Education ViVA

Snowblind
Friday 5th March 2004
Vandyke Theatre, Leignton Buzzard

30 students drawn from Gilbert Inglefield and Brooklands Middle Schools worked together with workshop leader Chris Brannick, composer Joe Duddell and ViVA musicians Isobel Adams (viola) and Freddie Collarbone (cello). During the workshops the students created a new piece of music that was premiered during a ViVA concert at Vandyke Theatre in Leighton Buzzard on 5th March to a sell-out audience.

The new work took its inspiration from Joe Duddell's Percussion Concerto Snowblind that was written for soloist Colin Currie. Working with the ViVA team, students explored many of the musical and non-musical ideas behind Snowblind for instance looking at music inspired by literature, stories and film.

"I enjoyed myself more than I've ever enjoyed myself before." - Participant

The participants had great fun comparing the differing role of each musician in an orchestra, looking particularly at how each role has equal importance within the team - from soloist and conductor to supporting instrumentalists.

"I liked meeting new people and playing music, trying new things and definitely playing in the concert." - Participant

Students from the two schools had never met before the project started and this was an important element of the project as most students will feed into the same upper school and firm friendships were forged during the workshops.

"The performance by the pupils of their final composition as part of the concert was a joy to listen to and watch." - Leighton-Linslade Town Council

The new work was created from scratch in two days and was performed by every student involved in its creation. The concert also featured a performance of Joe Duddell's Snowblind featuring internationally acclaimed percussion soloist Colin Currie as well as Tchaikovsky's beautiful Souvenir de Florence and Bartok's lively Romanian Folk Dances.

"Their enthusiasm and rapt attention showed they appreciated the time and effort that went into arranging the project." - Leighton-Linslade Town Council

Images from the project...