​
MRF Events
News, news, news!!!
Festival '24 feedback
Come & Sing - Come & Play
28th April
Alton College, Hampshire
In a packed day of workshops and rehearsals, contemporary music was explored and celebrated by
ages 13 to 84 singing & playing.
The Festival is the culmination of our annual scheme supporting young composers. This year it not only provided performances of pieces for percussion by our 4 award-holders: Albert Heathfield, Joe Jolliffe, Charlie Jones & Will Sharps, it also provided a platform for 3 of our alumni: Pernlle Faye, Ella Laughton & Felix Sladen-Jewell.
Award-holders, alumni, workshop directors, performer-in-residence and Trustees.
Super-star percussionist, Toril Azzalini-Machecler, BBC Young Musician finalist 2020, directed a percussion workshop.
In the early evening concert, Toril gave a recital of the 4 award-holders' pieces, joined by performances from each workshop group:
Flexible Ensemble, Festival Choir &
Percussion Workshop.
Toril directing the percussion workshop in a lively samba.
It was great to witness our alumni thriving on their compositional paths, and to see our award-holders onto theirs, with super-star percussionist Toril Azzalini-Machecler in action... wowing us all!
Award scheme '24 for young composers
​
On March 16th, our 4 awarded composers
featured in the
Junior Department Contemporary Music Concert
at the
Royal College of Music, London.
​
Along with premieres of works by Junior Department composers, Cameron Sinclair premiered MRF
award-holders' commissions for percussion.
​
​
​
​
L to R: Simon Speare - composer-mentor, Albert, Charlie, Joe & Will - award-holders, Cameron Sinclair - Head of Percussion,
Dame Judith Weir- patron, Freddie Hodkin - trustee.
​
​
We are grateful to Dame Judith Weir - master of the King's Music, for her encouraging comments to the young musicians, and her praise of the growing partnership betwen RCMJD and MRF.
Hear the award-holders compositions at our Annual Festival, April 28th.
Dame Judith later summed up the event:
I am hopeful about the future of music education because I have the great encouragement of seeing enterprises like MRF constantly at work to keep the channels open for students of all backgrounds, hard work though it of course is. But also so enjoyable to see and hear a concert such as (this) and sense all the activity behind it.
Bravo to all who were involved - I’m looking forward to the next chapter!
From the parent of an award-holder...
I just wanted to say a massive thank you for everything you've done for the MRF award. My son had the most incredible experience and the concert last night will be treasured in all of our memories. Please could you pass on the biggest thanks from all of us to everyone involved - especially to Cameron Sinclair who played all of the pieces with such care and passion. It feels unbelievable that my son had his first percussion composition performed by such a renowned musician, in such an amazing venue! He feels incredibly privileged to have been given such an opportunity.
​
MRF's support for young composers
is FREE.
Please consider donating or fundraising to ensure it continues.
​
​
Martin Read, composer & teacher
with links to audio and film footage.