Education and Outreach
The Avison Ensemble's outreach programmes are designed to appeal to people of all ages and abilities.
Working in partnership with a number of local and national organisations we have developed an approach to working in schools that is unique and highly interactive. Our education partners include the local choir of the Cathedral Church of St Nicholas' and the Choir of Her Majesty's Chapel Royal. We sponsor and partner with the Gateshead Youth Orchestra and First Act Theatre from Newcastle.
Our annual Young Musicians' Awards scheme is for young instrumentalists and singers under 18 years of age, where the emphasis is upon personal development and improvement in professional presentation and musicianship, rather than on the winning.
We are engaged in projects in the local community not just through local schools, but also through Newcastle University and Newcastle Central Library. Our education projects are run in partnership with the Gateshead and Newcastle Schools Music Services and we partner with additional youth community groups on specific work relating to our Music Discovery Days.
We believe that our education and outreach work is a lifelong learning experience and we welcome our audiences to attend and take part in events that assist in the appreciation and understanding of our music-making and work towards helping people become self-expressed through music.
We are grateful to the following for supporting our educaiton work in the North East: the County Durham Community Foundation, the Gillian Dickinson Trust, the Hays Travel Foundation and The Sir James Knott Trust.
Award Winners' Concert 2017
6 May 2017
This year's Avison Ensemble Young Musicians' Awards 2017 Winners’ Concert was held on Saturday 6 May 2017 at The Literary and Philosophical Society, Newcastle.
Winners from this year’s Awards performed and they were joined in the concert by one of this year’s Finalists and a previous Winner of the Awards. The Winners were also presented with their trophies, certificates and scores by the Chairman of The Literary and Philosophical Society, as well as a year’s membership of The Literary and Philosophical Society’s Library.
The concert included performances from the winners of this year's Young Musicians' Awards together with performances from some of the other finalists. The award winners were presented with their Awards and a year's free membership of the Literary and Philosophical Society's Library. Our concert is a great showcase of the young talent we have in the North East! To find out more about our annual Young Musicians' Awards click here.
On view during the Concert was one of Charles Avison’s music Workbooks. Autograph manuscripts by Avison were practically unknown until the Avison Ensemble acquired his two autograph music Workbooks in 2002. The Workbooks provide a rare glimpse into how Avison and other 18th century composers devised their music, as well as containing previously unknown pieces by Avison and transcriptions of music by others. These manuscripts are therefore of great importance both to the cultural history of Newcastle and the North East and to our understanding of the musical world in England in the 18th century.
The Avison Ensemble is highlighting the existence and importance of the Workbooks through a series of events and learning projects in Newcastle and the North East with funding awarded by The Heritage Lottery Fund. Click here to find out more about the Workbooks project.
One of Avison's Workbooks was on view during the concert and was introduced by the Ensemble's Executive Director.
We're grateful to The Lit and Phil for hosting this year's Awards and we thank the following for supporting this year's Young Musicians' Awards: The Gillian Dickinson Trust, The Hays Travel Foundation and The Sir James Knott Trust.
'In Celebration' concert 2015
18 April 2015
Our children's ‘In Celebration!’ concert showcased some of the best young musical talent in the North East. Winners from this year's Avison Ensemble Young Musicians' Awards performed and were joined by the Whickham Viol Consort.
The concert included the presentation of the 2015 Young Musicians' Awards by the Chairman of The Literary and Philosophical Society who also presented the winners with a year's membership of the Lit and Phil's library.
We're grateful to The Lit and Phil for hosting this year's Awards.
Wandering Minstrels project
Primary schools project 2013-2014
Our ‘Wandering Minstrels’ team of gifted musicians devised a programme of workshops designed to enthral children of all ages and involve them in exploring the world of music and its impact on our lives. The children were given the opportunity to develop their vocal skills, and also gain a deeper understanding of the study of sound through a detailed account of the workings of instruments such as the cello and harpsichord. Children all learnt the basic steps of the minuet, with harpsichord accompaniment. The workshops explored the nature of music performed in the Georgian and Victorian eras, putting it into its social context, with a final focus on the Tyneside music hall.
During the year 2013 we have presented 55 workshops in some 28 schools, commonly giving two performances at each school, and in total 3,735 children were engaged in these workshops. Engaged children have been in Sunderland, Gateshead, Newcastle and North Tyneside, and we have focused on either a Key Stage 1 (infants) programme or a more sophisticated Key Stage 2 (junior) programme. Click here or on the image to find out more about our Wandering Minstrels project.
Our Wandering Minstrels project has been supported by the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation.
'In Celebration' concert 2014
16th March 2014
Our children's ‘In Celebration!’ concert was held in the presence of The Mayor of Gateshead Councillor Jack Graham at Newcastle University's King's Hall and it celebrated some of the best young musical talent in the North East. Winners from this year's Avison Ensemble Young Musicians' Awards performed and were joined by the Gateshead Schools Youth Orchestra (conducted by John Treherne MBE) and the Gateshead Schools Senior Wind Band ‘Notability’ (directed by David Milner). The concert included the presentation of the 2014 Young Musicians' Awards by The Mayor of Gateshead.
This year's Awards and Celebration Concert have been supported by the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation.
'In Celebration' concert 2013
17th March 2013
Our children's ‘In Celebration!’ concert was held in the presence of The Mayor of Gateshead Councillor Malcolm Brain at Newcastle University's King's Hall and it celebrated some of the best young musical talent in the North East. Winners from this year's Avison Ensemble Young Musicians' Awards were joined by the Gateshead Schools Youth Orchestra (conducted by John Treherne MBE) and the Gateshead Schools Senior Wind Band ‘Notability’ (directed by David Milner). The concert included the presentation of the 2013 Young Musicians' Awards by The Mayor of Gateshead.
This year's Awards and Celebration Concert have been supported by the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation.
Music Celebration Festival
May to July 2012
Sponsored by the Avison Ensemble and presented by Gateshead Schools' Music Service
The Avison Ensemble is proud to have sponsored this year’s Music Celebration Festival presented by Gateshead Schools’ Music Service. The Festival brought together hundreds of children and a wide range of partners in a series of vibrant concerts showcasing the wealth of musical talent in the region. Highlights included:
The Blaydon Bash concert celebrating the 150th anniversary of The Blaydon Races, a Jubilee Concert featuring ensembles and choirs from the North East, a Showcase Concert featuring a variety of bands, string ensembles and the Gateshead Viol Consort, a Wopping Big Barbeque with a massive ensemble in the outdoor area outside Gibside Chapel, and a concert at Gibside Chapel with the Gateshead Youth Orchestra and Wind Band and Gateshead Viol Consort.
As a grande finale to the Music Celebration Festival HM The Queen and Prince Philip enjoyed a Royal Celebration Jamboree at the Gateshead International Stadium, with some Festival performers meeting Her Majesty.
We're grateful to the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation for supporting the Music Celebration Festival.
'In Celebration' concert 2012
4th March 2012
Our children's ‘In Celebration!’ concert was held in the presence of The Sheriff of Newcastle Councillor Jackie Slesenger and celebrated some of the best young musical talent in the North East.
Winners and finalists from this and previous year's Avison Ensemble Young Musicians' Awards were joined by the Boys of Newcastle Cathedral Choir, the Gateshead Youth Orchestra and the Gateshead Wind Band.
The concert included the presentation of the 2012 Young Musicians' Awards by The Sheriff of Newcastle. The Awards were founded in 2006 and this year's Awards and concert have been supported by The Sir James Knott Trust and Joel Cohen and Andrea Toon (American Friends of The Avison Ensemble).
This concert now marks an annual celebration of all that’s good about our local children and young people singing and playing music together in a mixture of styles, on a variety of instruments and from all ages and grades.
Family Concert
1st October 2011
The Avison Ensemble is delighted to have continued its collaborations with young musicians in the North East region by presenting a Saturday afternoon Family Concert in the heart of Newcastle’s town centre in early October 2011.
Performing at the Brunswick Methodist Chapel the Ensemble was joined by the Strings of the Gateshead Youth Orchestra and the Gateshead Viol Consort who performed lively works from the English Baroque period. The Avison Ensemble performed Vivaldi's Four Seasons on period instruments to coincide with the release of their new recording on Linn Records of Vivaldi's 12 Violin Concertos Opus 8.
Music Celebration Week
11th – 15th July 2011
Sponsored by the Avison Ensemble and presented by Gateshead Schools' Music Service
The Avison Ensemble is proud to have sponsored this year’s Music Celebration Week presented by Gateshead Schools’ Music Service. Hundreds of children across Gateshead were involved in workshops, sing-a-longs, demonstrations and concerts, as well as a WOPPING big, music-filled picnic at Gibside!
The Avison Ensemble is grateful to The Roland Cookson Fund at The Community Foundation and the Arts Council North East for supporting Music Celebration Week.
