Faber Music composers win at Music Teacher Awards

Faber Music is delighted to be the publisher of two Music Teacher Awards 2018 winners.

Wassail! Carols of Comfort and Joy by Alexander L’Estrange won the public vote to receive the Best Classical Music Education Initiative Award, sponsored by Classic FM, and authors Heather Hammond & Karen Marshall won The Best Print Resource for The Intermediate Pianist.

The awards were presented on 22 February by Classic FM’s Anne-Marie Minhall at the Sheraton Grand London Park Lane Hotel, Mayfair.

Wassail! Carols of Comfort and Joy, which was commissioned by United Learning and premiered in two concerts in December, brought together over 1000 staff and students from across the UK. The piece was created to inspire collaboration, musical excellence and joy through choral singing. Performers from United Learning academies and independent schools across the country took part in the premieres in London and Manchester, side by side with acclaimed vocal ensemble Apollo 5 in a unique national initiative that also included teacher training, schools’ workshops, recording sessions and design.

The award, which was presented to Alexander L’Estrange and Catherine Barker, United Learning’s Head of Music and Performing Arts, was voted for by the general public via Classic FM. Receiving the award, Catherine Barker said: “It’s wonderful that the hard work of our students, teachers and musical partners has been recognised with this award– thank you to everyone who voted for Wassail! The project lives on through Alexander L’Estrange’s beautiful piece of music; we hope it continues to inspire schools and their communities to sing together for many years to come.”

Alexander L’Estrange said: “I’m incredibly proud of Wassail! From writing the work, recording and rehearsing it across the country with hundreds of amazing students and their brilliant teachers, to conducting the premieres – the whole process has been a complete joy. Thank you to everyone at United Learning and our supporters!”

The Intermediate Pianist, by Heather Hammond and Karen Marshall, was specifically written to help students progress through the tricky intermediate stages of learning the piano, offering a ‘one-stop shop’ for Grade 3–5 level pianists.

Karen Marshall said: "This intermediate stage of learning the piano – and indeed any instrument – is a notoriously tricky period, when many teachers may find students dropping off, losing interest and quitting lessons. The Intermediate Pianist tackles the issues faced by students and teachers through these stages and provides a music curriculum to engage, excite, enthuse and educate pupils, helping them to understand the music that they are playing and developing them into well-rounded musicians."

Praise for the 3-book series includes:

“Beyond its attractive presentation and great selection of pieces, The Intermediate Pianist is a fresh and ground-breaking approach which is full of brilliant musical ideas. It is sure to enable pianists to play with greater understanding and engagement, and comes very highly recommended.” Andrew Eales, pianodao.com

“These books are OUTSTANDING. It is no wonder that this series is one of the finalists in the Best Print Resources at the 2018 Music Teacher Awards.” Liz Dewhurst, EPTA

Wassail! Carols of Comfort and Joy vocal score is available to buy now.
ISBN: 0-571-54038-4 | Price: £12.99

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Faber Music composers win at Music Teacher Awards