The summer course dates for Animate Orchestra courses in Greenwich and Lewisham have now been confirmed. Please see below for further details…

These will be ‘open access’ local courses for children living or going to school in the London boroughs of Royal Greenwich and Lewisham. Players of all instruments and experience levels are welcome to apply, you do not have to have attended a previous Animate Orchestra course.

Animate Lewisham: Tuesday 30th and Wednesday 31st July

Animate Greenwich: Thursday 1st and Friday 2nd August

Both courses will take place at the Laban Building, Trinity Laban’s Dance Faculty (Creekside, London, SE8 3DZ).

Booking will be available soon – the easiest way to apply will be via the online shop, but you may request a paper application form if you prefer to pay by cheque. Contact Lucy Duffy on lucy@animateorchestra.org.uk for further details.

New ticket offers for LPO & Trinity Laban concerts, and other opportunities for the summer term 2013 are now available Backstage exclusively for members. There are some really fantastic concert programmes in this series so don’t miss out – book now!

Existing AO members without Backstage login details should email info@animateorchestra.org.uk

HUGE congratulations to all those young musicians who took part in last week’s Animate Orchestra Easter course and performance at Blackheath Halls. What a fantastic gig – you were amazing! All the tutors and staff were impressed with your commitment, progress and creative ideas and the Animate Orchestra backstage team are tremendously proud of everyone who took part.

We were lucky enough to have the concert professionally recorded and photographed and even had a promotional video made, so as soon as these are ready, they will be uploaded to the ‘Backstage’ area of this website.  Watch this space…

We also hope you enjoyed the chance to see students from Trinity Laban perform, as well as LPO’s The Band. The Band is open to all members of Animate once they reach school years 9/10, so we hope that older members may be inspired to join the group in the future. You can get more information on the project here www.lpo.org.uk/theband or contact Caz Vale directly on caz@animateorchestra.org.uk

What’s next for Animate Orchestra?

New LPO and Trinity Laban ticket offers for Summer 2013 will be available for members ‘Backstage’ shortly…

Animate EAST will have the opportunity for another project at the beginning of the Summer holidays, as well as a “day out” which we will send you details of in due course.

Animate WEST will be invited for a “day out” to an exciting arts venue in July/ August.

Animate Orchestra EAST and Animate Orchestra WEST are performing ensembles drawing members from across the London Boroughs of Greenwich and Lewisham (EAST) and Lambeth and Southwark (WEST). While local courses are open to all, Animate Orchestra EAST and WEST are intended as a progression opportunity for young musicians ready for a more intensive and challenging experience, celebrating the ideas of young people and inspiring musical excellence through performance.

This April, for four days over the Easter holidays, the EAST and WEST performing ensembles will engage in intensive music workshops and rehearsals, culminating in a fantastic showcase concert on the 11th April at Blackheath Halls. The music will be based on Stravinsky’s Rite of Spring – which is linked to the LPO programme – and will be developed from material created during the February half term courses. Presented by the South Riverside Music Partnership, the showcase concert will also feature performances from LPO’s The Band and musicians from Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance.

Watch this space for further updates..!

For more information about Animate Orchestra’s performing ensembles, click here.

EXCITING OPPORTUNITY FOR ANIMATE BOYS: A FREE DAY OF DANCE WORKSHOPS!

Date: Saturday 23rd February 2013

Time: 10am – 5pm

EXPLODE is an opportunity to experience different dance styles; with workshops in Contemporary Dance, Capoeira and Hip Hop. You will also watch exciting performances by male dance artists.

EXPLODE is for boys aged 11-16 years. All the workshops are suitable for beginners as well as people with dance experience.

To book a place please contact Rebecca Denby at Trinity Laban on 020 8305 9418 or r.denby@trinitylaban.ac.uk

Click here to visit the website and for more information.