ABYSO welcomes UK Musicians for Summer Workshops

The ABYSO welcomed a delegation of musicians from the United Kingdom representing four organisations for a 10-day music education visit. The delegation was led by Alison Cox OBE, Founder and Chair of Trustees of The Commonwealth Resounds and Geoff Parkin, Artistic Director of the Royal Over-Seas League (ROSL).

The visit is expected to be the first in a long-term partnership with ROSL, The Commonwealth Resounds, the Purcell School for Young Musicians and the Wells Cathedral School.  Under this programme, students, faculty and post-conservatoire level musicians from Purcell, Wells and ROSL will visit Antigua and Barbuda annually to:

• engage in music practice and theory knowledge transfer to local tutors and musicians on the ABYSO
• learn about Antiguan and Barbudan culture including music
• support the development of young composers on Antigua and Barbuda
• engage in music concerts and special events to promote interest in music
• develop lifelong friendships with young musicians on Antigua and Barbuda.

The inaugural exchange ran from 6^th to 16^th July, and ended with a grand concert celebrating the Commonwealth at 70. The modern Commonwealth came into being 70 years ago with the London Declaration, signed on 26^th April 1949. Across the Commonwealth, organisations are celebrating the 70th Anniversary with a series of events, conferences, competitions and workshops throughout the next year.

The Commonwealth Resounds promotes music and musicians across the Commonwealth through collaborative events worldwide with a particular focus on young people and the developing world. It was represented by Alison Cox, percussionist Joe Richards, and Communications representative Martin Weiss.

ROSL is dedicated to helping artists and musicians across the Commonwealth connect, collaborate and create. The ROSL delegation was led by Geoff Parkin and included professional violinist William Newell and professional clarinetist Jordan Black.

The Purcell School is Britain’s oldest specialist music school. The students on this visit were:  violinist Abigail James, violist Alexander Papp, cellist and composer Joshua Mock, guitarist Sol Grimshaw, oboist Ellen Wilkinson, bassoonist Iona Griffiths, flautist Francesca Biescas Rue, French horn player Joseph Longstaff, jazz pianist Cody Moss and composer Ka Youn Yoo. Sally Ann Whitty was the staff representative.

Wells Cathedral School is one of the oldest schools in Europe. It was represented by trumpet tutor and Head of Music Technology Jack Coward and student trombonist Meggie Murphy.

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