Face-to-face youth music returns to West Sussex

Working side by side, while remaining the socially-distanced two metres apart, the students, along with the professional musicians who form the teaching faculty, rehearsed together in the airy Sullington Tithe Barn – the largest tithe barn in Sussex. Complying with all COVID-19 rules, the young people, ranging from grade three through to advanced grade eight, came together to practise and perform. Led by Andrew Bernardi, students were drawn in from across the county.

Andrew said: “Working together, the String Academy’s most beautiful sound drifted out into the sunshine; and with musical creativity shining though the afternoon, the abilities and styles of some solo performances were also celebrated. Throughout lockdown, many of the young musicians had taken part in the Academy’s animated online concerts, which were created as part of the Shipley Festival’s online programme. And some of these pieces, as well as some new scores were brought together in the perfect, airy, 500-year-old barn.”

Andrew added: “We very much hope to be able to make the String Academy permanently live and face to face once again. However, our future dates are still to be confirmed as we work to ensure that we keep in line with the government’s legislation updates. Going forward, we will be providing a blended learning format so that we can continue online in a second wave or work live or have a mixture of the two should a string academy member need to be at home in quarantine.”

Following an afternoon rehearsal, the youth orchestra performed live to their families: “Spread out in family bubbles, the families stood in the barn’s awe-inspiring space to listen to a mini concert that celebrated the afternoon’s achievements. It was great to see the pleasure our students gained from meeting live again. They were thrilled to be working together, helping and encouraging each other to create a sound that everyone was delighted with. I was especially proud of the way each student abided by our strict distancing policy.”

For further information to support or join the string academy, contact Andrew Bernardi at [email protected] or call 01403 741685.