Throughout spring term, Junior Academy students have been given a wealth of opportunities to perform both at the Academy and beyond.
One of the highlights of the year so far was a gala concert at Cadogan Hall in February to mark 110 years of Junior Academy (JA). For this event, over 100 current students played alongside Academy alumni and staff in a programme of works from 1915, culminating in performance of the complete score of Ravel’s Daphnis et Chloé by the Junior Academy Symphony Orchestra and Choir.
Continuing the celebrations of the 110th anniversary into March, Junior Academy Sinfonia, comprising younger players aged 16 and below, performed Tchaikovsky’s Fifth Symphony in a concert at the Duke’s Hall. Before this, the ensemble premiered a new work consisting of seven short movements written by seven JA composition students in response to Strauss’s Alpine Symphony, another work from 1915.
Also in March, JA hosted a Chamber Music Day in which staff and alumni shared the Duke’s Hall stage with over 50 current students for an all-day event of performances. This featured a baroque ensemble playing music by Handel and woodwind and string ensembles performing Beethoven, Mendelssohn, Debussy, Barber and many more. We were delighted to welcome back JA alum Braimah Kanneh Mason, who performed Fauré’s Trio in D Minor alongside fellow alum Eliza Millett and JA’s Head of Performance Daniel Tong.
The second annual Year 13 Prize took place this term, giving our students a chance to showcase their talents and receive feedback on their solo performance skills. Jemimah Davies (viola), Luisa Krausova (violin) and Sebastian Turner (voice) were the three performers who made the final, in which they showcased programmes of varied repertoire to an audience in the Duke’s Hall, adjudicated by the Academy’s Deputy Principal, Timothy Jones. Jemimah was named the winner of this year’s prize after a memorable performance of works by Bach, Vieuxtemps, Bridge and Kathleen Tagg.
To round off the spring term, the JA Symphony Orchestra performed Sibelius’ Violin Concerto in a public performance at the Academy, with Year 13 student Sophie Chung taking the solo role. Meanwhile, smaller ensembles travelled to Hampstead to perform in the ‘Sunday Sounds’ recital series at Burgh House, and other students will present programmes of song and chamber music at St James’ Piccadilly on Wednesday 9 April, which will be livestreamed.
Next term, JA looks forward to many more concerts and events with its students, including a programme centred around Debussy’s Études as part of the Academy’s Summer Piano Festival, performances at Steinway Hall and a new JA Film Festival.
