Monthly archives: December, 2022

Musical Chairs Summer School

I am pleased to be once again coaching the saxophone section for the Musical Chairs Summer School in July 2023. The course will run from July 25th to 28th, 10am – 4pm each day. There is home cooked, fresh food available to purchase each day as well as teas, coffees etc. The daily sessions are held at St. Marks Church Hall in West Parley, Ferndown near Bournemouth in Dorset. There is no accommodation included but there are plenty of options and places to stay in the local area. We will be led again by local legend – Alastair Hume who creates custom arrangements tailored to the instrumentation. It’s a very relaxed environment to better your playing and gain more experience. This is a great workshop for sax, clarinet, flute and brass players as well as percussion and more. More information can be found at www.mcss.org.uk or email Joanna Welsh at jo.magicflutes@gmail.com


Yanagisawa Saxophones UK Artist

I have been singing the praises of the latest models of Yanagisawa Saxophones for a while now, my preference being the TWO20 Tenor. I am pleased to say that Yanagisawa have made me a UK Yanagisawa Artist. I am humbled to be listed amongst so much saxophone greatness! If you haven’t tried these great saxophones then you’re missing out.

https://yanagisawasaxophones.co.uk/artists/uk-irish-artists


Jazz Saxophone in Red Square 1990

I was looking through old photos and cam across this gem from 1990. I was fortunate enough to attend Homefield School in Winkton, Christchurch when Colin Young was the head of Music. Colin crafted a fantastic orchestra from children who attended Homefield and other schools. We went on various tours over the years to countreis including The Czech Republic, Germany, France, Switzerland and the most interesting for me, Russia. We played in Leningrad and Moscow and visited Tchiakovsky’s House and the graves of Russian master composers. One concert was attended by a large group of the Red Army who were a great audience! Here is a photo from our very quick busking attemp in Red Square, we were moved on rather quickly by the KGB! I am the geeky looking one on the far right. From left to right Jason Barlow (Trumpet), Jim Partridge (Trumpet), Glenn Barlow (Trumpet), Simon Boothroyd (Trombone), James Aldred (Tenor Saxophone, James Rawlinson (Alto Saxophone).