Josh Carig / Claudia Cramer (A Fistful of Funk) - The Taste of Cream
We started about a year and a half ago as a bass-lead funk/punk band with Josh Charig on bass, Andrew Balham on drums and Ella Goschalk on guitar. We wrote songs despite the lack of a singer. When we were ready to gig we had to quickly find a singer and Claudia turned up so we used her as our vocalist. Our song we have submitted is about a short trip to Belgium which me (Josh) and Andrew took with a few of our friends which turned out to be stranger than originally expected. It’ll be interesting mixing our punk/funk grooves with a completely different genre; I never thought I’d use anything more than a basic rock band setup.
Alfie and Harry - One Voice
Alfie (age 8) and Harry (age 9) wrote their Groove in class at Framlingham Sir Robert Hitcham’s Primary School. Alfie plays the guitar and piano, and Harry plays the drums and guitar. The composition is called One Voice because they had to make a rhythm from one word spoken by someone from a different country. They also used glockenspiels to make the rhythm more interesting.
Andy Jenkinson - Men with Toys
With my band, Butterfly Polite, I’ve been very fortunate in being able to explore song writing and arranging without feeling constrained by a genre. Originally started as a recording project with side musicians and collaborators - a nucleus of a band quickly formed, and live gigs followed. Sarah (vocals) and J.Douglas (tuned percussion) work with me in making some beautiful songs - slightly left of centre ‘pop’ with occasionally unsettling lyrics. I’ve been slowly drafting musicians in to play with us live (at the last count ButterflyPolite had 11 people on stage including glockenspiel, two flutes, two violins and a double bass) as well as occasional experiments arranging our songs for just Sarah and string quartet. Now I have gone one further and achieved the ultimate coup by getting the Philharmonia Orchestra to play our stuff. The loop is the coda section from our song ”Men with Toys”.
Callum Stewart - In The Lea
My name is Callum and I am 11 years old. I first started playing the saxophone (alto) when I was 9 years old. I have one lesson a week for ½ an hour and then practice during the week on my own. I must admit maybe not as often as I should. Last year I got my buskers licence for the City Of York. This made me the youngest licensed busker in the UK. The reason for doing the busking is to help me raise money for eye surgery so I can be a fighter pilot. My dad saw the competition on the internet and asked if I wanted to have a go. A few weeks earlier I asked mum if she thought I should have a go at writing music. She said go for it, you’ve nothing to lose. So I did. The piece I sent was my first ever attempt. So winning was a real shock but fantastic.
Clive Hunte - My Life
I’ve been a gigging musician playing the bass for the past 10 years in the North West and throughout Europe. My company, Busha Productions was launched in 2000 and is primarily involved in music and video production. I’m also a member of Speakeasy (a North West poet & musician collective) and Meninos do Morumbi (a Brazilian Samba School based in Oldham and Sao Paulo). I’ve travelled extensively around the world touring as a bass player. Most recently in 2004 with Uncut, who were signed to Warner Brothers. This work lead to me playing bass on Lily Allen's debut album "Alright Still”. I’ve also appeared on a tribute single celebrating the life of Mark Vivian Foe (Manchester City player) which was a real honour to a true blue like myself. My groove is a work in progress as a part of a yet untitled album featuring Bridget Escobar (from Denmark). The piece is contemporary with influences from classical, R n B and film soundtrack music.
Daniel McCallum - Blue 2
I was born in Melbourne and moved to Sydney when I was 4. I attend the Sydney conservatorium of music and I am currently studying both oboe and composition, My composition teacher at school is Trevor Pearce, and more recently last year I was awarded a scholarship from Father Arthur Bridge to study with the Australian composer Paul Stanhope. Last year I had a composition played with the Sydney Sinfonietta conducted by Richard Gill. I then won composers day at the conservatorium high school and later had a piece recorded and preformed by the sonic arts ensemble conducted by Paul Stanhope. At the award day I received the fellowship of Australian composer’s award. I am a very keen young composer and I am always looking for new and exciting opportunities.
Daniel Morel - Midnight Run
"Midnight Run", a musical exploit of twists and turns through rain-soaked alleys, is the latest in a series of instrumental and choral compositions by Daniel Morel. Turning 26 in May, Daniel is a composer of many modern styles, with performances and premieres throughout the Colorado metropolitan area. Daniel started his career in music during high school playing dinner clubs, both as a solo act and with jazz combos. He attended Bucknell University (2003), receiving a BA in Music, where he studied piano performance and composition. He has written/arranged for the Bucknell Jazz Machine (2000), the Arts Street Organization (1999/2001), and premiered works with the Cherry Creek Chorale (2005/2007). Currently, Daniel sings with the Cherry Creek Chorale (Denver), plays weddings and dinners, and operates a website for new music entitled Deemo Melody Labs. Daniel lives in Denver, CO, with his CD collection and keyboards.
Holly Hardy - Too Happy
My name is Holly Hardy, I am 18 years old, and I am a Singer/songwriter from Dorset. All my songs are my own original material and they fall under the musical category of Acoustic/ folk/soul. I play the guitar, piano and drums as well as sing and I am currently in my first year studying for a degree in music, at the Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts. I hope to become a professional songwriter/solo artist and drummer. However I also aspire to write and record songs for existing, or future artists. The song that I submitted for this competition is called ‘Too happy’, and as the title suggests it is a positive song about being happy, so happy there can’t be a higher state of happiness to reach. I have always imagined this song being orchestrated, as with most of my music, but until now I have never been able to complete this song. This is why I feel extremely lucky to be selected to take part in this amazing opportunity, this is a real dream come true for me.
Hugh Worskett - Mauve
I am a 19-year-old music student at King’s College London. I spread my time between playing the oboe, guitar and piano, studying classical music and writing and producing popular music. This groove’s effectiveness relies upon its rhythmic and timbral qualities rather than upon melody or harmony. It is incredibly simple but gains its drive through the surge in the crashing piano chords and the space that occurs between them and the first beat of the next bar. I concentrated a lot on the sonic “feel” of the groove bearing in mind the aim of it being orchestrated. This shows in the classical connotations of what I regard as a ‘rock’ groove. The noise of the descending figure was created by muting strings on a piano to try and emulate the sound of a marimba or plucked strings.
Jared Johnson - Sweets
My name is Jared Johnson. I am eleven years old and I live in Horsham, West Sussex. I live with my Mum, Dad and sister Arielle. I have been playing the piano since I was six years old and violin since eight. I play first violin in Mid Sussex Orchestra and in my school band. My sister also plays the violin and the recorder. Both my sister and I play the guitar in a school club. My groove was first created when I had to write a piece of music for homework. It’s called ‘Sweets’ and was originally written for piano. To help me get inspiration, I got a tray full of sweets beside the piano! When I handed it in at school, I got 14/18 and the maximum five house points. I really enjoy playing the piano and violin. Sometimes in my spare time when I play the piano, I get carried away and I just can’t stop.
Joe Milan - Eyes Red
I'm an unsigned musician from Montreal (Quebec) Canada. I've been involved in music since I was 13 years old. As a home-recording artist I'm always experimenting with different music equipment and learning new ways of doing things to improve my sound. I'm a big fan of analog synthesizers (I like to program my own synth sounds and beats). My music is mostly electronic. But it's constantly evolving, changing, and (hopefully) improving. I write instrumentals as well as songs. My songwriting incorporates elements of synth pop, indie rock and hip-hop. When I first heard about the GrooveSearch contest, I thought it was a great idea. For me, classical music has always been aristocratic. With the GrooveSearch, the Philharmonia Orchestra is doing something extraordinary! They're giving underground musicians the chance to be part of a unique experience.
Krystal Jenkins & Imogen Meynell-Anderson - QPootle5
Krystal Jenkins and Imogen Meynell-Anderson are both eight years old and attend Framlingham Sir Robert Hitcham’s Primary School. Imogen is learning to play the guitar and Krystal plays the flute. After reading a children’s book called Qpootle5, they created a composition about something that happened in the book. They composed lots of small tunes on the keyboard and the computer. These melodies, or ostinatos, were put together on the computer to create a final QPootle5 composition.
Mary Turner - Real Me
I have been singing ever since I can remember and started playing the recorder, piano and violin from the age of about 7, and teaching myself guitar and basic flute at a later age. I always wanted to pursue a music career but never really had the means to, I started a nursing degree and then after working with a few producers and having to take a year out from my degree I decided to take the risk and concentrate on music. After recording a Radio 1 session with him, I have since been performing and been on tour with Akira The Don, a successful UK rapper and I am now concentrating on new material working with a wide range of producers. The “groove” that I chose to put forward is a song I wrote four years ago, I have never really been keen on the current production as I thought that it made the tune slightly “dated” but have always liked the vocal so am intrigued and excited to hear what it will sound like orchestrated.
Melissa Stockton - The Skier
I am an 11yr old school girl who is interested in Music, Horse Riding and Swimming. I come from Suffolk where there are plenty of fields for Horse Riding. I am playing the Harp (Grade 2 at moment) but also played the piano and sit the Theory of Music exams. I’m in the 2nd Orchestra at school and have played at the Snape Maltings Hall twice and will play there again in March 07. (Do come and see me if you’re in the area.) My piece is called ‘The Skiier’. It started life as a piece for the Harp; I had to compose it for my Trinity exams; but then there was the Suffolk Music Festival where I got a merit and talking through this I learnt that I could orchestrate it in a similar way to music used for orchestra at school, I did just that and here it is.
Michael Christoudias & Hylton Pearce - East Meets West
Michael: I started playing keyboards age 11 and at 19, enrolled at Goldsmiths College gaining a certificate in Jazz and Popular Music. I’m currently doing a BA Music degree at Middlesex University. A lot of my work involves working with various Greek bands and artists. My first two instruments are the Piano and Accordion but also play the Bouzouki, Drums, Guitar and Bass. Currently I’m collaborating with Hylton Pearce, developing demos covering various styles of music.
Hylton: My interest in music started when I was about 13 years old and was exposed to the early sounds of hip hop. My first steps to producing music began around the age of 15 programming drum parts on a Roland TR808 drum machine. At the age of 23 I set up my own recording studio and went on to gain a diploma in Audio Engineering from SAE. I have a keen interest in Jazz, arranging and improvisation. I am working with Michael & other artists completing some demos based around Indian music with a western style.
Nicholas Freestone - Scherzo in 9
I’m 15 and in Year 10 at Ipswich School. I started playing the piano when I was in the Reception at Primary school in Ipswich. I’m now working towards my Grade 8. Sunday evenings in term-time are spent rehearsing with my school Big Band, where I'm developing my jazz keyboard technique. I began learning the French Horn with the Suffolk County Music Service in Year 4 and attended the Ipswich County Music School on Saturday mornings. In 2006 I gained my Grade 7 and I’m currently a member of my school Symphony Orchestra, the South Suffolk Youth Orchestra and the Suffolk Youth Orchestra county ensemble. On Sundays I’m a Choral Scholar at St Mary le Tower Church, where I also learn the organ. My “Scherzo in 9” groove is adapted from ideas first used in a “Rondo for Organ” which I composed for my GCSE Music. Each term I do a couple of arrangements for the 40-piece St John’s Primary School orchestra, but it will be amazing to hear one of my compositions being played by professional musicians.
Oliver Morgan - Latino Funk
I have always been into music in a big way having played the guitar for about 12 years, and have also played the piano at different stages. I have always been into funk, jazz, and blues guitar playing and as most guitar players will say, jimi hendrix has been a great influence. As far as the groove, I tried to create it with a latino funk style. I started a music technology degree in 2002 which opened up recording and computer production, and has been a passion for the past couple of years. Being able to use my live guitar playing, piano, and the benefits of musical synthesis has opened up a new world of playing to me. I love good electronica music and would site my influences as Chris Clark, Squarepusher, Tim Exile, LFO , and Ceephax Acid Crew. In the long term future I would like to set up a business catering for kids who want to get into music and video production, helping to get them started with the right equipment and guidance.
Stephen Lindsay - Bellbird
Stephen Lindsay is a 43-year old musician based near Manly on Sydney’s Northern Beaches in Australia. He has been composing music part-time for over 20 years, working out of a home-based recording studio and collaborating with artists and songwriters in both the UK and USA. Working predominately in the pop music genre, Stephen’s music is defined by a strong sense of melody which he has bought to his song “Bellbird”, "It was written to be an uplifting, inspirational melody with a theme that you could go away humming to, but underlaid with quite a complex counterpoint driven by a cymbalon,” Stephen said. “A number of elements in the piece work to their own rhythms, including a kabuki-type wood percussion, but they all wrap around each other and sit underneath a quite simple but beautiful melody,” he added.
Sham Sabur & Sunil Soni - Epic Battle
The SOUL Chefs story began in autumn 2001 at City University halls of residence, where Neema, Sham and Sunil first met; in a manner that was so natural that even fate hardly pulled a muscle. Little did they know that they shared an interest in creative expression and artistry that would eventually lead into a musical partnership. Neema’s love for Disney movies inspired her to start learning the Piano from an early age. She expanded on her musical interests by learning the Oboe and singing in school concerts. Later on in her teenage years she used her musical skills to write her own compelling compositions. Sham is an articulate poet and long term lyrist whose inspiration to write songs bloomed alongside his passion for stage acting and directing college plays. He replaced the performing arts scene by getting involved with managing numerous events at University. Many of which were live music events, where he often called upon Sunil to provide the music. Sunil had conditioned the ability to express his feelings with sound, mainly with synthesizers. Born into a musical family, he was encouraged to perform at every function possible. He grew up listening to a mixture of interesting styles that fed his ability to improvise and pick notes up quickly. After spending some time sharing compositions and song ideas the artistic trio decided to merge their ideas together using modern music production techniques. So after graduating from University, Sunil and Sham enrolled into a music production course at Point Blank College, London. It was here that they began to bring their creative ingredients together that combined emotion felt lyrics with a soulful blend of melodies and rhythm.
