BREAKING NEWS: Grand Union Youth Orchestra are moving to Rich Mix!
BREAKING NEWS: Grand Union Youth Orchestra are moving to Rich Mix!
8 July 2011
From September 2011 London’s pioneering jazz and world music youth ensemble, the Grand Union Youth Orchestra, will be taking up residency at Rich Mix, East London’s vibrant cross-cultural arts centre, for a regular series of free, innovative cross-cultural music workshops and performances for young people.
With their shared vision of delivering high quality artistic programmes accessible to London’s diverse communities, it is a match made in heaven, as both organisations explore creatively the cultural melting pot that is London’s East End today.
In 2006, Grand Union Orchestra - innovators of cross-cultural music-making in the UK - launched the Grand Union Youth Orchestra of East London (GUYO) with the aim of bringing together young musicians from all musical cultures to perform in a unified ensemble. Since its inception, the ensemble has gone from strength to strength, continually growing in number and range of instruments, from jazz saxophones to Turkish saz, from steel pans to sarangi, from trombones to tabla. The ensemble is regularly invited to perform at high profile events and venues across the Capital, from Paradise Gardens in Victoria Park, Shoreditch Festival and the Hackney Empire Theatre to Romford’s Romfest and the Queen’s Theatre in Hornchurch.
GUYO share and blend music from many world cultures (as represented by its diverse membership) with elements of jazz and blues, and make it their own. The young musicians are mentored by and perform alongside renowned jazz musicians and authentic exponents of many world musics from the professional Grand Union Orchestra.
The new workshop series at Rich Mix will introduce young musicians to a broad range of musical cultures and musical techniques – with a particular focus on improvisation. The programme is open to young musicians aged 13-25 of any level of skill from around grade 4 standard (if working to the conventional music exam system) up to conservatoire level. Any melody or percussion instrument is welcome, particularly from non-Western musical traditions; the ability to read music is useful but not essential, but a willingness to play by ear and above all an adventurous attitude towards music-making certainly is.
The workshops take place from 10 am – 2 pm at Richmix, 35-47 Bethnal Green Road, E16LA on:
- Sunday 11th September - Introductory workshop
- Sunday 23rd October - Introductory workshop
- Sunday 13th November - Programme to be announced
- Sunday 11th December - Programme to be announced
The first 2 sessions will be held as open recruitment workshops, with the aim to welcome new young musicians into the youth orchestra. If you would like to take part, please register your interest here.
What is Rich Mix?!
Located in the heart of East London, Rich Mix is a social enterprise that offers live music, film, dance, theatre, comedy, spoken word and a range of creative activities for people of all ages and all cultures. All profits go back to support education, arts and community activities which nurture new and emerging talent. It offers five floors of vibrant creativity and excellence providing:
- three state of the art cinema screens showing blockbusters alongside a selection of Independent, Arthouse, World films and documentaries
- a performing arts venue delivering a line up of Arts and Culture programmes: theatre, dance, spoken word, music and more
- education spaces and family programmes
- four floors of affordable creative workspaces that have become hosts to a number of creative businesses
- a spectacular top venue and event space with expansive views of the City
- a huge contemporary bar space hosting events every night of the week, including free events
- an exhibition gallery space.
