Orchestra to train young musicians for film work

The North of England Centre for Music and Arts runs a number of bands and orchestras

An arts centre has launched a youth session orchestra to help young people learn the skills needed to work in film and television.

The North of England Centre for Music and Arts, based in Marsden, West Yorkshire, runs a number of bands and hosts performances from its base at Standedge Visitor Centre.

Jenny Hanson, who runs the centre and has played on session recordings for Universal Studios and the Liverpool Philharmonic, said she wanted to share her knowledge with young musicians.

She said: "I wasn't prepared when I started. [These sessions] are a chance to have a chat with other people and enjoy the process. Even just understanding a bit more of what makes a really good film soundtrack."

"A decent session musician has to be able to turn their hand to all sorts of different things at the drop of a hat," the viola player and violinist added.

"A lot of our kids are playing classical music and contemporary arrangements of pop songs and sometimes film music.

"They get a chance to play, but it would be really lovely to explore how it actually feels to sit in a session, to have that buzz of 'right, the light is on, now we're going to record this'. You've never seen the music before.'"

Clem Melling is hoping to be part of the youth session orchestra

Clem Melling, 13, is a member of the North of England Centre for Music and Arts Saturday Strings group and is hoping to join the session orchestra.

She plays violin, piano, ukulele and hopes to one day study opera at music college.

She said: "It would be really nice to play in a really big orchestra with my friends and other people. And I really like the idea of film music.

She added: "Film music is really powerful, how music can completely alter how we see a video.

"If you change the music to say Jaws then it could be like a completely different type of film. And I find that really interesting."

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