was infectious. Our daughter has played alongside the same cellist for 3 years and has developed a lovely rapport with her ICSO partner.
The concert continued with the Thomas Hardye Singers, proudly joined by singers from Dorchester, Puddletown and St Osmund’s Middle Schools in a performance of Stanford’s Te Deum and Evening Service in B flat. Conducted by James Baker, with Peter Oakes at the organ and the full orchestra, the voices of the choir thrilled the audience as they rang out loud and strong and beautifully complemented the instrumentalists. It was quite a squeeze getting all the singers in place, standing room only and barely room to hold the music!
The next item, Elgar’s Give unto the Lord was conducted by Peter Oakes, who took the unscheduled firework display outside in his stride. This for me, as a guest singer with the choir, was a thrilling and exhilarating experience - once again choir and orchestra performed as one.
For the final item of the programme the Imperial College Symphony Orchestra under their director, Richard Dickins performed Respighi’s Pines of Rome. The smiles on the faces of the choir – behind the orchestra at this time – showed their delight at the experience of the all-encompassing sound. A truly superb performance. Younger members of the choir remained on stage in close proximity to the percussion and brass – indeed, my younger daughter sat alongside the bass drum!
After-concert celebrations for the orchestra continued at The Junction until the early hours…
The visit of ICSO has become an annual event, and for our family it is now a fixture for the calendar in November. For the first time this year we were involved with the catering and behind the scenes operations. The orchestra’s arrival was keenly anticipated by the catering ladies, with regular updates – “Ringwood”, “Puddletown”, “Coming up Queen’s Avenue…” And what appreciative young people the students were, wide eyed at the sight of the home made puddings. All credit to Sally Dinham-Scott for organising the catering and making such a friendly atmosphere for the helpers.
Also for the first time our family hosted two of the students, and what a delight this was. Returning with us on Friday evening, we hosted two lovely young ladies. Our daughters were excited at the prospect of entertaining students and what excellent role models they were; it gave our girls an insight into the life of a student. Comments by other hosting familes showed our experience was shared, and the generosity of the students to their hosts (we loved the Thornton’s chocolates!) showed their appreciation too.
This weekend would not have happened without the meticulous organisation of Peter Oakes and the Thomas Hardye music department. It is an extraordinary privilege for our young people to perform alongside one of the best orchestras in the country, and long may this opportunity continue.
Conductor Richard Dickins said: ’The annual visit of Imperial College Symphony Orchestra to Dorchester to collaborate with musicians from Thomas Hardye School and from some of the feeder schools in the area is one of the musical highlights of the College's calendar. The energy, enthusiasm and ability of the Dorset musicians matches that of Imperial's players, and the interaction between the two groups brings huge benefits to both sides. Imperial is thrilled to have such a flourishing relationship with the vibrant music department of Hardye's.’
With thanks to Julia McFarlane for this account.
Using' App' Technology in Music
DASP Music are offering exciting new instrumental tuition in using the iPad, iPhone and iPod touch for recording, composing, and playing instrument apps. There are an enormous number of music making apps available (all unbelievably cheap - from 69p to £2.99), and many professional musicians are now using iPads etc. as instruments on stage, in the studio, and even recording entire albums on them (e.g. Bjork, and the Gorillaz)
Using the touch screen interface on these devices, one can play guitars, drums, wind instruments (by blowing into the microphone!) Apps, such as garage band, make the iPad etc. into mini, high quality, recording studios. One remarkable aspect of this technology is that it is very simple and intuitive to use - so, even primary school children can get creative.
Finally, all the work that is done on these devices can easily be emailed directly to parents, so they can hear and see exactly what their children are up to in their lessons.
For further information, please contact Ralph Cree: ralphcree@yahoo.com
http://youtu.be/1M6EtPNy-wo
Download a pdf copy of this poster.
Issue Number 2 of DASP Music Newsletter
available now.
Click on the picture to download (pdf).
See foot of this page for previous issues.
REPORTS
DASP Prom Concert 2nd July
Saturday night saw a host of young Dorchester musicians taking a trip to ‘the Movies’. This was the musical theme for the evening as the annual DASP Prom Concert took place in the huge Marquee erected in the grounds of the Thomas Hardye School.
The concert opened, as always with the National Anthem. However, this quickly moved into the famous 20th Century Fox Overture and we were off! A Brass Ensemble made up of students from the three DASP Middle Schools and Thomas Hardye played the theme from Summer Holiday. Then Tracey Green led the First Schools Orchestra in a marvellous version of Henry Mancini’s Pink Panther. Highlight of this was the lead cello, provided by 9 year old Hannah McFarlane from Manor Park First School. The concert then took a seawards turn for a while as ‘Saxaphonics’ performed some Sea Shanties. A theme continued by the DASP Flute Choir with the Sailors Hornpipe.
It was back to the movies, with Monty Norman’s famous James Bond theme, played with enthusiasm by the Middle Schools’ Orchestra. It was Middle School students again, this time from St Marys, Puddletown, who made up ‘Millie and the Peeps’ They both looked and sounded the part, with their rendition of ‘Everybody Needs Somebody’ from the classic ‘Blue Brothers’. Perhaps the surprise hit of the night were the children of DASP’s smallest school, Cheselbourne First. They chose to dance some traditional Polka and Morris and had the audience enthusiastically clapping along. The performance was a fitting tribute to retiring Headteacher, Anne Herridge, herself a keen Polka dancer.
A more contemporary feel was provided by the Harmony Group who performed Jesse J’s ‘Price Tag’ and Alicia Keys ‘Empire State of Mind’. Then it was movie themes again, as the DASP Concert Band performed ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’ accompanied by two dancers from Thomas Hardye. There was a brief interlude from the music as the annual DASP Citizen prizes were awarded to children who had made important contributions to life in their schools. The Awards were made by the Mayor of Dorchester, introduced by Mr Paul Chadwick, Head of Dorchester Middle.
A great tradition has been set by these concerts and there is only one way to finish. With Union Jacks waving unashamedly, the Thomas Hardye Orchestra, conducted by James Baker, launched into Rule Britannia. Soloists were Bronte Kirby and Martin Weston; they were however accompanied by a ‘choir’ of hundreds as the audience joined in. When the music finished, the crowd went outside to see a fine firework display from Anytime Fireworks. This could be seen from the hills all around Dorchester. James Baker, is Head of Music at Thomas Hardye and also DASP Music Coordinator. He said “ I was absolutely delighted with this year’s Prom Concert. The standard of playing really was exceptionally high, and it was inspiring to see students of all ages, from 6 to 18, making music together. The enjoyment felt by students and audience alike was obvious to see, and the firework display was a spectacular end to a spectacular evening. Well done, and thank you, to everyone involved!”
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Dates for the diary.
12th November 2011 DASP Concert
St Mary's Church 7.30 p.m.
Tuesday, 13th December 2011 – DASP Music Christmas Concert
Thomas Hardye School Theatre.
Saturday, 30th June 2012 – DASP Music Marquee Concert
Thomas Hardye School Field.
Previous Events
Saturday 16th July - St Mary's Church,
The Thomas Hardye Singers and Musicians
Carmina Burana and Carnival of the Animals
March 31st 2011 Thomas Hardye Spring Fundraiser Concert
March 31st 2011 First School Concert
March 30th 2011 First School Concert
December 14th 2010 DASP Christmas Concert
November 13th 2010 DASP Rights Respecting Concert with Imperial College London
Download dates for St Osmunds Music Events
Please note that blank booking sheets and other downloadable forms and information can be found through the Documents link at the top of the page.
News and Reports
St Mary’s School Choir Report
Our Choir sang with the Dorset Choral Society on Saturday, March 26th at St Mary’s Church, Dorchester. We sang Gabriel Faure’s Pavane, written in 1887 and his master piece Requiem which he composed between 1887 and 1890. We also sang Cesar Franck’s Panis Angelicus.
We rehearsed at school twice a week beginning at the start of the term in order to learn these three pieces. We began to rehearse with St Osmunds about once a week either at St Marys or at St Osmunds up until the half term break. It was important that our two choirs were able to sing together. After the half term we began to rehearse – as one large school choir on Monday evenings at a church in Dorchester with members of the adult choral society. The first time we sang with them they were so loud we all nearly dropped our music. It was difficult not to stop staring at them.
During these rehearsals, the Director of Music, Christine Page, was really strict about us making the correct sounds and standing very still and always looking forward so that we did not appear fidgety in front of the adult choir.
It was hard going to all the rehearsals because they were so late, but it was really good because we accomplished singing in Latin and the three pieces were difficult but in the end we sounded very good.
On the day of the performance the church was full. We all felt quite nervous because their were so many people in the church and the Choral Society were all dressed in black and they looked like they were going to a posh dinner. There were 3 professional singers as well who had voices that were mind blowingly amazing. They had voices like floating clouds or thunder. All the members of the choral society and the professionals were really nice to us.
We sang our pieces, the Pavane and Panis Angelicus first without mistakes. It was a relief to get our two unique pieces overwith but we sounded really good. The Choral Society then sang with the professionals and after the interval we all sang the Requiem. It was important that we all remembered when we had to stand or sit and to keep our music turned to the correct page. We could not be seen to be fidgeting but we had to be ready to sing at the right moment. The sound we all made was really lovely and the audience was very appreciative. All our hard work had been worth it – everyone said it was lovely.
Martha
Weymouth Music Festival
On Saturday the 5th of March the Weymouth Music Festival was held at Wey Valley School. Many musicians, instrumental groups, bands and ensembles entered this exciting event. After a few events, it was my turn as a violin player in the DASP Middle Schools Orchestra, conducted by Johanna Wolff.
We played Dr. Who and Thus Spake Zarathustra. These both went well and we were given postitive feedback from the adjudicator. He also told us some good pointers for improving our playing.
We were very happy to be invited to play in the concert; enabling us to hear many of the other acts that had taken part. There was an amazing variety of talent so it would be hard to say what my favourite was, as they all did really well. I was very pleased to have had the opportunity to have taken part in it.
Eilish
We all enjoyed the Weymouth Music Festival on the 5th of March. We all met at Wey Valley school drama studio and we all had our Yellow, Orange and Red T-Shirts on! There was an adjudicator watching us. He said that ‘Chick, Chick, Chicken’ was a most impressive performance, but Wallace and Gromit was not so polished!
The most enjoyable part for me was having a very big audience and having a very big clap! I also enjoyed listening to the Middle Schools’ Orchestra and all the Brass Orchestras!
Mrs Green was our conductor and she was a lot of help. I hope Mrs Green, the big helpers and Mrs Ballard all enjoyed it as much as I did!
Genevieve Age: 9
On Saturday 5th March the DASP Middle Schools Flute Choir took part in the Weymouth Music Festival. In the festival we played 2 pieces: ‘Over the Rainbow’ and ‘Doggies Flirt’. Everybody in the Flute Choir was nervous before we played. Although thanks to Mrs Green, on the day of the festival, we all sounded great. The adjudicator had fantastic comments about us; he particularly enjoyed ‘Over the Rainbow’ – therefore we were selected to play it in the festival concert. There were lots of fun and enjoyable performances in the concert, and I particularly enjoyed listening to the wide range of choirs and piano solos.
I would like to use this opportunity to thank Mrs Green for taking the time to organise the Middle Schools Flute Choir and for giving us this great opportunity.
Eleanor: Year 7 St. Osmunds Middle School
DASP Music Newsletter Archive
Issue 1
Click here to download it (PDF file)
To Contact us:
DASP Music Office
The Thomas Hardye School
Queens Avenue
Dorchester
Dorset
DT1 2ET
Phone: 01305 259721 (Use the same number to fax)
Office Staff: Karen Weir & Kate Bone, music@dasp.org.uk
DASP Music Coordinator: James Baker, jamesbaker@dasp.org.uk
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