Photos courtesy of Classic FM
CONGRATULATIONS to Tomorrow’s Warriors Female Collective who won the Performance Practice Award in the Jazz Combos & Ensembles category in the National Festival of Music For Youth in Birmingham on 12 July.
Tomorrow’s Warriors had strong representation in the Jazz Combos & Ensembles category where two of the eight finalists were our very own ‘homegrown’ ensembles.
Following their participation in the Music For Youth Regional Festival, the Tomorrow’s Warriors Female Collective and our Junior Band were both awarded places in the National Festival in Birmingham where they showcase dynamic performances by young musicians from across the UK.
Whilst not billed as a competition, MFY awards a certificate in each category for special achievement in the quality of musicianship. There were squeals of delight when MFY Mentors Nikki Yeoh, Zoe Rahman and Malcolm Earle-Smith awarded the Performance Practice Certificate to Tomorrow’s Warriors Female Collective, whilst heaping high praise indeed on our Junior Band for making a big impression with the exceptionally high standard of their playing.
This is a truly outstanding achievement on the part of both groups, made all the more remarkable when you consider that the performance in Birmingham was only the third performance ever of this particular group from our Female Collective!
Winning the award means the young women of Tomorrow’s Warriors have earned a place in the National Festival Of Music For Youth School Proms at the Royal Albert Hall, London in November. Just imagine, by the time they have racked up just a handful of performances, these young women will have achieved what many musicians can only dream about: a performance on the main stage of one of the world’s most iconic music venues! How special is that?
Hearty congratulations to Sahvannah Amaka, Richie Seivwright, Scarlett Stewart, Brianna Ste-Croix, Romarna Campbell and their Music Leader/Mentor, Sheila Maurice-Grey; also to our Junior Band: Solomon Cefai, Sam Barnett, Jonah Grimley, Daisy Corder, Ben Selig, and Zoe Pascal. Well done all of you for your outstanding performances, and for keeping the Tomorrow’s Warriors flag flying so high!
Well done also to the other groups taking part in the final:
- RGS Trad Jazz Band
- Twyford Advanced Jazz
- In Depth (Lady Lumley’s School)
- St John Fisher Catholic High School Jazz Combo
- Take 4 & 6/8
- RT Jazz Combo
‘Each One Teach One’ – the way of Tomorrow’s Warriors
Respect is due to our Apprentice Music Leader, Sheila Maurice-Grey who led and mentored our girls helping them to become performance-ready in time for the National Festival final, and to our Learning Faculty for their ongoing support.
Sheila is herself a graduate of our Young Artist Development Programme and a member of our first all-female group, Nérija who took part in the Festival in 2013, the year another Tomorrow’s Warriors band, Ezra Collective won the Best Jazz Ensemble award. Sheila is continuing her development with Tomorrow’s Warriors both as a performer (she was in the line-up for the sold out Royal Festival Hall Love Motown! show by Jazz Jamaica All Stars on 19 July) and as a Tomorrow’s Warriors Apprentice Music Leader on our Learning Faculty. Her experience and achievement, and that of the young women in our Female Collective, exemplify the Tomorrow’s Warriors ‘each one teach one’ approach to learning and development.
As you might imagine, Sheila was ecstatic: “I can’t believe it! It was an incredible experience for all of us, and both of our groups played really well. I think we can all feel very proud of what we achieved in Birmingham, and very proud to be part of Tomorrow’s Warriors. We’ve had an amazing journey so far, and it’s only just beginning!”
For further information on the Tomorrow’s Warriors Female Collective, Junior Band or our other ensembles and activities, please do get in touch.