The virtual event aims to boost creativity and inclusivity in ensembles at a time when many of the nation’s music leaders are under-resourced.
Are you keen to take your youth orchestra to the next level? If so, join us later this month as Orchestras for All (OFA) hosts the fourth live webinar in its Music Leadership Training series.
Titled Mixed-Ability Ensembles: Finding Unity, the one-hour session is scheduled to take place via Zoom at 16:00 GMT on Wednesday 30 November 2022 and will be led by the charity’s Artistic Director, Emma Oliver-Trend.
Emma said: “What runs through your head when someone says ‘mixed-ability ensembles’ – one big compromise? A musical mishmash? At OFA, we have a ‘three-ingredient recipe’ for working with a mixed-ability ensemble: carefully created music parts, a variety of notation and music learning options as well as rehearsal techniques that create unity in the group – the focus of this session.
“Also known as NOFA, our National Orchestra for All is a 100-piece mixed-ability orchestra. We have Grade Eight-ers sitting next to complete beginners and we’ve worked this way for over 11 years – living proof that mixed-ability ensembles can be satisfying both musically and socially.”
Pictured: Emma Oliver-Trend leads the way during a Modulo rehearsal at Royal Northern College of Music
While the webinar is free to attend, participants are invited to donate what they can to help OFA continue its life-changing work in breaking down barriers to group music-making for young people, which has become ever more vital at a time when hundreds of schools, music hubs and arts organisations are currently struggling across the country owing to lack of funding.
Learn more about Music Leadership Training >
Following the success of Emma’s last webinar, which explored how to redefine rehearsals and included a live Q&A, the forthcoming session will surely be a thought-provoking afternoon for both attendees and the Cornwall-based musician – a keen classical and folk violinist, whose previous roles have included Principal Guest Conductor of the Harlow Symphony Orchestra and Founder Director of the Ware Community Orchestra.
Emma has also produced several operas and arts programmes for Welsh National Opera and Dartington Arts, and collaborated with Belgian singer, Nele Van Den Broeck, to pen the stage musical ‘How to fail at being perfect’ – a Young Lyric Production performed at the Lyric Hammersmith in August 2017 and Latitude Festival 2018.
“We value equality of opportunity, removing hierarchy and accessibility to rehearsals,” says Emma
Meanwhile, Emma’s current role as Artistic Director at Orchestras for All includes orchestral conducting, creating large-scale inclusive arrangements, leading conducting training for music leaders and contributing towards the artistic programme of the charity.
Speaking about Mixed-Ability Ensembles: Finding Unity, she said: “This session aims to share our approach, practical ideas and challenges and will invite you to share yours! Our starting point is to invest in a strong community – a culture of social and musical equality that is essential to making a great orchestra.
“We also think it is vital to acknowledge and activate the wide range of musical abilities that young musicians bring. We value equality of opportunity, removing hierarchy and accessibility to rehearsals through inclusive learning.”
Mixed-Ability Ensembles: Finding Unity comes after music education consultant, Professor Nate Holder, and music producer, Jack McNeill, also delivered live webinars this year as part of OFA’s Music Leadership Training series.
