Royal Scottish Academy Brass Tour to the Faroes
The RSAMD’s prestige brass ensemble, Royal Scottish Academy Brass, embarks on a historic tour to the Faroes Islands in next month. (May 6-11th 2009)
Under the direction of Bryan Allen, Head of Brass at the Academy, 12 senior brass and percussion students will tour the Faroe Islands with their unique blend of performances and educational workshops.
The ensemble currently comprises two Faroese students, Johan Hentze and Davur Juul Magnussen, and the tour has been supported by the RSAMD in association with several partners, including the Department of Cultural Affairs for the Municipalities of Torshavn and Fuglafjordur, the Mentanargrunnur Landsins, the Faroe Islands Music Schools, the Brass Band Festival and Atlantic Airways.
Commenting on the tour, Bryan Allen said: “The RSAMD is fortunate to have two of it's best brass players in recent years hailing from the Faroes Islands, and it's a great delight that we are able to take Academy Brass, including both Johan Hentze and Davur Juul Magnussen to the Faroes in May to further enhance these already strong links. The Faroes is a small nation with a rich and vibrant musical culture, (including no less than 12 brass bands!), and it is hoped that this tour will encourage more of it's extremely talented young musicians, on all instruments, to follow in the footsteps of Johan and Davur and come to study here at the RSAMD.”
The tour will comprise educational and public concerts along with workshops and masterclasses in a wide range of locations and venues throughout the islands.
The first day will comprise of 2 schools concerts and an evening recital at the Fuglafjordur Culture House, with a second day of masterclasses and workshops for the staff and students of the specialist music school.
The centre piece of the tour will be appearances and workshops at the Brass Band Festival, which brings together the Islands’ 12 brass bands for their annual festival.
The final day will include an evening recital in the capitol Torshavn, where the group will be playing selections from its extensive repertoire of original compositions and arrangements, from Henry VIII to the Beach Boys and including traditional Scottish and Faroese music.
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