Samba at Snape
Celebration of Schools Music Snape Maltings Concert Hall
Children from across the county have travelled to Aldeburgh to sing, play and dance in a string of musical performances at Snape Maltings Concert Hall. The Celebration of Schools’ Music 2011 showcased the work that goes on within schools to encourage children to embrace the art of music. The show is the result of a long-standing partnership between Aldeburgh Music and Suffolk County Council and has been staged every year since 1987
Congratulations and many thanks to Tom Wilmot, his samba band and the rest of the music department for what was reported as an incredible performance at Snape Maltings on the evening of Friday 11th March. The samba band were the final act of the evening and by all accounts blew the audience away with their tight intensive drumming. All the other performers and schools present were very impressed with the group's performance, enthusiasm and behaviour.
"Everyone was talking about Westbourne" is a direct quote from a teacher from another school who was there.
How wonderful to hear that phrase meant in a positive way. We've also been contacted by a primary school asking if the Samba Band could do a workshop and take part in their street carnival in the summer, will be performing at Springfield Junior School at the start of school on 26th May and at the Quadkids Mini Olympics at Northgate High School on 29th June.
James Aleksic, a member of the band writes
Wow! On Friday 11th March, I along with the rest of samba band performed an amazing set at Snape Maltings Concert Hall. It was an incredible experience! The 45 minute mini-bus ride was enough to make anyone suggest they had a great day out, but our day had only just started.
When we arrived, we went backstage through the 'Artist's Entrance'. We were treated like professionals as we were taken to our dressing room. It was a proper dressing room with lights around mirrors and a door saying 'Wardrobe Department'!
At 3.20, it was time for our rehearsal. It went amazingly apart from me dropping the drum-stick! Two hours, one broken drum and a few toilet breaks later, it was time to rehearse the finale piece: ‘Wish’.
We had a one hour workshop with Jason Singh and Bex Mather who taught us the lead vocal, harmony and beat-boxing parts. These two led us at the end of the concert later on. We had no idea about this until around 5pm on the day, bearing in mind the concert was at 7!
Then, it was time for the performance. We sat in the 832 seat auditorium and watched all of the other schools perform. There was a really wide variety, from choirs to school bands to African drumming – but nothing like us! We were on last so had a lot to follow. This was good as we could get everybody excited for the finale song! It went really well. The audience gave us a standing ovation and the biggest clap of the night. After the finale we could all relax and go home!
One thing that made this such an amazing event was the Snape Maltings venue. The ceiling was very high and supported by wooden beams and the whole
place had a really nice feel (apart from the fake UFO outside which was a bit creepy at 9pm)! It was a very interesting place. It was originally a malthouse but was officially opened as a concert hall in 1967 by HM Queen Elizabeth II. The hall suffered serious fire damage after the opening night of the Aldeburgh
Festival in 1969, but re-opened in time for the Aldeburgh Festival the following year.
Overall it was a great experience and I would love to go again! I look forward to see what we get up to in the future!
Louis Godden, another member of the band who did have the most responsibility out of the whole band in linking one piece to the next during the performance also adds
"We will never for get this moment, it was enjoyable and ran without any major problems"
Mr Wilmot was very impressed with his cool head.
