Between the 16-20 July 2023 we ran the culmination of our Academy programme - a week-long course focusing on the expert playing of contemporary classical music which offers a unique opportunity for emerging professional musicians to refine their skills and experience under the guidance of our principal players.
Workshops & rehearsals
Since March 2023, musicians on the Academy course have been welcomed to get involved with London Sinfonietta activity. They have attended rehearsals, concerts, Participation and Learning training and composition workshops as part of our Composition Challenges and In Town projects.
A week-long intense course marked the end of our Academy with 18 musicians participating in rehearsals, sectionals, coaching and side-by-side playing with principal players, offering opportunities for valuable feedback on their playing from world-class musicians. Led and conducted by "inspirational" (Bachtrack) London Sinfonietta Academy alumnus Geoffrey Paterson, the emerging musicians also had the chance to premiere a new work by Samantha Fernando. Samantha attended rehearsals and gave an evening talk exploring approaches to positive composer-musician relationships.
'I have so many new tools for understanding and interpreting new music...mainly it has increased my confidence in approaching new music.' Academy Participant 2023
Musicians of Tomorrow: Purcell Room concert
Wednesday 19 July was our Musicians of Tomorrow concert at the Purcell Room. Playing side-by-side with mentors from the London Sinfonietta ensemble, the young musicians showcased their prodigious talents in a programme of British repertoire from the 20th and 21st centuries. The concert featured two world premieres, Samantha Fernando's Sound Inhabitants and the Royal Overseas League's composition prize-winning new piece, Kai Kubota-Enright's Night, the automaton dreams, played by the London Sinfonietta ensemble.
Fabulous @Ldn_Sinfonietta & Sinfonietta Academy concert last night @southbankcentre. Great to hear premieres from @Sam_Fernando_ & @ROSLARTS winner Kai Kubota-Enright alongside Boulez Birtwistle Turnage Gerber & @DianaBurrell48
— Fenella Humphreys (@fhvln) July 20, 2023
Wonderful performances - congrats all!! pic.twitter.com/UsqNaJABar
'Performing in the two concerts was the highlight, as it made it very clear that there are appreciative audiences for contemporary music.' Academy Participant 2023
Musicians of Tomorrow: Folkestone concert
The following day our Academy players headed to the Church of St Mary & St Eanswythe in Folkestone to perform a similar programme, this time featuring two works by John Woolrich, Fragment and The Iron Cockerel Sings.
Thursday: what an evening! Superb @Ldn_Sinfonietta players with the brilliant LS Academy; a thrilling programme, featuring outings for guitar, cimbalom & soprano sax; an audience of the young, old and in-between; all in the beautiful @sainteanswythes. Music lives in Folkestone! pic.twitter.com/lb5gKYud2s
— Andrew Ward (@Andrewwmusicart) July 21, 2023
2023 London Sinfonietta participants
Cara Houghton flute
Alex Franklin oboe
Rowan Jones clarinet
Amy Thompson bassoon
Sophia Elger saxophone
Alice Knight horn
Ruby Orlowska trumpet
Pau Hernández Santamaria trombone
Connor Gingell tuba
Sydney Grace Mariano violin
Emily Trubshaw violin
Laura Cooper viola
Joseph Dawson cello
Cara Dawson harp
Toril Azzalini-Machecler percussion
Julian Chan piano
Declan Hickey guitar
The London Sinfonietta Academy 2023 was generously supported by the John S Cohen Foundation, Radcliffe Trust, Steven R. Gerber Trust, Thriplow Trust, Harold Hyam Wingate Foundation, The Fidelio Charitable Trust, The D'Oyly Carte Charitable Trust and with the friendly support of the Ernst von Siemens Music Foundation.
Published: 24 Jul 2023
