Cheltenham Music Festival

In July, several of our students performed to over 600 school pupils in Cheltenham Music Festival with Gloucestershire Youth Chamber Orchestra and professional musicians.

The Grade 8 and above orchestral players performed two concerts at Cheltenham Town Hall: a relaxed event for pupils from Gloucestershire special schools, and one for primary schools.

This year’s concerts showcased the magic of dance music through the ages, from rousing waltzes to thrilling tangos and toe-tapping polkas,

After the concerts, pupils and teachers were able to try out some of the instruments they heard in the concert, and make some music of their own!

Adult Early Music Course (also known as Beauchamp Music Week)

In mid-July, over 60 musicians and singers took part in our popular Adult Early Music course in Malvern.

Led by Course Director David Hatcher and Choral Director David Allinson, the players of cornett, sackbut, recorder, curtal, viol and many other Renaissance instruments enjoyed a week of early music making in the beautiful surroundings of Malvern College.

Feedback is always very positive. This year one participant commented: “Our tutors, as always, go above and beyond. Their encouragement to try something out of one’s comfort zone helps us to improve and progress and their generosity of time and knowledge is always given with cheerfulness and good humour.”

Bookings for the 2025 course, which will again be residential and non-residential, will open in the autumn.

Grade 5 Theory Course

14 students participated in our Grade 5 Theory Summer Course at Barbican House in Gloucester in July.

The course is designed to prepare students of around Grade 3 – 4 to take the Grade 5 Theory exam – which is essential for moving on to Grade 6 and above!

Students learn theory as a group, and there’s always time for a few games with new friends alongside the learning!

One parent commented: “G really enjoyed the Grade 5 theory course for so many reasons, so a huge thank you to you and the team and teachers, what a wonderful summer holiday week. She learnt a lot, had great support, lots of very effective teaching and loved the company of the other students and group assistants and the games that were played by all at break times.” We’re really pleased that this student took and passed her Grade 5 exam just after the course!

Information about next year’s course will appear on our website in the autumn.

Junior Orchestra Course

This three-day course at Barbican House was great fun for young musicians working at Grades 1-4 including violinists, clarinettists, flautists and cellists.

Led by GAM Principal, Glyn Oxley, the course included full orchestra, chamber music, rhythm and singing games, crafts and activities, finishing with a final performance for family and friends.

Three Choirs Festival

In August, some of our junior and senior students played, and GAM Principal Glyn Oxley conducted, in the Nature Sings concert at the Three Choirs Festival at Worcester Cathedral.

Nicholas Perfect, one of our Voice tutors, is also a lay clerk at Gloucester Cathedral and he sang bass in all the Three Cathedral Choirs performances during the Festival.

Kate Skeet – String teacher who teaches viola, violin and gamelan with GAM, played a family concert entitled ‘Singing in the Rain’ with violinist Kate Fawcett, as The Lilliput Duo.

Photo below by James O’Driscoll. Photo at top of news post by Dale Hodgetts.

Summer Holiday Piano Course

The summer finale was our inaugural piano course, designed to introduce pianists aged 9-18, who play up to Grade 3, to piano ensemble playing and the social side of music making.

Course leaders Chris Guild and Marcel Zidani, who are award-winning piano education specialists, professional pianists and GAM piano tutors, taught pupils individually, as duos and as ensembles.

Feedback is still coming in from this course, but we were particularly happy with this comment: “Everything was perfect!”