Following our successful 2024 brass workshop and string workshops we were delighted to announce a FREE Woodwind Workshop with the wonderful Tailleferre Ensemble on Sunday 2nd March 2025.

The workshop was inclusive of all players and standards from Grade 3 to Diploma and included most of the woodwind players from NYO's orchestras including the Jazz Orchestra NYJO.

The Tailleferre Ensemble are a UK based chamber collective founded by oboist Nicola Hands, who is a Nottingham Youth Orchestra alumna. The ensemble have performed at top concert venues in the UK and their members also play with well-known UK professional ensembles. Their work encompasses diverse instrumentation, time periods and genres as well as underrepresented works, including promotion of women in classical music. They recently released their debut album which reviewers have praised as ‘exceptional’ for ‘superb musicianship’ and ‘effortless’ performance.

Members of Tailleferre worked on rhythmic warm ups and ensemble skill building with the 25 young woodwind instrumentalists. Many of the warm ups were written specifically for NYO, and included some singing and body percussion.

NYO players and Tailleferre musicians also formed an ensemble together with a focus on developing their understanding of how to be a good orchestral player - quite different from being a good soloist! The repertoire was approachable and enjoyable and included Joe Fried's Spanish Winds and Amy Beach's Pastorale.

Finally there was a very insightful Q&A session which covered aspects of what a musical career might look like with pertinent questions from the young instrumentalists about freelancing work and pay rates!

Altogether an enjoyable afternoon.