Nottingham Symphonic Winds Twentieth Anniversary Workshops
Anniversaries are often a time to reflect and to take stock, as well as looking forward. In preparing for its Twenty Year anniversary, the members and organisers of Nottingham Symphonic Winds did just that, and planned a series of events to celebrate the group’s achievements, invest in its future, and reflect its community base.
It turned out to be quite a year. It started exceptionally well, with co-founder and organiser Margaret Frogson being awarded the Making Music Lady Hilary Groves Prize for her outstanding contribution to community based music. Margaret has long been a driving force behind the group and continues to channel her energies into its continued success.
The group’s principal sponsors Windblowers were also awarded the Classic FM Music Industry Association Award for Educational Initiative in 2007, in recognition of their contribution in starting and supporting NSW.
Nottingham Symphonic Winds were also delighted to learn that they had been awarded funding from the national lottery Awards for All scheme to enable them to run some special projects in their anniversary year. These projects took the form of two workshops; one for the main group, the Nottingham Symphonic Wind Orchestra (NSWO). and the second for the entire group (NSWO and its sister group the Nottingham Wind Ensemble) plus players from the local community.
The first workshop took place in October 2007, in conjunction with tutors from the RNCM, including John Miller (trumpet), Jonathan Small (double reed), Lindsey Stoker (horn), Ian Wright (percussion), Chris Houlding (low brass), Richard Davis (flute), Chris Swann (clarinet) and Rob Buckland (saxophone). Using the facilities of Swanwick Conference Centre in Derbyshire, NSWO players were coached on a number of pieces, including Ellerby’s Symphony for Winds, David Bedford’sCanons and Cadenzas and Nigel Clarke’sSamurai; and on general technique and ensemble skills. The results exceeded all expectations – it was fantastically beneficial for all players and for the group as a whole. Conductor Keiron Anderson was delighted with the outcome of the session. “This is a real milestone for this group – it has really made a difference, and one which I believe will be long lasting.”
It seems he was right as the group went on to make a great impression with Nottingham music critics. The concert, which took place just a week later on November 3rd in Nottingham’s Albert Hall, was included in the Top Five Classical Concerts in Nottingham of 2007 in the Nottingham Evening Post’s annual review – alongside the Halle with Mark Elder, The Sixteen, the RPO and the Nottingham Philharmonic. This was quite an achievement, and there could be no better endorsement of the value of the workshop in preparing for the concert. Critic William Ruff was clearly impressed. "This concert celebrated 20 years of one of the best wind bands in the country. It was an exciting showcase of some dazzlingly difficult pieces."
The second workshop was quite different in scope and purpose, but equally successful. In January 2008 Nottingham Symphonic Winds opened its doors to the musicians in the community, providing an opportunity for players to gain access to some of its resources. Wind, brass and percussion players of Grade 5 standard plus were invited to come along to a day of coaching and performance. In total, 140 musicians participated in a day which started with sectional workshops, coached by some of the best tutors available, including David Campbell (clarinet), Meyrick Alexander (bassoon), Richard Bissal (french horn), Ian Wright (percussion), Gerald Douglas (trumpet), Colin Sneade (low brass), Clare Southworth (flute), Jonathan Small (oboe) and Alistair Parnell (saxophone). In the afternoon, conductor Keiron Anderson rehearsed the combined group in David Bedford’s Sun Paints Rainbows on the Vast Waves and Naohiro Iwai’s arrangement of West Side Story. The morning’s hard work paid off as the pieces came together remarkably quickly for such a large ensemble, in time for an informal concert in the evening in the brand new Bluecoat School Recital Hall. Visiting players really enjoyed the experience and many have requested a repeat in future years.
As NSW moves into its twenty first year it has much to be proud of. More than 500 musicians have belonged to the organisation over the years and many have gone on to pursue music as a career. The playing standard continues to improve and competition for playing places in NSWO is fierce – whilst it retains its community roots many members are highly experienced musicians with ensemble experience to rival the best. Conductor Keiron Anderson continues to strive for collective excellence by encouraging individuals to take responsibility for their role in the group, an approach which he hopes will take the group far.
