Devon's schools helping to make music at this year's Mix
A diverse mix of professional and community musicians will come together with young people from across the county at one of Britain’s biggest school music festivals, organised by Babcock LDP Music Service on behalf of Devon County Council.
Today (Wednesday 26 June) at Westpoint, Exeter, thousands of young people from schools across Devon will take part in this year’s Mix - now in its 9th year.
Young people will take part in large-scale workshops with; The Magnets Trio, Samba Marcianas, Kagemusha Taiko and The Collective, as well as large scale ensemble workshops as part of the Big Play & Sing.
This year sees the return of the Big Tent, with up to 700 pupils taking part in a large vocal collaboration of Karl Jenkins’ ‘Adiemus’, mass ceilidh, ukulele workshop and a giant shanty sing!
New to the festival this year is a large outdoor stage.
Coombeshead Academy Soul opens the Mix at 10am, followed by performances from The Magnets Trio, Kagemusha Junior Taiko, Samba Marcianas, Roots Acapella, DYJO Ambassadors, Mersaides Day and the Devon Teachers Rock Choir.
There will be workshops and performances by:
The Magnets Trio. The Magnets are acappella stars, making music simply with their mouths. "Combining glorious harmonies, virtuosi beatboxing and a very British charm they have become a must see act on the international music scene.” says one critic. Visit their website for more information, www.themagnets.com
Samba Marcianas. These Sambistas learn complex and exacting traditional rhythms and are encouraged to contribute original ideas for rhythmic breaks and links developing their composition skills and giving the Marcianas their distinctive feel and personality. The result is a fun, vibrant and energetic set.
Roots A Capella provide a performance from Devon's folk and world music vocal ensemble for young people across the county, aged 12 to 18 years.
Exeter Cathedral Choristers. Exeter Cathedral's boy and girl Choristers are educated at the Cathedral School and the children, all aged between seven and 13, join adult professional singers to sing up to eight services a week, together with a busy diary of recording, broadcasting, concert and touring commitments.
The Collective, supported by the Devon Youth Service, includes young people who will be leading urban music, beatbox and breakdance sessions throughout the day.
Petroc’s ‘It-Factor’ winner Mersaides Day will perform a set of original songs on the main stage including her winning entry ‘A Love Song’.
There will also be a performance by the Devon Teachers Rock Choir. Devon teachers like you’ve never seen them before!
The DYJO Ambassadors enjoy the cool grooves of players from the award-winning Devon Youth Jazz Orchestras.
And there will be performance from Kagemusha Junior Taiko.
The annual Big Sing will take place on the main outdoor stage at 1:40pm, supported by the Mix house band, Devon Teachers Rock Choir and young singers from the Ilfracombe Rocks project in North Devon.
Festival goers will have the opportunity to come together and participate in a large scale gospel rendition of Reef’s surf rock anthem Place Your Hands, pick up their Ukulele’s to jam along to McFly’s summertime pop tune ‘Love is Easy’ and don their stadium rock voices for a rousing interpretation of the Queen classic ‘We are the Champions’.
