Student compositions performed by world famous Bergamo Ensemble
Posted on Monday 3 April 2006
The renowned Bergamo Ensemble perform fifteen world premieres in Farnborough Sixth Form College's Pr
The renowned Bergamo Ensemble, which has built a world wide reputation for its interpretation of modern classical music, performed fifteen world premieres last week in Farnborough Sixth Form College's Prospect Theatre, together with the Schoenberg's Chamber Symphony No 1. The world premieres were works written by students at the College.
The ensemble spent the day providing workshops for students and recording the compositions of over 50 A and AS level students. The students studied techniques to improve their work, rewriting elements of their scores through the day, and the ensemble offered professional advice on how they might develop their compositional skills.
Mark Bowden, tutor in music and himself a renowned international composer, had invited the ensemble to the College. He said, "This is a wonderful experience for students. They have reached heights in composition that surpasses many of which undergraduates would be proud".
Ben Dowsett, Head of A level music, "It was a privilege to work with the Bergamo Ensemble and although over 50 new works by AS and A level music students were recorded during the day, only fifteen were able to be performed in front of the packed audience on the night".
First year student Jason Chowdhury, 17, of Fleet, composed a piece called Oddysey, minimalist in structure but producing exciting sounds from a quartet of clarinet, violin, viola and 'cello. He said, "It was amazing to see how a professional ensemble interpreted my composition but I had to modify it to allow the clarinettist to breathe occasionally!"
Bergamo Ensemble leader, James Widden, said that the most challenging piece to play was Frenetic Musings by Tim Horne, 17, of Hook. Tim, an accomplished percussionist, said, "I had spent five months working on my composition and hearing it performed live by professional musicians was really inspirational".
Speaking after the concert, College Principal, Dr John Guy, thanked the Michael Downes, Conductor, and the Bergamo Ensemble for enriching the experience of students. He said, "Even experienced musicians do not believe that this sort of work can be achieved by A level students. You have helped bring musicianship at this College to another new level of brilliance".
