Playing in a band, orchestra or ensemble is a thoroughly enjoyable experience.

With rehearsals each week, playing a musical instrument in an ensemble is an essential part of learning, allowing students to enhance their technique, meet other musicians, learn new skills and develop their confidence in a fun and supportive environment.  We hold termly concerts for all our ensembles, providing all members a chance to perform to their family and friends.

Our ensembles are free to attend and are open to all children learning an instrument island wide, whether through ourselves or privately.

If your child would like to attend one of our ensembles, please find information on each ensemble below and click here to apply.

 

Mini Music Makers

A new initiative for children in Years 1-3.  Mini Music Makers will explore a variety of musical instruments, have fun playing musical games and enjoy singing together with one of our specialist music teachers.  As confidence and skills progress, we will explore playing in groups and creating some of our own music too.  

Sessions: Thursday 4.00pm – 4.45pm at Fort Regent

Led by Miss Lesley King

 

Beginner String, Woodwind and Brass Ensembles

Instruments: String, Woodwind and Brass

Each ensemble provides the first opportunity for students to play in an ensemble with those from within their instrumental family, students are invited to join after one term of learning.

Beginner Strings Rehearse: Wednesday 4.00pm – 4.45pm at Fort Regent

Beginner Woodwind & Brass Rehearse: Wednesday 4.00pm – 5.00pm at Fort Regent

Led by Miss Naomi Koester (woodwind), Miss Natasha Ronayne (brass) and Ms Aylar Aldridge (string).

 

Training Wind Band (Grades 1-2)

Instruments: Brass & Woodwind

Provides an enjoyable first step to band musicianship and the opportunity to make new friends from schools across Jersey.  In a supportive and encouraging environment, students play a variety of pieces from marches to film music to pop songs in a session that is challenging and fun.

Rehearses: Wednesday 4.00pm – 5.00pm at Fort Regent

Led by Miss Naomi Koester

 

Training String Ensemble (Grades 1-3)

Instruments: Violin, Viola, Cello, Double Bass

The Training String Orchestra is a friendly, fun and exciting ensemble where you play and learn many different styles of music such as; classical, folk, traditional, jazz, blues, rock and contemporary.  Learn new techniques to assist your string playing such as different bowings, sight reading and aural skills. There are also opportunities to improve the skill of playing from memory through musical games and improvisation. 

Rehearses: Wednesday 4.00pm – 5.00pm at Fort Regent

Led by Mrs Katy Parker

 

Drum Corps (Grades 1+)

An opportunity for young drummers and percussionists to apply their rhythmic and rudimental skills in an ensemble setting – building their speed and precision while learning performance pieces.

Marching harness and drum provided. 

Rehearses: Wednesday 4.00pm – 5.00pm at Fort Regent

Led by Mr Brent Connan & Mr John Pearse

 

Intermediate Wind Band (Grades 2-4) 

Instruments: Brass, Woodwind & Percussion

Meets weekly for focused and enjoyable rehearsals for woodwind, brass and percussion players.  It provides wonderful performance opportunities covering extensive repertoire including recent pop and rock tracks and music from the movies. In addition, the wind band often experiment in rehearsals with body and junk percussion to develop their rhythmic skills.

Rehearses: Wednesday 5.00pm – 6.00pm at Fort Regent

Led by Dr Matthew Lombard

 

Intermediate String Ensemble (Grades 3–5) 

Instruments: Violin, Viola, Cello, Double Bass

Aims to extend musical skills, knowledge and understanding through focused and enjoyable rehearsals.  Repertoire consists of a variety of music including standard light classics and music from film, television and theatre.  All repertoire is selected with the aim of developing technique, general musicianship, and ensemble skills, as well as introducing players to the work of varied composers.

 

Junior Guitar Ensemble (Debut +)

Instruments: Guitar

A unique opportunity for young guitar players, who have been learning for at least a year, to begin playing with a large group of guitarists to develop and enhance their ensemble skills. The sessions focus on utilising TAB and rhythm reading skills, alongside their single note and basic chord skills to create a truly unique sound!  

Rehearses: Friday 5.00pm – 6.00pm at Fort Regent

Led by Mr Oliver Rybarczuk and Mr Jesse Day

 

Senior Guitar Ensemble (Grade 2+)

Instruments: Guitar

The Senior Guitar Ensemble builds upon the foundation of skills learned previously in the Junior ensemble, and introduces a wide range of new techniques and repertoire, suitable for advanced Guitar students. Members of the Senior ensemble will gain experience in sight reading, improvisation and other professional skills, which they showcase during the regular performance opportunities offered throughout the academic year.

Rehearses: Friday 4.00pm – 5.00pm at Fort Regent

Led by Mr Oliver Rybarczuk and Mr Jesse Day

 

Jersey Youth Wind Band (Grade 5+) 

Instruments: Brass, Woodwind & Percussion

Play a wide variety of music, from film and pop music to original wind band compositions. The band performs regularly throughout the year in a series of concerts in Jersey and also travel abroad to perform, most recently to Germany and to Switzerland.  

Rehearses: Tuesday 4.30pm – 5.30pm at Fort Regent

Led by: Mr Luke Brown

 

Advanced String Ensemble (Grades 5+)

Instruments: Violin, Viola, Cello, Double Bass

The Advanced String Ensemble meet each week to learn a selection of string based repertoire as well as sectional work for when they join up with members of the Advanced Woodwind and Advanced Brass to form the Jersey Youth Orchestra. The focus is on tuning, advanced technique and orchestral etiquette. Opportunities are provided to try ensemble and orchestral leading and a variety of formal and informal performances mean there is always something exciting to work towards. 

Rehearses: Tuesday 4.30pm – 5.30pm at Fort Regent

Led by Mr Jeremy Gray

 

Jersey Youth Big Band (Grades 5+) 

Instruments: Saxophone, Trumpet, Trombone, Drums, Keyboard, Bass Guitar, Electric Guitar

Explore exciting big band repertoire and develop new skills including improvisation and jazz performance.  Music includes well known big band standards such as Strike up the Band, It Don’t Mean a Thing (if it Ain’t Got that Swing), Take the “A” Train and some popular classics arranged for the band like Livin’ La Vida Loca, Watermelon Man and the Mission: Impossible theme.

Rehearses: Tuesday 5.30pm – 6.30pm at Fort Regent

Led by Mr Adam Brown

 

Saxophone Ensemble (Grades 3+)

Instruments: Alto Saxophone, Soprano Saxophone, Tenor Saxophone, Baritone Saxophone

The saxophone ensemble is an opportunity for saxophonists to learn exciting music together, explore repertoire specifically written or arranged for saxophone ensembles, and to develop skills as chamber musicians.  Students have the opportunity to learn a new member of the saxophone family, if that is of interest to them, and depending on the availability of instruments. If they have ever wondered about learning to play the soprano, tenor or baritone saxophone, this may be their chance!

Rehearses: Scheduled dates

Led by Dr Matthew Lombard

 

Ensembles in Partnership:

 

Jersey Youth Symphony Orchestra (Grade 5+) 

Instruments: Strings, Brass, Woodwind & Percussion

Rehearses: Scheduled Dates

The Jersey Youth Symphony Orchestra is supported by a partnership of schools and organisations from across the Island. Applications are invited from musicians of Grade 5+ standard aged between 13 – 25, to apply please visit the Jersey Symphony Orchestra website and form here.

 

Les Cors Jerriais

Instruments: French Horn

Les Cors Jerriais consists exclusively of French Horn players in Jersey, run in collaboration between the Jersey Academy of Music and the Jersey Music Service. 

Rehearses: Scheduled Dates

Led by Mrs Pippa Lumbard & Mrs Victoria Stock