Music in Education

The Amadè Players feel that musical education is crucial in development of children. It improves general abilities in the classroom, supports specific curriculum-based teaching and helps to build an experienced audience base for the future.

Our educational work takes two paths, and we feel that by continuing this we are able to contribute to the learning, enjoyment and practice of music in schools. We work hard to make the students who participate feel like part of the ensemble, not merely children, but rather young musicians.

On the this page you can learn more about both our large Opera and Oratorio in Education projects, and the Mentored Musician Scheme.
  

A word from our Patrons



What a great way to introduce young people to the joy, fun and depth of opera, and also the thrill of working with historical instruments. I'm pleased to wish all involved the very best
Richard Egarr
Patron



I am delighted to be supporting the educational work of The Amadè Players, and their collaboration with the Foundling Museum
Christopher Hogwood, CBE
Patron



We are proud to be working with the Department of Music at Goldsmiths, University of London and The Foundling Museum for our education projects. Please visit their websites using the links below:





Mentored Musicians

Our first Mentored Musician is trumpet player Agnes Chandler. Since January 2012, Agnes has been mentored by Victoria Rule, a student at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, and our Principal Trumpet. This season, and her participation in the scheme, will be Agnes's first performance using a valveless natural trumpet, and her professional debut.

Agnes started learning the trumpet at the age of 5, inspired by listening to a village brass band in Falmouth two years earlier. Initially playing on a pocket trumpet, she was very proud of the fact that she worked out a C major scale before her first lesson. She now has an impressive collection of instruments, including some unusual and historic gems, and achieved Grade 8 with distinction aged 12 in 2011.

Currently a member of the National Children's Orchestra Under 13s (being first trumpet for the London Regionals, and previously the Eastern Regionals and the U12s), she has also been first trumpet in the Barbican Young Orchestra for the last two years. Agnes has performed solos to the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester; at Duke's Hall; at the Wigmore Hall (as a music scholar at St. Marylebone CE School) and at LSO St. Lukes. She played the Last Post at St.Marylebone Parish Church to over a thousand people in November 2011 and recently joined the Guildhall Junior Department, after 3 years at the Primary Academy at the Royal Academy of Music. She currently studies under Andy Mitchell.
Mentor Victoria Rule is in her final year of study at the GSMD and will be presenting a programme of solo trumpet music themed on the legend of King Arthur with The Amade` Players in October 2012. She plays on a Keavy-Vanryne natural trumpet, purchased with the help of the Sir John Barbirolli Memorial Foundation.



Opera and Oratorio in Education

In October 2011 we undertook our first large-scale Opera in Education project, working over a week with 35 students from John Roan School, aged eleven to fifteen. Through a programme of rehearsals, practical instrumental sessions and lots of fun, we prepared these young musicians for a full concert performance of Purcell's Dido and Aeneas.

Given to a sell-out audience, the performance showed just how capable young singers can be with the right support. Working alongside Goldsmiths, University of London and the staff at John Roan, The Amadè Players took on a challenging week, but we all feel we learned as much as our student colleagues.

We are pleased to announce that in March 2012 we will be collaborating again with John Roan School in Greenwich, as well as with Kender Primary School in Lewisham for a 90-student project, Oratorio in Education.  This performance will be based upon Handel's Messiah and will again involve the music department at Goldsmiths, as well as The Foundling Museum. Check our Concerts page for more information.