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Five of Jersey's brightest young musicians will tomorrow night compete to be crowned Jersey Young Musician of the Year 2024.
Every weekend, Express presents a selection of exhibitions, performances, workshops, events and other historic, creative and delicious content to help islanders get their weekly dose of culture.
On Saturday night, six exceptionally talented, young local musicians will take to the stage for this year’s final, organised by the Jersey Music Service and sponsored by long-term supporter PwC.
This is the 32nd year of the competition, which incorporates qualifying heats for string, woodwind, piano, brass, voice and percussion and offers Jersey’s young musicians the experience of performing and competing.
Many previous finalists have gone on to pursue successful music careers.
To reach the final, each musician has won their category heat in the preliminary rounds and tonight those winners will be competing against each other when they present a short programme of music of their choice.
The musician who gives the most expressive and technically accomplished performance will be named the PwC Jersey Young Musician of the Year.
The competition will be adjudicated by Siân Derry, assistant director of postgraduate studies at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, who brings with her a range of technical knowledge and performance experience. There will also be a guest performance from last year’s winner, vocalist Sydney Haskins.
The competition’s winner will take home a trophy, along with a cheque presented by PwC for £1,000 in support of their ongoing music studies.
The Jersey Symphony Orchestra Award will go to one of the finalists whose performance demonstrates the potential to benefit from a programme of working with the JSO over the next 12 months.
The young finalists are:
Strings: Edward Clark - Victoria College
Piano: Jason Hoare - De La Salle
Brass: Summer Watkins - JCG
Woodwind: Cosimo Dhami-Hounsome - Hautlieu
Vocal: Poppy Pendergast - Beaulieu
Percussion: Matt Jackson - Homeschool
Jersey Overseas Aid and Colonel Tim Collins OBE, the patron of local charity Friends of Ukraine EOD, are holding a discussion event at the Jersey Arts Centre on the eve of the second anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Colonel Collins will be joined by Ben Remfrey, a military veteran and EOD expert, to reflect on the changing nature of conflict, their experiences and insights from Iraq to Ukraine and the role of humanitarian organisations in Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD).
Tickets are free of charge and can be booked HERE.
An art exhibition showcasing artists from Jersey and Guernsey with practitioners from around the world launched last week.
The Channel Islands Contemporary Art Show – a partnership between ArtHouse Jersey, Art for Guernsey and Les Champs Libres in Rennes – is being exhibited at Capital House until 25 February.
The exhibition aims to offer new perspectives on how the Channel Islands relate to their pasts and a wider global future.
It explores the inspiration that the Channel Islands have offered to artists through history, particularly from the late 19th century to the mid-20th century and one that reflects the more complex social realities of the islands today.
ArtHouse Jersey said: "With stunning landscape and portrait photography, exquisite and subtly layered painted works alongside sculptural and video pieces, it will both question and invite the viewer to reflect on themselves and the complex global histories of these Islands.
"The show promises to be mysterious and experiential for the visitor, with shifting and changing perspectives, much like the Islands themselves when seen from close-up and afar, as visitors walk through the gallery environment."
The work will be showcased first at ArtHouse Jersey at Capital House between 19 January and 25 February 2024 followed by a month-long exhibition at Art for Guernsey in St Peter Port opening on Thursday 7 March 2024.
For more information, click HERE.
Over the past seven years, Martin Toft has covered more than 60,000 kilometres across land and sea, exploring the history of
Jersey's cod-fishing trade in Canada in the footsteps of those pioneers.
One of the fruits of his labours is a short film, The Seaflower Venture, based on the life of one of the trade's most successful exponents, Charles Robin, who set up business on the Gaspé Coast in 1766, reimaging the merchant triangle linking Jersey with South America.
ArtHouse Jersey said: "Through the prism of colonialism and family history, Martin looks at how Jersey's original wealth generated by the proceeds from the North Atlantic fisheries and maritime trade lay the foundation for the island's future prosperity."
His film can be seen at the Capital House Gallery in Church Street until 25 February.
A charitable fund that subsidises off-island trips for Jersey residents to pursue arts, crafts, or history interests has partnered with Citizens Advice Jersey to reach more applicants.
To offer islanders additional support in applying to the cultural fund, applicants can now schedule face-to-face appointments with Citizens Advice Jersey.
The fund, which is allocated quarterly, sees its deadlines come around each year on 1 February, 1 May, 1 August and 1 November.
Further details about the fund and how to apply can be found HERE.
In a new five-week course at the Harbour Gallery, islanders can learn a range of appliqué techniques.
Attendees will produce their own final piece in felt and stitch which could be a cushion cover, a decorative panel, or a wall hanging.
No previous stitch experience is necessary, and all materials are provided – including tea and cake!
The sessions take place every Wednesday from 21 February, from 13:30 to 15:30.
For bookings or more information, email partintheframe@yahoo.co.uk.
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