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Warwickshire County Youth Waits
Director: Alison Kinder
Age range: 14-21
Standard: Grade 6+
Rehearsals: Sundays 2.30-5.30 pm (fortnightly)
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How to join
What is involved
Cost
Other CPG groups
NEW! Youth Waits brochure 09-10
Listen to the Waits
More opportunities to play Early Music (pdf 275kb) |
The Warwickshire Youth Waits is a well established group which offers young musicians the experience of playing the energetic music of the renaissance band repertoire. It forms part of the Warwickshire Early Music Academy (WEMA) which helps to co-ordinate and develop performance opportunities for Early Music groups throughout the County.
The Youth Waits has played in a variety of venues across Warwickshire including Warwick Castle, Middleton Hall, Guy Nelson Hall and Lord Leycester Hospital. Further afield it has given performances at Canons Ashby (National Trust) and Lichfield Guildhouse, and the Early Music Exhibition at Greenwich; in 2009 it was selected to take part in the Festival of Music for Youth at Birmingham Town Hall. | |
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The instrumental range includes violins, viols, recorders, cornetts, sackbuts, crumhorns, cornamuses, shawms, percussion, harp, rebec and voice. The County has an outstanding collection of renaissance instruments for students to use.
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It is one of eight County Performance Groups organised by County Music Service; groups in this County category are recognised to be of a high quality and able to hold their own on the national stage. Annual CPG membership includes:
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• Coaching by professional musicians
• More than 20 meetings a year
• Concert opportunities in major venues in Warwickshire and beyond
• A County Performance Group Certificate presented at school
• Invitations (selected players) to represent the County at National Conferences
• Tours and courses (when planned)
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 | The director, Alison Kinder, a skilled viol and recorder player, has performed with several groups both nationally and internationally in the early music field; she is assisted by Elizabeth Murphy, who has considerable experience coaching recorder groups and who teaches for County Music Service. |
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HOW TO JOIN?
You can apply online for the Youth Waits.. Admission is by audition and these are normally held during June/July. Candidates should be between the ages of 14 and 21 (applications from younger, able children will be considered if appropriate) and of a standard equivalent to Grade 6 on a modern instrument, although versatility and ability on several instruments (including voice) contribute to the qualities needed for membership of this group. Previous experience of early music is desirable but not essential, but applicants should have a keen interest in historical performance. A good technique and an aptitude to pick up new skills quickly are the characteristics needed to be a successful player of early music at this level.
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Click on the photos below to listen to the Youth Waits performance at the National Festival of Music For Youth in July 2009 |
Hear more here...
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Hear more here... |
WHAT IS INVOLVED?
 | Rehearsals take place on Sunday afternoons on a fortnightly basis from 2.30 - 5.30 pm at Kenilworth School, Leyes Lane, CV8 2DA. In addition, players are committed to performing at least three concerts a year (one at the end of each term) and will be expected to take part in the autumn weekend course. the Youth Waits' audition for the Festival of Music for Youth (usually in March) and a biennial tour for which as much notice as possible will be given.
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Members of the Waits are expected to attend all rehearsals and concerts listed in the brochure, including occasional weekend dates, unless prevented by illness. Any pre-booked commitments must be notified in writing together with acceptance of membership. If a member wishes to be excused from a rehearsal, he or she must email the manager/director well in advance.
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COST
There is an annual subscription of £90.00, payable on confirmation of acceptance (please do not send cheques with your application form), which covers membership of any number of County Performance Groups (remissions available). Assistance is available where there is financial hardship and full remission of the subscription will be provided for:
- Families who receive Income Support or Income-Based Job Seeker’s Allowance.
- Families who receive Child Tax Credit and have an annual taxable income, as assessed by the Inland Revenue, that does not exceed £17,968. N.B. Families who also receive Working Tax Credit do not qualify to claim fee remission.
- Families who receive the Guarantee element of State Pension Credit.
- Families who receive support under part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999.
- There is full fee remission for Looked After Children
University students in full-time education can qualify for 50% reduction in fees upon presentation of their student card.
There is also a bursary fund managed by the Warwickshire County Youth Music Association to which applications can be made for assistance with courses and tours.
Please contact County Music Service (01926 742630) for an application form.
No-one should be deterred from applying on the grounds of cost.
MORE INFORMATION
For further information or any (confidential) enquiries with regard to fees please write to:
Michael Williamson
Manager County Performance Groups
County Music Service, Saltisford Office Park, Ansell Way, Warwick CV4 4UL
Tel: 01926 743021/07920 071159
Email: cms@warwickshire.gov.uk |
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