The AYM Programme

The Ambassador team offer bespoke support to each AYM, offering mentoring provision, advice and additional support. Our team have a huge amount of shared experience to offer, and you can choose to have a regular mentoring relationship or ask for individual sessions as and when you need them. There is no extra charge for this support and all AYMs have access to this offer.

We invited another group of some of the UK’s most inspiring and experienced artists to introduce us to new ways of working and support our musical development in our first studies. With Max Baillie, Yvette Riby-Williams, Oliver Pashley, Naomi Sullivan, Matilda Lloyd, Chris Montague, Zeynep Özsuca Rattle, Gabriella Swallow, James Maddren, Joanna Lee, Carol Jarvis and Cara Houghton.

Inspired by the Voicings Collective’s Walk Out Of Yourself, we created our own docu-operas in response our experiences throughout the last year. We learnt how visual material can support our musical ideas, explored how we use our voices, went on walks to capture found sound, and worked in teams to develop new works. With Freya Wynn-Jones, Rob Gildon, Michael Betteridge, Rebecca Hurst, Georgia Morgan Turner and Chuck Blue Lowry.

Working with the Jacquin Trio, we reimagined Beethoven’s Piano Trio, Op.11, to explore and learn about the importance of harmony and structure. We played through the piece, deconstructed and analysed it, before making our own hybrid work – using Beethoven’s harmony and structure, and our melody. With Kay Stephen, Jessie Grimes, Charis Hanning and Jonah Spindel.

To explore orchestration, arrangement and performance, we creatively reimagined the songs of Joni Mitchell. We explored what makes a successful performer in a recording studio and were honoured to meet Leland Sklar and Russell Kunkel to learn about their experiences in the studio with Joni Mitchell. With Gabriella Swallow, Callum Au, Lizzie Ball, Pete Grogan, Millie Lihoreau and Clare Wheeler.

An immersive, interactive and vibrant weekend performing music from Europe, Asia and Africa. We created new music as a large ensemble and played traditional tunes in trios. With Paul Griffiths, Georgia Dawson, Jonah Spindel, Jonno Gaze, Georgia Denham, Jay Richardson and Evie Hilyer-Ziegler.

Each instrumental group worked with a specialist to ensure we were all continuing to develop our technique whilst we couldn’t meet in person. With Charis Hanning, Jason Evans, Jessie Grimes, Minat Lyons, James Maddren, Hilary Sturt, Sarah Markham, Maz O’Connor, Harry Escott, Chris Sharkey, Simon Wills and Sarah O’Flynn.

Collaborating with ZRI, we questioned how we could embrace working online to create new and exciting musical possibilities. We explored how ZRI reimagine classical and popular works into their own authentic style, before making our own music. With Jon Banks, Ben Harlan, Iris Pissaride, Matthew Sharp and Max Baillie.

Taking inspiration from the The Blue Hour, a cabaret event which examines satirical song of the Weimar Republic, we wrote our own protest songs, considering how we can use music to express our own views. With Sarah Gabriel, Gabriella Swallow, Beth Higham-Edwards, Isobel Doncaster and George Garford.

We met online to explore Music for Radio, learning about the use of text and field recordings before composing, performing, recording, mixing and producing new works incorporating music, narration and field recordings. With Harry Escott, Sarah Playford, Iain Chambers, Roger Goula, Robin Brooks, Katherine Farnden and Millie Lihoreau.

We collaborated in an online space to discuss our inspirations and experiences and to create new music; we made 60 second-compositions, large ensemble pieces, and improvised with graphic scores. With Tim Steiner, Jay Richardson, Marla Kether, Georgia Morgan-Turner, George Garford, Isobel Doncaster, Jack Gionis and Sam Jones.

Throughout the Summer term, we worked together in small groups to create our own pop songs, which we then made into an EP! We explored vocal technique, arranging and production skills, and made some amazing new music with Dominic Ellis-Peckham, Clare Wheeler and Nick Girard.

We collaborated with the Jacquin Trio to learn all about Chamber music and the skills and techniques we all need in order to be excellent contributors to small musical groups. At the end of the course, we recorded our work into SoundTrap and shared it with our families and friends. With the Jacquin Trio.

Working with professional composers, librettists, directors and vocalists, we learnt all about Opera! Taking inspiration from works by Mozart and Britten, we wrote our own stories and libretto which we then set to music. With Tom Coult, Heloise Werner, Gareth Mattey, Peter Brathwaite and Cordelia Lynn.

Over the course of this project, we explored all aspects of Songwriting. We listened to inspirational songwriters and performers, including Aretha Franklin and Bob Dylan, and worked in small groups and as individuals to create our own music in the style of a popular song or ballad. With Toby McLaren and Lo Barnes.

We celebrated Beethoven’s 250th anniversary exploring his Pastoral Symphony and other musical works inspired by the natural environment, before creating our own works. With Hilary Sturt, Al Mobbs, Duncan Chapman, Dide Siemmond and Isobel Doncaster.

Collaborating with the Society of Strange and Ancient Instruments, we explored music from hundreds of years ago. We played 15th century dances, consort music and traditional popular music before writing our own works, considering the use of traditional instruments. With Clare Salaman, Jon Banks, Vivien Ellis and Imogen Ridge.

Collaborating with Afrik Bawantu, we explored how traditional Ghanaian rhythms were influenced by funk, leading to the creation of Afrobeat. We created our own works and performed traditional works, incorporating dance and improvisation into our performances. With Afla Sackey, Suman Joshi, Louis Pocock and Harry Greene.

We started the academic year by immersing ourselves within a myriad of creative processes and rehearsals. Inspired by a vibrant range of musical influences, we spent every day making new music together! With Tim Steiner, Ciaran Corr, Alex Wilson, Georgia Dawson, Evie Hilyer-Ziegler, James Seabrook and Georgia Morgan-Turner.