A selection of photographs from our Schools’ Music Festival 2023 at the Royal Albert Hall.
You’re in the right place for resources for staff and pupils,
some ideas for musical activities to do at home and an archive of previous events
Find out more about the Camden Music Wider Opportunities Programme – watch this short video
Have a look here at the videos of our holiday music courses!
Camden Youth Jazz Band
Conductor Kate Hannent gives an update on recent activity of some of Camden’s young jazzers.
“CYJB continued to make music despite lockdowns. With only 2 live rehearsals this academic year, and none in the Spring term, we wanted to put together a virtual recording. Each band member recorded their part to “Love for Sale” individually at home – and thanks to sectional tutors Daisy Coole and Phillip Harper we are able to hear the band as a whole ensemble, complete with improvised solos from leavers Rob and Pitta on trombone and Ciaran on trumpet. Thanks to all band members and tutors for their patience and perseverance to still participate in music-making during these difficult times.“
The Somers Town Sinfonia
The Somers Town Sinfonia is a new orchestra made up of young players from Argyle, Edith Neville, Netley, Richard Cobden and St Mary & St Pancras Primary Schools, performing alongside STS tutors.
Over the past months they have been rehearsing on line using video support from tutors. With the help of teachers in schools, they made recordings which have been put together.
We had a Zoom “concert” to share the work on Tuesday 23rd March – which was the first time all the players had been together.
We hope you enjoy the performances.
Looking for some music activities to do at home?
Here are some links to some things you might like to have a look at.
Something Special Happens
This is a brand new song, written for Camden. In the autumn term, schools across the borough recorded it. Here’s the finished video. Our thanks and congratulations to everyone who took part. We hope it makes you smile in these gloomy days.
It’s not too late to learn the song. The resources are here
It was a crazy day…
We’ve all been having some crazy days at the moment, but young composer and performer Jerome Pongo, from Netley Primary School, has been using his experiences to write some fantastic new songs. His most recent composition is called “It Was A Crazy Day” – have a listen.
Dan Owers, Assistant Headteacher at Netley, caught up with Jerome and had a chat about how he got into writing songs.
Q: We know you as Jerome. How are you known as a singer/song writer:
A: Switchboy DTA.
Q: Where does that name come from?
A: My dad’s song writer name is Stinga DTA. DTA stands for determined to achieve.
Q: What inspired you to write It Was A Crazy Day?
A: My dad writes songs so I thought I’d like to do it too.
Q: How did you initially record your ideas?
A: My mum recorded me singing it [on her phone] so I wouldn’t forget it and then we went to a recording studio and we recorded it there.
Q: What’s next for Switchboy DTA?
A: I’m writing another song.
Camden New Voices 2020 have been rehearsing on Zoom and have made a video with the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment. Click here to see it and to find out a bit more about the song.
The Camden Youth Jazz Band has been busy under lock-down. Have a listen here.
The Camden Concert Band and Camden Sinfonia perform Ode to Joy.
And Camband have also been in the recording studio. Here’s a link to their recording.
Camden World Song Project II
The Camden World Song Project began in the early 2000s as a way of highlighting and celebrating the wealth of cultures and languages in our schools, focusing on songs, music and dancing.
Involving children, parents and staff from schools across the borough, songs were collected, collated and shared. A printed pack of songs and a CD of children’s performances was produced – and is still available. The project inspired similar projects across London and more widely across the UK. Click here to hear some of the songs collected as part of the first project
We think it’s time to revisit this project! Click here for more information and to hear some of the songs collected at Torriano Primary School.
One Duck Stuck
A composing project for EYFS/KS1. Can we help the duck get out of the muck? Click here to find out more.
Sonic Postcards
Listen really carefully to the sounds around you. Listen especially carefully to the sounds you don’t usually notice. Sonic Postcards is digital composition project for KS2. Share your local sonosphere! Click here for more info.
A New Created World at the
Royal Albert Hall March 2020
A New Created World – a brand new composition written by pupils at Frank Barnes School for Deaf Children, Gospel Oak Primary School, Rhyl Primary School and Swiss Cottage School, working with players of the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment and Fellows of the Royal Academy of Music under the musical direction of James Redwood. The piece was performed at the Camden Schools’ Music Festival on 10th March 2020 by over 2000 young people – the massed instrumental ensembles and choirs of Camden.
This project was funded by the London Music Fund.
Click to see the performance
And here’s a link to video highlights of the whole festival
And here are some photographs.
