Clock House brother’s Joseph and Oliver are enjoying sessions with the National Children’s Orchestras of Great Britain’s first ever digital programme and are looking forward to being part of a national live stream event on 1 July.
Joseph, who plays viola in the Under 12 orchestra, and Oliver, who plays double bass in the Under 10 orchestra, attend the course via a specially created website where there are musical activities online managed by more than 80 freelance professionals. It entails taking part in online sectionals every Sunday and online sessions covering different aspects of playing throughout the week.
The programme has also focused on the health and wellbeing aspects to playing a musical instrument, with Henry Cookey, Olympic Taekwondo athlete doing exercise sessions with them. Meanwhile the brothers have also enjoyed the Composing for Film sessions with Aardman productions and have learnt how to set their own music to a film score.
The main instrumental sessions have focused on playing various orchestral extracts and practising their parts for On The Move, a special composition by the whole NCOGB orchestra. Once they’ve recorded all five movements, they will be added with everyone else’s videos to create a live stream on YouTube broadcast on 1 July, which will share some of the events and engagement that has happened over the 15 weeks.
Joseph said: “There are so many resources for us to take part in which are lots of fun. When I’m playing with the recording it feels like I’m playing with the whole orchestra, which is amazing. I really enjoyed making the soundtrack with Aardman because we got to improvise, and I love Wallace and Gromit! These social sessions have really helped me to stay happy with a smile on my face.”
Oliver added: “It’s nice to do the National Children’s Orchestra in the same room as Joseph. It’s really strange because I feel like I’m in an orchestra but if I look around, I’m in the sitting room! I like the social sessions because I can show off my juggling.”
The brothers are hoping to be able to audition to take part in live events next year.
“It’s nice to do the National Children’s Orchestra in the same room as Joseph. It’s really strange because I feel like I’m in an orchestra but if I look around, I’m in the sitting room! I like the social sessions because I can show off my juggling.”
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