Live Music Now is delighted to launch a new series of online live music concerts live streamed into special schools across the North East and Yorkshire area. Twenty one schools have signed up to the pilot project, curated to add breadth to the new music curriculum and support schools in their cultural capital offer. The sessions are approximately 45 minutes long and the children have the opportunity to engage with listening activities, learning about the instruments being played and engage in some musical activities.
The first session – aligned to support Black History Month in schools – was performed by Jali Bakary Konteh. This was a great opportunity to hear the traditional Kora played live and Jali talked about the tradition of music in his Griot family, learning to play the Kora from his father, who in turn learned from his own father. Schools were able to ask questions via the chat function and many were interested in knowing how often he practised – the answer was every day!
Just a few of the great responses we’ve had from participating schools…
“We all like your music a lot! P.S. we are dancing!”
Sixth form at St Johns
“The concert was awesome – what a musician!”
Oakfield School – Hull
“Thank you so much, your music is amazing!”
Percy Hedley School in Northumberland
The series continues with a beatboxing session with Dean Yhnell on Thursday 18th November and and towards the end of term Mishra, a global folk duo, will be performing a set, sharing their unique sound from their base in South Yorkshire across the North East and Yorkshire region.
Upcoming session information:
| Thursday 14th October, 11am | Jali Bakary Konteh |
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Jali Bakary Konteh is the son of Dembo Konte and Alhaji Bai Konte’s grandson, two of the best known Gambian kora players ever. Like his forefathers, his exceptional talent gives him both flexibility and musical originality.
Jali Bakary Konteh is a master of traditional Gambian folk songs with the unique and special Gambian line. He likes to add his own modern twists and improvisation to his arrangements, which gives his music a fresh but familiar feel. |
| Thursday 18th November, 11am | Dean Yhnell- Beatboxing |
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Award-winning beatboxer, Dean Yhnell, now spends the majority of his time teaching young people in schools and youth organisations the art of beatbox, rap, dj-ing and music production, improving their communication, literacy and confidence levels through his teaching style. He has achieved much success with disaffected young people who find school a challenge, enabling them to improve attendance, behaviour and motivation in all areas of the curriculum |
| Thursday 16th December, 11am | Mishra |
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Mishra are a Sheffield-based global folk duo, drawing on their unique base of influences that encompasses folk music of the UK and America, Indian classical music, and soul to create a surprisingly accessible sound that audiences instantly connect to. Between the two of them, Kate Griffin and Ford Collier create a rich texture from their array of instruments: Irish low whistle, banjo, Indian tabla, dobro, African calabash, and guitar, all of which provide a vibrant backdrop to Kate’s striking vocals. |
| Thursday 13th January, 11am | Henri Hill and Rosie Bowker- Durufle Duo |
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Toe-tapping and relaxing classical music for flute and viola with Durufle Duo! An excellent opportunity to With Rosie Bowker (flute) and Henriette Hill (viola)
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| Thursday 10th February, 11am | Iolo & Luke- Q19 |
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Luke and Iolo of Quartet19 perform music from all over the world on their extensive collection of percussion instruments. There will be tunes you recognise and some new music too!
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| Thursday 17th March, 11am | Borges Machado |
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Join Borges Machado for a vibrant concert as they perform music from their homeland of Brazil. Featuring a mix of songs from great composers of Brazilian popular music (Tom Jobim, Hermeto Pascoal, Airto Moreira) and original compositions. This recorded livestream concert was made possible with support from City Bridge Trust.
Borges Machado is André Borges (saxophone, flute, handmade wind instruments, body) and Fernando Machado (guitar, cavaquinho, percussion, body). |
| Thursday 19th May, 11am | Simon Robinson |
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Simon Robinson is a folk musician, music educator and workshop leader from Yorkshire, who plays a wide repertoire of music, ranging from American mountain songs and ballads, British folk songs and blues and spirituals |
| Thursday 16th June, 11am | Bowker-Myslek Duo |
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Rosie Bowker (flute) and Aleksandra Myslek (piano) formed the Bowker-Myslek Duo after collaborating in a concert celebrating French Romantic works for winds in 2016. They have since enjoyed performing a wide range of repertoire for flute and piano this is a great opportunity to explore the versatile sound of the flute and the piano. |
With thanks to our funders:
Youth Music, Emerald Foundation, Mayfield Valley Arts Trust, Hull and East Riding Charitable Trust, Whitaker Charitable Trust and Sir James Knott Trust.
