26th November 2024:
Musical journey from the early 20th Century English and French chamber music to Christmas Carols via some of Cinema’s Classic Theme Songs
Local schoolchildren learnt all about the saxophone with a lunchtime chamber music recital by Birmingham based Yugen Quartet on Tuesday 26th November 2024.
Year 6 pupils and teachers from both Michaelchurch Escley and Peterchurch Primary Schools together with over 100 Year 7 and 8 pupils from Fairfield High School attended the concert and learned about four different types of saxophones and a variety of genres of music. Lasting approximately 35 minutes, the concert also included some lively interaction between pupils and musicians.
The children heard music ranging from Super Mario Bros to Scottish Reels, and classical favourites to movie classics, ending with a medley of Christmas carols all performed by the Yugen Saxophone Quartet. Performers were Ewan Wright on Soprano Saxophone; Dominic Cotta on Alto Saxophone; Andrey Fjeldstad on Tenor Saxophone; and Alicia Hillman on Baritone Saxophone.
Recent winners of the Andrew Downes Prize 2022 and the Sylvia Cleaver Prize 2021, Yugen are four unique saxophonists using their shared passion for chamber music to form an exciting and vibrant ensemble. Formed in November 2020 of a mixture of undergraduate and graduates from The Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, their world-music inspired debut album “Origins” was released in 2022 to high acclaim.
In addition to the interactive concert, a small group of 12 secondary school pupils from Fairfield were treated to a private workshop by the quartet in the school’s music studio . The pupils were introduced to the different saxophones, instructed in how to shape their mouths to get a sound from the instruments, finally progressing on to the early stages of music making. Giggles, fun, questions and amazement ensued.
For many pupils, it the first time they had heard professional musicians play live. It was a joy to see the looks of concentration on the pupils’ faces as they listened to the musicians. The pupils’ questions after were curious and insightful. It was all the more special when a small group of pupils were given the chance to handle and experience the instruments, interacting one on one with the musicians afterwards.
Concerts for Craswall would like to extend their gratitude to the Yugen Saxophone Quartet for their performance and teaching, and to the the Friends and supporters of the concerts who continue to donate as well as The Artemis Charitable Foundation whose funding helped make this outreach day happen.”
👏 Bravo, Yugen Quartet! We eagerly await a return visit.