Britten Sinfonia Academy Aldeburgh Residency

Britten Sinfonia Academy have just returned from Snape Maltings where they joined Aldeburgh Young Musicians for an intensive week-long chamber orchestra course themed 'Britten Inspired'.

The young musicians explored existing repertoire and also developed new material created by young AYM composers for full ensembles and smaller chamber groups. The course was led by Britten Sinfonia's violinist Clara Bliss and composer Dobrinka Tabakova, and the musicians were joined by Bridget Carey (viola), Sarah O'Flynn (flute), Lucy Railton (cello) and Matt Yardley (trumpet).

Here are some photos showing what the Academy got up to during their week in Aldeburgh:

Early morning yoga on the Hepworth Lawn (c) Otis Luxton/AYM

Every morning began with a warm-up with everyone

warming up

An informal sharing of work by AYM composers

Small ensemble rehearsals

(c) Otis Luxton/AYM

(c) Otis Luxton / AYM

A rehearsal with an AYM composer

Of course there were breaks from the music including lunchtime football matches

and walks in the beautiful surroundings of Snape

Dobrinka Tabakova rehearsing her new piece with the ensemble

Full ensemble rehearsal

Of course the management and professional musicians managed to find time for fish and chips on the beach

Dobrinka Tabakova (composer) and Mateja Kaluza (Britten Sinfonia Creative Learning Assistant) admire Maggi Hambling's famous sculpture inspired by Benjamin Britten

To find out more about Britten Sinfonia Academy click here

Cricket result

Closest match yet, but we still lost our third cricket match against Aldeburgh Music. Even with a brilliant wicket keeper (one of the Buddhist monks on our team from the Tashi Lhunpo Monastery). It was a Twenty Five/25 match, and Aldeburgh scored 96 in their alloted overs, before getting us out for 72. Brilliant Suffolk afternoon, as light rain gave way to warm sunshine. There are some pictures of the Snape mandala on On an Overgrown Path, the cricket being a short break from the intensive work its creation takes. I'll add some cricket photos in a day or two.

Monks of the Tashi Lhunpo Monastery return for a cricket match

We welcome back our friends the Monks of the Tashi Lhunpo Monastery for our annual Britten Sinfonia vs. Aldeburgh Music cricket match, taking place this afternoon at Sudbourne, nr. Orford, in Suffolk. You can see them above at last year's match in Cambridge. The Monastery was founded in Tibet in the 15th century and re-established in exile in South India three decades ago.
Whilst here for the match the monks are also giving a concert in Snape Maltings tomorrow evening: 'the sacred world of Tibet is filled with the chanting of Buddhist texts, the recitation of mantras, the ringing of bells and cymbals, the blowing of long horns and the beating of drums.' There is also a programme of workshops, and on Sunday they will perform the Sand Mandala Striking Ceremony. My photo below shows the equivalent event outside King's College Chapel, a few days after last year's match.