NYOW Woodwind Tutors - Tutoriaid Chwythbrennau CCIC (Ken Smith - Flute/Fliwt)

Ken Smith – Flute

Principal Solo Flute of the Philharmonia Orchestra for over 27 years, Kenneth Smith is an established and familiar guest principal flute with many of the major symphony and chamber orchestras in Britain.

He can be heard on countless recordings of the orchestral and operatic repertoire with several leading orchestras. With the Philharmonia alone he has made over 500 recordings including symphonic cycles, concertos, overtures and orchestral showpieces, ballets, film scores and over 40 operas. His individual sound and imaginative playing on disc and on the concert platform continue to draw glowing reviews and win admirers around the world.

Ken's solo recordings include Mozart's Concerto for Flute and Harp with the Philharmonia under Sinopoli for Deuthsche Gramophon, Vivaldi concertos with the London Musici and Bach's Brandenburg Concert No.2 with Maurice Andrea and the Philharmonia under Muti for EMI. Chamber music recordings include works by Janacek, Mercadante and Messiaen.

As an escape from a busy worldwide schedule he returns to his home in Dorset and the tranquillity of Thomas Hardy's Wessex. This is the second year that Ken has tutored for the Nash.

Mae Kenneth Smith, Prif Unawdydd Ffliwt Philharmonia Orchestra ers dros 27 mlynedd yn brif unawdydd ffliwt gwâdd sefydledig a chyfarwydd â nifer o brif gerddorfeydd symffoni a cherddorfeydd siambr ym Mhrydain.

Gellir ei glywed ar nifer o recordiadau cerddorfaol a repertoire operatig gyda nifer o gerddorfeydd blaenllaw. Gyda'r Philharmonia yn unig, mae wedi gwneud dros 500 o recordiadau gan gynnwys cylchredau symffonig, concertos, agorawdau a darnau cerddorfaol arbennig, bale, sgorau ffilm a dros 40 o operâu. Mae ei sain unigryw a'i chwarae dyfeisgar ar ddisg ac ar lwyfan cyngerdd yn parhau i daenu adolygiadau gwych ac ennill edmygwyr ar draws y byd.

Mae recordiadau o unawdau Ken yn cynnwys Concerto Mozart ar gyfer Ffliwt a'r Delyn gyda'r Philharmonia o dan Sinopoli ar gyfer Deuthsche Gramophon, concerti Vivaldi gyda London Musici a Brandenburg Concerto Rhif 2 Bach gyda Maurice Andrea a'r Philharmonia o dan Muti ar gyfer EMI. Mae recordiadau cerddoriaeth siambr yn cynnwys gweithiau gan Janecek, Mercadenta a Messiaen.

Fel dihangfa o amserlen fyd-eang brysur bydd yn dychwelyd i'w gartref yn Dorset a llonyddwch Wessex Thomas Hardy. Dyma'r ail flwyddyn i Ken diwtora ar gyfer y Nash.

NYOW Woodwind Tutors - Tutoriaid Chwithbrennau CCIC (John Anderson - Oboe/Obo)

John Anderson – Oboe

A former member of the NYOW, John Anderson studied oboe with Derek Wickens and Terence MacDonagh at the Royal College of Music and studied composition with Anthony Milner.  He joined the Suisse Romande Orchestra aged 20 and subsequently held principal oboe posts with the BBC Symphony, Philharmonia and Royal Philharmonic orchestras and is currently principal oboe with the English Chamber Orchestra.

John Anderson’s discography includes two versions of the Mozart Oboe Concerto with the RPO and ECO and two of the Strauss concerti with the BBC SO and the Philharmonia. His most recent recordings are “Sahara", (a concerto for oboe and chamber orchestra ) by David Heath, which was written for him and the  ECO, and the concertino by Volkmar Andrae with the Bournmouth Symphony.

His playing has featured on scores for television and film for over 35 years.  Recent projects have included “Far from the Madding Crowd“, “The Great Gatsby” and “Mockingjay”.  John Anderson is professor of oboe at the Royal College of Music and the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama. He has given master classes at all the music colleges in the UK as well as in Germany, Japan, China, Canada and Singapore. 

John Anderson – Obo

Fel cyn aelod CCIC, astudiodd John Anderson yr obo gyda Derek Wickens a Terence Macdonagh yn y Royal College of Music ac astudiodd gyfansoddi gydag Anthony Milner.  Ymunodd â Suisse Romande Orchestra yn 20 mlwydd oed cyn mynd ymlaen i fod yn brif unawdydd yr obo gyda Cherddorfeydd y BBC Symphony, Philharmonia a'r Royal Philharmonic. Ar hyn o bryd, ef yw prif chwaraewr obo English Chamber Orchestra.

Mae disgyddiaeth John Anderson yn cynnwys dwy fersiwn o Oboe Concerto Mozart gyda'r RPO a'r ECO a dau goncerti Strauss gyda'r BBC SO a'r Philharmonia. Ei recordiadau mwyaf diweddar yw "Sahara", (concerto i'r obo a cherddorfa siambr) gan David Heath. Cafodd 'Sahara' ei ysgrifennu ar ei gyfer ef a'r ECO, a'r concertino gan Volkmar Andrea gyda Bournmouth Symphony.

Mae wedi chwarae mewn sgoriau ar gyfer y teledu a ffilm ers dros 35 mlynedd.  Mae projectau diweddar wedi cynnwys "Far from the Madding Crowd", "The Great Gatsby" a "Mockingjay".  Mae John Anderson yn athro obo yn y Royal College of Music a Choleg Brenhinol Cerdd a Drama Cymru. Mae wedi cynnal dosbarthiadau meistr ymhob coleg cerddoriaeth yn y DU yn ogystal ag yn yr Almaen, Japan, China, Canada a Singapore. 

NYOW Woodwind Tutors - Tutoriaid Chwithbrennau CCIC (Mark Jordan - Clarinet)

Mark Jordan – Clarinet

Mark was born in Cheshire and studied at the Royal Manchester College of Music. After a short period as principal clarinet with the BBC Training Orchestra in Bristol, he spent some years concentrating more on the saxophone and was leader of the English Saxophone Quartet. Eventually he came back to the clarinet and joined the B.B.C. Northern Symphony Orchestra, which became the B.B.C Philharmonic, where he spent 33 years, often appearing as soloist in a work written for him by the orchestra's then composer in residence, Sir Peter Maxwell Davis, in which he has to play Northumbrian Pipes and juggle! He was, during that time, always involved in the orchestra's education and outreach department, working with children, students and amateurs on all aspects of performance and composition. Away from the orchestra, he maintains an interest in other genres of music, being involved in renaissance, jazz, rock and traditional music on a variety of instruments.

Mark Jordan - Clarinét

Cafodd Mark ei eni yn swydd Gaer ac astudiodd yn y Royal Manchester College of Music. Ar ôl cyfnod byr fel prif chwaraewr clarinét gyda'r BBC Training Orchestra ym Mryste, treuliodd rai blynyddoedd yn rhoi mwy o sylw i'r sacsoffon ac ef oedd arweinydd yr English Saxophone Quartet. Yn y pen draw, daeth yn ôl at y clarinét ac ymunodd â BBC Northern Symphony Orchestra, a ddaeth yn B.B.C Philharmonic, lle treuliodd 33 o flynyddoedd yn aml yn ymddangos fel unawdydd mewn gwaith a ysgrifennwyd ar ei gyfer ef gan gyfansoddwr preswyl y gerddorfa ar y pryd - Syr Peter Maxwell Davis, lle'r oedd yn rhaid iddo chwarae Pibelli Northumbria a jyglo! Yn ystod y cyfnod hwnnw, yr oedd bob amser yn cymryd rhan yn adran addysg a gwaith allanol y gerddorfa, gan weithio gyda phlant, myfyrwyr ac amaturiaid ar holl agweddau ar berfformiad a chyfansoddi. Y tu allan i'r gerddorfa, mae ganddo ddiddordeb mewn genres eraill o gerddoriaeth, gan gymryd rhan yng ngherddoriaeth y dadeni, jazz, roc a cherddoriaeth draddodiadol ar amrywiaeth o offerynnau. 

NYOW Woodwind Tutors - Tutoriaid Chwithbrennau CCIC (Meyrick Alexander - Bassoon/Basŵn

Meyrick Alexander – Bassoon

Before taking up his position as Head of Woodwind at RWCMD in 2010, Meyrick Alexander had held the position of Principal Bassoon in the Philharmonia Orchestra since 1980, before which he was a member of several leading orchestras including the BBC Northern Symphony Orchestra and the Northern Sinfonia.

Meyrick is Principal Bassoon of the London Chamber Orchestra and has played period instruments with John Eliot Gardiner’s Orchestre Revolutionnaire et Romantique. He is a regular guest principal with the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment.  He has performed extensively as a chamber musician and as a guest with nearly every British symphony and chamber orchestra, and is also a regular soloist at the annual International Double Reed Conference in the USA, Australia and the UK.

Meyrick has been bassoon tutor for the National Youth Orchestra of Wales, National Youth Wind Orchestra of Wales and the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain. He will also be coaching the Woodwind section of the Ulster Youth Orchestra in the Summer of 2015.

Meyrick Alexander – Basŵn

Cyn dod yn Bennaeth Chwythbrennau yng Ngholeg Brenhinol Cerdd a Drama Cymru yn 2010, Meyrick Alexander oedd prif Chwaraewr Basŵn y Philharmonia Orchestra ers 1980, a chyn hynny, roedd yn aelod o nifer o gerddorfeydd  blaenllaw gan gynnwys y BBC Northern Symphony Orchestra a'r Northern Sinfonia.

Meyrick yw prif chwaraewr Basŵn y London Chamber Orchestra ac mae wedi chwarae offerynnau cyfnod gydag Orchestre Revolutionnaire et Roantique John Eliot Gardiner. Mae'n aml yn brif westai'r gyda'r Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment.  Mae wedi perfformio nifer o weithiau fel cerddor siambr ac fel gwestai gyda bron iawn pob cerddorfa Symffoni Brydeinig a Cherddorfa Siambr, ac mae'n aml yn perfformio fel unawdydd yn yr Annual International Double Reed Conference yn UDA, Awstralia a'r DU.

Mae Meyrick wedi bod yn diwtor basŵn i Gerddorfa Genedlaethol Ieuenctid Cymru, Cerddorfa Chwyth Genedlaethol Ieuenctid Cymru a National Youth Wind Orchestra of Great Britain. Bydd hefyd yn hyfforddi adran Chwyth yr Ulster Youth Orchestra yn yr Haf 2015. 

Meet the NYOW 2015 Conductor

Paul Daniel became Music Director of the Orchestre National Bordeaux Aquitaine in 2013 and is also currently Principal Conductor and Artistic Director of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra of Galicia. He held the same post at the West Australian Symphony Orchestra in Perth from 2009 – 2013.  He has appeared as a guest conductor with major orchestras and opera companies throughout the world as well as holding several permanent positions.  From 1997 to 2005 he was Music Director of English National Opera; from 1990 to 1997 he was Music Director of Opera North and Principal Conductor of the English Northern Philharmonia; and from 1987 to 1990 he was Music Director of Opera Factory. 

Operatic engagements include the Royal Opera House Covent Garden, English National Opera, La Monnaie in Brussels, the Bayerische Staatsoper, Munich, Deutsche Oper Berlin, Oper Frankfurt, Opéra National de Paris, Opéra National de Bordeaux, Teatro Real Madrid, the Metropolitan Opera in New York and the Bregenz Festival.

Paul Daniel’s orchestral engagements include performances with the BBC Philharmonic, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Philharmonia, Britten Sinfonia, London Philharmonic, the OAE (with whom he recorded Elijah for Decca), City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, RTE National Symphony Orchestra, Royal Scottish National Orchestra, National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain, Trinity Laban Conservatoire,  Academy of Ancient Music, Orchestra Sinfonica di Milano Giuseppe Verdi, Orchestre de Paris, Gürzenich-Orchester Köln, Leipzig Gewandhaus, Mozarteumorchester Salzburg, Munich Rundfunkorchester, Swedish Radio Symphony, Netherlands Radio Philharmonic, Russian National Orchestra, Mariinsky Theatre, Tampere Philharmonic, Cleveland Orchestra, Milwaukee Symphony, New York Philharmonic and the Los Angeles Philharmonic.

In February 1998 Paul Daniel received an Olivier Award for outstanding achievement in opera, and in 1999 he received a Gramophone award for his English music series on the Naxos label. He was awarded the CBE in the 2000 New Year’s Honours list.

His many recordings include the hugely successful CD of Elgar’s Third Symphony on Naxos.

In February 1998 Paul Daniel received an Olivier Award for outstanding achievement in opera, and was awarded the CBE in the 2000 New Year’s Honours list.

Uchafbwyntiau'r 'Nash' / 'Nash' Highlights - Carolyn Burton

 Am y 3 mlynedd diwethaf, mae'r Nash wedi bod yn rhan wych o fy haf a rŵan dydw i ddim yn gallu dychmygu haf hebddo. Mae'n 2 wythnos ddwys o chwarae cerddoriaeth a hwyl ffantastig! Mae cael y siawns i weithio gydag arweinyddion byd-enwog a thiwtoriaid profiadol wedi fy natblygu i lawer fel cerddor, ac mae'n wych cael y cyfle i ehangu fy repertoire cerddorfaol bob blwyddyn. Heb anghofio am yr ochr gymdeithasol - mae'r tîm staff tŷ lyfli bob amser yn rhoi adloniant gwych i ni bob nos, sy'n cadw ni'n brysur trwy'r dydd i gyd! Fy hoff ddigwyddiad yn bendant ydy'r noson Gwisg Ffansi lle mae'n amlwg ein bod ni fel cerddorion yn bobl greadigol IAWN!! Does dim rhaid dod a gwisg ffansi lawr i Lanbedr, dim ond chwilota o amgylch siopau elusennol y dre a chasglu cardfwrdd, dillad a phethau ar gyfer eich gwisg. Dwi wastad wedi bod yn rhan o wisg 'grŵp gwisg ffansi' ac yn meddwl bod gwneud rhywbeth gyda fy ffrindiau yn ychwanegu hyd yn oed mwy at yr hwyl! (Carolyn Burton - Ffidl)

For the last 3 years, Nash has been a great part of my summer and now I just can't imagine a summer without it. It's an intensive 2 weeks of mad music-making and fantastic fun! Being able to work with world-renowned conductors and experienced tutors has really helped me develop as a musician, and it's always great to expand my orchestral repertoire each year. Can't forget the social side though - the lovely team of house staff always provide great entertainment for us each evening which keeps us busy non-stop for the whole day! My favourite event, though, has definitely got to be the Fancy Dress night where it's evident that we musicians are VERY creative people!! No need to bring a costume with you, just scavenge around the Lampeter charity shops, collecting cardboard, clothes and oddments for your costume. I've always been part of a 'group fancy dress' costume and I think that making something with my friends adds even more to the fun! (Carolyn Burton - Violin)

There's only about a month until the residency in Lampeter and time seems to have flown by. It feels like I only auditioned for the Nash a couple of weeks ago! The first day is looming and I'm sure everyone is very excited to be back. I remember the first day on my first course and to be honest I was rather nervous. The fear of the unknown I suppose...  I learned throughout the day that I didn't need to be nervous as everyone is very welcoming and supportive.  The first day is a chance to get to grips with some great music with your section and eventually with the full orchestra in the evening.

The first day is a chance to catch up with old friends and to make some new ones. In my opinion, the best conversations happen in the dining hall and in the union bar.  These places are an integral part of the course where we can just chill.

Mae amser wedi hedfan ac mae yna dros fis cyn i'r cwrs yn Llanbed ddechrau. Mae'n ymddangos fel petai cwpwl dim ond wythnosau yn ôl ges i glyweliad! Roeddwn i braidd yn nerfus ar fy niwrnod cyntaf ar y Nash. Mae'n anodd gwybod beth i ddisgwyl.  Doedd dim rhaid i mi fod yn nerfus oherwydd mae pawb yn groesawgar ac yn gefnogol. Mae'r diwrnod cyntaf yn gyfle i roi cynnig ar y gerddoriaeth gyda eich adran a hefyd gyda'r gerddorfa lawn.

Cyfle i weld hen ffrindiau a gwneud rhai newydd yw'r diwrnod cyntaf. Yn fy marn i, mae'r sgyrsiau gorau yn digwydd yn y ffreutur a bar yr undeb. Mae'r llefydd yma yn elfen mor bwysig o'r cwrs gan eu bod yn cynnig cyfle i ni ymlacio.

Hedydd Edge (Viola / Fiola)

The 1st Tutti Rehearsal / Ymarfer Llawn cyntaf

Ail Rhan / Part 2

We asked our Blogging Team what they are most looking forward to about this summer's NYOW residency – here are some of their answers:

Gofynnwyd wrth y Tîm Blogio beth maen nhw'n edrych ymlaen ato fwyaf ar gwrs preswyl haf CGIC eleni – dyma rai o'u hatebion:

Osian Jones, Cello:

"This year on Nash will be my second year and one of the things I just can't wait for is to see the friends that I made last year. I loved the social side of Nash because it was so different, socially, to NCO. But i am more exited for the music. The music this year sounds amazing and i can't wait to be a part of it all. I'm really looking forward to being a part of the cello section again, i had such a brilliant time last year and learnt so much from everyone and John of course. I cant wait to see what the cello section will have to give this year."

Isaac Mikhail, Violin:

"This week, we have been asked to describe what we will be looking forward to most on this years course.I should probably say the music, but it's not.It's the company; both general and orchestral. It's wonderful to be surrounded by so many talented and interesting people.That's not to say that I won't end up whistling the various themes by the end. Although humming 'The Rite of Spring' may prove challenging."

Gwen James, Violin:

"What am I looking forward to the most about this course? I think the question should be what aren’t I looking forward to! The course is always such a good laugh, I can’t wait for NYOW 2015 to begin!

Of course, the music will be brilliant, but the social side of it is absolutely fantastic. The best events, in my opinion, must be the fancy dress night, as well as the Cabaret. No pressure though – everyone gets involved, whether they bring a hat or spend hours making an incredible costume. Catching up with friends after a year or two is a very exciting prospect, and it’ll be great to be part of the atmosphere of the course once again."

We asked our Blogging Team what they are most looking forward to about this summer's NYOW residency – here are some of their answers:

Gofynnwyd wrth y Tîm Blogio beth maen nhw'n edrych ymlaen ato fwyaf ar gwrs preswyl haf CGIC eleni – dyma rai o'u h atebion:

Elain Rhys, Harp

"Dw i'n edrych ymlaen i chwarae cerddoriaeth sy'n anghyfarwydd i mi, ac yn edrych ymlaen i gwrdd â aelodau eraill y gerddorfa gan wneud ffrindiau cerddorol newydd! Dwi'n siwr y bydd 'na lawer o hwyl wrth gymdeithasu a llawer o waith caled yn yr ymarferion. Cyffrous!"

"I'm excited to play music that is unfamiliar to me, and I am looking forward to meet other members of the orchestra and make new musical friends! I'm sure there will be lots of fun while socialising and a lot of hard work during the rehearsals. Exciting!"

Sam Buttler, Oboe:

"One of the things I am definitely looking forward to about this year is the music. The Rite of Spring is one of the most important pieces of 20^th century music, and getting to play it will be a fantastic opportunity. The tour following the course will also be fun, even if I am not the biggest fan of long coach journeys. I am also looking forward to the social side of Nash. Everyone always gets really involved with the events (especially Cabaret and Fancy Dress) and it is going to be great to see what cardboard constructions are made this year!"

Hedydd Edge, Viola:

"Rydw i’n edrych ymlaen at weld fy ffrindiau yn y Gerddorfa unwaith eto, yn enwedig gan nad ydyn ni’n cael llawer o gyfle i weld ein gilydd yn aml iawn. Rydw i hefyd yn edrych ymlaen at ymarfer llawn cyntaf y gerddorfa gan fy mod i wastad yn teimlo cyfuniad o edrych ymlaen, cyffro a nerfau cyn chwarae’r darnau fel ensemble cyfan am y tro cyntaf."

"I can't wait to catch up with all of my friends on the Nash, especially as we don't get to see each other very often. I'm also looking forward to the first full orchestra rehearsal as there is always a mixed feeling of anticipation, excitement and nerves before playing the pieces as a full ensemble for the first time."

Grace Buttler, Violin:

"For the past 6 years, ‘the Nash’ has been one of the main things I’m excited about doing in the summer. Of course I look forward to playing some incredible music, with world-renowned conductors and talented musicians from all around Wales, but to me it’s also like a reunion every year. The course is very intense and you’re constantly with the same people day in, day out. This means close friendships form and year after year we all grow up together. As we’ve got older and started Uni, we see less and less of each other during the year because we’ve moved all around the country (some even out of the UK) to study and work. So most of all I’m looking forward to hanging out with friends and sharing ‘the Nash’ with them one last time."

Emily Jones, Violin:

"Well… where do I begin?

Last year I met a bunch of fantastic (if slightly crazy) people from all over Wales. I really can’t wait to see them all again in another busy 2 weeks with the Nash after a long year waiting for the course to come around once more. The NYOW team are very good at keeping us all busy with every evening having a weird and wonderful social event for us all to attend. Last year we kicked off the course with a ‘Nash Sports Day’ and for the following two weeks we had everything from the fancy dress evening and the cabaret evening (where you learn just how competitive musicians can get) to the tutors’ dinner. I really can’t wait to see what crazy things the Nash team have up their sleeves this year!

The concert venues that we perform in are beautiful and the acoustics are incredible. There’s nothing better than that echo of the last chord of a piece around a massive cathedral! The Nash developed me so much as a violinist and I learned so much, thanks to the help of the tutors and the conductor. You just keep learning and developing throughout the two weeks and although it’s exhausting (and you’ll probably sleep for several days after the course) you’ll be much better off after it.

Let’s see what NYOW 2015 has in store for us!"