Creative Journeys & Explorations of the Natural World
Let’s Jam!
Creative music workshops with Renzo Spiteri and Ben Murray
Let’s Jam was a series of creative music workshops designed for young people of all abilities aged between 13 and 18, with or without music knowledge or experience. Through a sharing and collaborative environment, workshop participants were invited to be part of a music-making creative collective and to try out music ideas.
The workshops were co-delivered by two professional musicians: Shetland-based Renzo Spiteri (multi-percussion player, arts collaborator, improviser, composer, multi-media artist) and Ben Murray (singer/songwriter, composer, accordion player, guitarist and pianist) who is based in Newcastle.
Renzo Spiteri
Percussion
Shetland-based multi-percussion player, arts collaborator, improviser, composer, multi-media artist, Renzo Spiteri has been active on the international arts circuit for thirty years, collaborating and leading his own projects. As a music educator Renzo is particularly keen to work with young people in workshop settings as this allows him to share his knowledge and experience in music and the arts, and to guide, mentor and encourage younger generations to pursue a career in the creative industries. His percussion workshops are highly sought after, offering participants the opportunity to collaborate together in creating polyrhythmic and interdependent music pieces that rely on the participants’ ability and willingness to work as a team. Renzo has been invited to deliver workshops with young people at Queen’s University (Belfast), University of Iowa (USA), China Conservatory of Music (Beijing), The Royal Conservatoire of Music of The Hague (The Netherlands), and Royal Northern College of Music (Manchester).
Ben Murray
Accordion, piano, voice
Ben Murray is a singer/songwriter, composer, accordion player, guitarist and pianist. Based in Newcastle, Ben released three albums with the band TARRAS, and has recorded and toured all over the world with artists including Guo Yue, Seth Lakeman, The Imagined Village and Renzo Spiteri. Working with producer Richard Evans, Ben has been involved in film and TV projects and is a member of “Walking with ghosts“ alongside David Rhodes, Ged Lynch and Jackie Oates. He spent 2013 performing as “The Songman“ in the National Theatre’s production of Warhorse and in the final West End cast of Warhorse in 2016. Ben recently performed for the third time as The Songman in the International tour of Warhorse, and he continues to perform with Michael Morpurgo across the country at various festivals and literary events.
This project was delivered by Curious Pilgrims and
supported by Shetland Charitable Trust and Shetland Arts.
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