28/5/10 The WAM Induction Course was held over the last couple days at Trinity College of Music. The 2010 WAMers met for the first time as a group and were involved in sessions on India, music teaching, workshop leading, health issues and cultural considerations.
30/3/10 From a huge number of impressive applications, 24 shortlisted candidates attended a 30-minute audition over the last two days. With only 12 available spaces the panel faced some extremely tough decisions, but eventually decided on the following musicians: Helen Allen-Williams, Firat Atlay, Lucie Bebbington, Ed Blunt , Aaron Burrows, Ffion Davies, Gaspar Hunt, Ryan Lewis, Juliette Philogene, Sam Tannembaum, Rosie Whiting and Sylvia Yee.
13/1/10 Michael and Duncan return from a packed itinerary in India making arrangements for the 2010 scheme. As well as re-visiting the schools in Delhi, all of which are keen to continue their involvement, they met with interested schools in Mumbai, Pune and Bangalore. Other key meetings included with British Council directorate, potential sponsors, exam board representatives, music societies and Indian musicians.
20/11/09 Duncan, as a WAM representative, attends a prestigious dinner held by Trinity College of Music to mark their award of an honourary fellowship to Pandit Ravi Shankar.
14/09/09 The trustees held a de-brief session at Coutts bank to hear first-hand feedback from the WAMers, discovering lessons to be learnt and improvements to be made as we prepare for the following year’s scheme.
02/09/09 The WAMers reluctantly return to the UK after a spectacularly successful two months.
31/08/09 WAM Extravagam! Young Indian’s Workshop was showcased today at the British Council in Delhi. This event, held by the WAMers for 35 students from six New Delhi secondary schools, involved a day of musical exchange culminating in a mass performance.
27/08/09 Alvaro and Hannah gave an all-Chopin recital at the Polish Ambassador’s in Delhi to kick off next year’s bicentenary celebrations.
13/08/09 Tonight Olivia and Neil led a concert at the Amadeus Academy of Music in Kochi, Kerala, to a 300-strong audience. It showcased the piano students’ work over the two months in multi-hand and solo performances, as well as up-beat choral numbers with choreography as coached by Neil. Olivia, Neil and guest Indian celebrity Stephen Devassy each graced the stage before the final song involving the entire school.
01/07/09 Today our seven UK musicians embarked on their trip to India. Headed initially for New Delhi to attend a preparatory session with the British Council they will then head to their respective music schools. Olivia and Neil are heading south to Kochi, Kerala, whilst the other five musicians are staying in and around the Delhi area. Armed with sheet music and brimming with ideas, they are all very excited about experiencing India and inspiring it’s piano students.
22/5/09 Over the last two days we held our Induction Course at Trinity. This was the first time the WAMers had met each other and we were thrilled with the way in which they gelled as a team, sparking off impressive collective creativity and having a great time in the process. Highlights included a memorable session with Dr Soli Contractor, fascinating presentations on India by Rod Pryde and Sir Rob Young, and an attempt from the WAMers at a 16-hand work across piano and organ!
27/4/09 We are delighted to hear from Susanne Pryde (wife of Rod Pryde, Regional Director of British Council for India & Sri Lanka) that the Delhi Divas, her singing group, recently gave a fundraising performance at the High Commissioner’s residence in aid of the WAM Foundation, raising another Rs 50,000 for our charity.
14/3/09 In the last couple of days we held the WAM Pilot Scheme 2009 auditions at Trinity College of Music in front of a panel of Marion Friend, Nadia Lasserson, and the trustees. The standard of applicants was extremely high, and after some difficult decisions we finally selected Neil Balfour, Ruairi Edwards, Theo Ford-Sagers, Hannah Gill, Olivia Jageurs, Alvaro Matute, and Theo Vidgen.
5/3/09 WAM are back from an extremely successful trip to India making arrangements with the music schools in Delhi and Kerala, along with our local representatives and the British Council. We were also very fortunate that the High Commissioner and Lady Stagg hosted a fantastic launch party for us at their residence in Delhi. The evening began with a piano recital given by Duncan Ward to a large audience of highly influential and enthusiastic people, and was followed by a magnificent dinner in the garden.
