Waveband Premiere

Waveband – a fantastic performance of music and dance was given its world premiere at the Arc, Stockton on Thursday 20th July

Waveband was an Arts Council funded project that linked young people from across the Tees Valley with professional artists to explore new ways of composing, creating and performing music in schools. This year Tees Valley Arts worked with with Branksome School, Darlington and Redcar Comunity College to realise a piece of music created by Branksome students and English Martyrs students in Hartlepool.

Over the last two years, over 80 young musicians have benefited from the waveband project as new approaches to GCSE composition were developed. We also linked successfully with the Creative Partnerships and Performing Rights Society Foundation funded project ‘Ignite’ which allowed music teachers and freelance musicians to explore creative music making via tutoring and the Guildhall School of Music.

Last week’s concert featured some work produced as part of the Ignite project followed by the realisation of ‘Waveband’ a contemporary piece produced by young people from across the Tees Valley!

Tees Valley Arts’ Project Co-ordinator Mike McGrother commented “Waveband is a piece of music which combines rhythm, harmony and experimentation rarely heard played by those of a school age. Facilitated by Tony McNally and Danny Allinson, and a whole host of professional artists and educators, a picture of the River Tees was created for people to enjoy and appreciate”.