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Playing at APAA

Through active partnerships with the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra (CBSO), Birmingham Conservatoire, Birmingham School of Acting, The Drum and Symphony Hall - children from four years old are being tutored to the highest calibre in music, drama and dance at Aston Performing Arts Academy.

Students at the academy demonstrate commitment and determination to study at a high level, while at the same time coping with the demands of home and school life.

Let's Jazz it up!

Watch the Aston Performing Arts Academy playing together with the CBSO at the Drum. The young musicians also explain what they love about being part of the academy.

Let's play music

Aiming high

Aston Performing Arts Academy formerly known as Aston Youth Orchestra was formed in summer 2000.

Academy director Angela Daniels explains: “Aston Performing Arts Academy is an organisation that provides creative arts for young people in and around Birmingham.

"Most of our students are from Aston, Handsworth, Lozells and surrounding areas, but we’re now finding that we are getting children from all over Birmingham.

Let's play music

“We first approached the CBSO to work with us six years ago, explaining that we had a small group of children who really wanted to learn how to read music and play instruments.

“Over the years relationships have really flourished through collaborations with organisations such as the CBSO

"My aspiration is to see similar pilot schemes based throughout the UK.”

Let’s play music

When the project first approached the CBSO six years ago it was still in a development stage but the CBSO saw a huge potential in what the academy was doing.

Aston Performing Arts Academy and CBSO

Keith Stubbs CSBO Education Officer explains: “The CBSO Berkley Salon Ensemble works alongside the Aston Performing Arts community project coaching, arranging music and sharing concerts with the young people. It’s been a huge success.

“It’s great that the CBSO being one of the countries leading orchestras can get involved with a community project not more than a mile from Symphony Hall.”

CBSO in the community

The CBSO Berkley Salon Ensemble was set up in 1999 by director Alwyn Green. The ensemble is just one of the small groups within the CSBO orchestra that work alongside community projects like the Aston Performing Arts Academy.

Alwyn Green explains: “It’s really great to take part in a project like this where we are bringing together people who are just starting to play and people who have been playing for quite a few years.

Playing alongside the CBSO

“A lot of people think the CBSO are special elite people, but we are just ordinary guys and girls like everyone else.

“It’s nice when we can go into the community and people can see that we are just ordinary people who get our love and joy out of making music.

“It’s extra to the CBSO work but it’s very rewarding and we’re so pleased that groups like the Aston Performing Arts Academy want to work with us.”

Getting down on the double bass

Broadening young horizons

The academy runs a vigorous programme in the areas of music, drama and dance. Many of the young people get the opportunity to specialise in more than one subject area of their choice.

Angela explains: “We run music lessons at the Birmingham Conservatoire, working with 18 tutors and students who are all highly qualified and experienced leaders in their field. They help teach the children different types of musical instruments from the flute right down to the double bass.

“The Birmingham School of Acting run our drama and dance courses every Saturday at the Millennium Point.

“Dance is still quite a new area that we want to develop. At the moment we teach Latin Jazz, salsa and ballet.

A passion for music

“We don’t want to focus so much on the street dance and the regular genre that’s usually associated with Afro-Caribbean children. We wanted to have something different so we could broaden their horizons and give them alternatives.”

Performing on stage

Aston Performing Arts Academy have performed at venues across the city including the Adrian Bolt Hall, Symphony Hall and The Drum with the new Birmingham Town Hall next on the agenda.

“Performing on the magificent stage at Symphony Hall was a fantastic experience for the children. These are the opportunities that we need to create so the young people can really believe that they can aspire for that kind of greatness.

On the Sax

“However this project really wouldn’t work without the support from the children’s parents as we’re not funded at the moment.

“Aston Performing Arts Academy is a platform for the children to show their achievements and aspirations on a public stage, supported by audiences made up of  parents and their communities.”

More about Aston Performing Arts Academy

Aston Performing Arts Academy runs six days a week Monday to Saturday at the Birmingham Conservatoire and Millennium Point.

For more information on courses and tuition schedules visit the APAA website.