The Guernsey Music Service has announced a series of workshops for young people in Guernsey aiming to allow them to benefit from the skills and talents of professional musicians that have found themselves in the island as a result of the COVID pandemic.
The workshops will feature some fantastically qualified musicians, some of who are Music Service alumni now working in top professional orchestras and opera companies in the UK and beyond.
The first of these workshops on Thursday 22nd October will feature Mezzo-Soprano Rhiain Taylor and Baritone Matthew Nuttall. Rhiain, a Music Service alumni graduated from the Royal Northern College of Music (RNCM) in 2018 and has since been working Glyndebourne Festival Chorus.
Her partner Matthew completed his postgraduate studies at the RNCM in 2018, and has since been working with the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris and also with the Glyndebourne Festival Chorus. Both will work with Guernsey Music Service vocal students in a workshop and then also work with sections of the Guernsey Youth Choir.
Further workshops are planned involving American viola player Seth Van Embden and British baritone Joseph Edwards. Seth, who plays with the Chicago Civic Orchestra and Milwaukee Symphony was most recently named Britten–Pears Young Artist of 2020 by the UK’s Snape-Maltings festival. He received his Masters degree from Northwestern University and has performed in solo, orchestral, and chamber settings all over the world including Italy, the United Kingdom, and China. He most recently performed with as featured soloist with Bourbon Baroque of Louisville, Kentucky.
Joseph began singing as a chorister at St George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle, where he had the opportunity to perform for numerous royal occasions including the wedding of Prince Charles and Camilla Parker Bowles. He furthered his love of choral singing as a scholar at Kings College London and then the Royal Academy of Music. He is currently an Associate Artist with the internationally renowned choir, Tenebrae.
Tim Wright, Head of Guernsey Music Service said: “It is our good fortune that several experienced and talented musicians have found themselves in Guernsey as a result of the COVID pandemic. It is well documented that orchestras, opera companies and music venues have had an unprecedented period of uncertainty in the past months.
“I am pleased that due to the fortunate position the Guernsey continues to find itself in, we can continue to provide excellent opportunities for our young people at this time. The experience and inspiration that these professional musicians can provide to our young people is very valuable and we are pleased to be able to show our support to the artistic community through these workshops”.
It is hoped that the workshop series will continue into the New Year and many young singers and instrumentalists in Guernsey will benefit from them.
