March 2010
Graded exams looming but looking forward to spring holidays.
Zimbabwe / Zambia tour preparation is going well - 4.5 weeks to go until Sudeshna Chakravarty (violinist) and Benn Lombard (pianist) grace the african stage!
Finally finished my article for the British Flute Society and it went live on 21st of March. To check it out click on www.bfs.org.uk/corners/Nightlight.htm
Feb 2010
So, the spring half term is almost over and it's been a long time since my first blog... mainly because so much has been going on!
The autumn term is always a long one, but also very productive. I was approached by an old friend who lives in Zambia- Leonie Creswell, to start organising tours to Zambia and Zimbabwe. The first tour will kick off at the end of April with 2 groups (classical and jazz) going out to Zimbabwe to perform in the Harare International Festival of the Arts, and 1 group will proceed to Zambia to deliver more recitals and workshops. There will be more information about this on my 'Outreach' page soon. It is all very exciting and we have some fantastic musicians on board, the main dilemma is trying to get this all funded!
I am also planning a trip to Zimbabwe in the summer to perform with Craig Lemming (tenor) and Jeanette Micklem (piano). As well as doing a couple of recitals we will also do a master class each and I am hoping to visit a few schools in Harare to meet young flautists and give some consultation lessons.
In early February I was involved in the production of 'Oliver!' with St. Saviours school. All of the peripatetic tutors played in the band and we had a brilliant time!
The rest of this term brings more hard work as I have many students taking graded exams in March. I'm hoping all the projects above can be funded somehow and am desperately looking forward to some warmer weather!! Bring on summer! Ciao for now!
Oct 2009
Autumn term has started and i'm back into the full swing of teaching! It's great to be back at school after a long summer break and with a new intake of students I am now teaching almost 40 girls at Coloma and nearly 20 at St Saviours! Alongside my private teaching that brings the total amount of students up to about 65 in one week- funnily enough they are all female! Where are all the boys- maybe this dude will inspire you to take up the flute??
The new term is keeping me busy but I am beginning to make plans for the next trip out to Botswana and/or Zimbabwe which could also include Zambia at a later stage...
I have also been asked to write an article for the British Flute Society's website about the work I have started in Botswana, so that will keep me busy at the weekend- will put information on my site when it's finished and LIVE! Watch this space!!