Stratford-upon-Avon College’s music students are premiering their own compositions on 7^th May at a concert with Orchestra of the Swan.

Young composers from the National Diploma in Music course are performing their own new, original pieces of music in collaboration with a quartet from Orchestra of the Swan at the college’s New Theatre.

The ‘Crossover’ project sees each student creating, notating and performing their own pieces, fusing their own ‘Popular Music’ influences and background with that of their Classical and traditional counterparts from Orchestra of the Swan.

Music lecturer and director of the project, Tom Haines commented, “The project marks a fantastic opportunity for our students - not only to hear their own music performed by professional musicians but also to gain genuine insight into work as a composer. The students have to rise to many challenges as they write new music for flute, clarinet, violin and cello; from the development of original ideas and their arrangements for the specific instruments, to the presentation of professional standard scores and the meeting of deadlines, participating in workshops, rehearsals and the final performance, liaising with the professional musicians. The results are truly inspiring.”

The project and performance continues to showcase the relationship between the college and  Orchestra of the Swan following the ‘Variations’ project in January this year. ‘Crossover’ features Orchestra of the Swan’s lead cellist, Nick Stringfellow alongside Simon Chalk (violin), Dianne Clark (flute) and Tom Caldecote (clarinet).

The concert takes place in the New Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon College on Friday 7^th May at 7:30pm. Tickets are available from the box office on 01789 266245 and are priced at £5 (£4 concessions).