Flute Days!
Using the extensive Wonderful Winds Flutets library as a resource, players will have the chance to play together in a Flute Choir setting using the full family of flutes and (in the weekend course) play in smaller chamber groups tailored to give every flautist the chance to develop in a supportive and convivial atmosphere. Weekend and One Day courses are available, and are suitable for all ages and abilities.Wonderful Winds Flute Days! presents a unique opportunity to get together with your local flute community under the expert guidance of two of the country’s leading flute ensemble coaches.
If you are interested in having a Flute Days! event in your area, simply get in touch with Mel or Joss and we can make it happen!
Mel Orriss: mail@wonderfulwinds.com 07817 703844
Joss Campbell: josscampbell@hotmail.com 07930 093564
What the days entail
Then players get the chance to meet the big flutes, pick up some tips on how to play them, and experience the joy of playing in a full Flute Choir. The afternoons include Chamber Music coaching, using music chosen from the Wonderful Winds Library, or, in the One Day event, sectional rehearsals to help you get to grips with trickier sections of the full choir pieces. Every event includes ice-breaking body and brain warm-ups and coaching on fundamental flute techniques, with a special focus on breathing and tone production.
The days culminate in a free informal concert, giving friends, family and fellow players the chance to hear the results of a lively day of fluting.
Music for some of the flute choir pieces, together with all the information you'll need is sent out 3 weeks prior to the event in a Player's Pack.
For all players (Approx. Grade 1 - Diploma) Adults £40, Children £30One Day Event
Sample timetable
Prices
Early bird discount (till 2 months before event):
Adults £35, Children £25
We offer bursaries for each event in the form of free places to one child
(One Day Event) or two children (Weekend Event) under 18 who would
be unable to attend the workshops due to financial constraints.
For novice/intermediate players & rusty returners! (Approx. Grade 1 to 5) For more confident or advanced players. (Approx. Grade 5 to Diploma)
Sample timetable
Adults £40 one day/£75 weekend; Children £30 one day/£55 weekend
Weekend Event
Day 1:
Prices
Early bird discount (till 2 months before event):
Adults £35 one day/£70 weekend; Children £25 one day/£50 weekend
Your Tutors
Joss Campbell was inspired to take up the flute at the age of five after hearing it played at her school speech day. Her father, a music teacher, brought her one home to try and she was hooked!Joss Campbell
At the age of thirteen she made her solo London debut with The London Symphony Orchestra playing Mozart’s G Major Flute Concerto and later gained a scholarship to study at The Royal College of Music followed by further studies at The Guildhall School of Music and Drama. Her flute playing has taken her all over the world as a soloist, an orchestral and chamber musician, a pit player in the West End and as an educator.
Joss is based in London where her teaching is in great demand. Her pupils regularly achieve success, gaining music scholarships to study at some of London’s most prestigious schools and winning prizes in various competitions, the most recent being 1st and 2nd place in Brent Music Service’s Junior Young Musician of the Year competition. She runs several flute choirs in and around London (including Brent Flute Choir, which she runs with fellow Flute Days! coach Mel Orriss), and has been asked to guest conduct at various others around the country.
Joss runs an annual residential course for adults at Benslow Music Trust in Hitchin, entitled The Complete Flautist. The course consists of four days of comprehensive flute study where participants are guided through all aspects of flute technique and have the opportunity to play their chosen repertoire in master classes with Joss and Benslow’s resident accompanist. The days are interspersed with small ensemble playing, guided by Joss, and massed flute choir sessions.
Joss is a member of the flute quartet ‘Festive Flutes’. The quartet regularly perform and deliver flute choir workshops at Flute Conventions and educational establishments across the UK. They have recorded two albums and have severaltracks available for download from iTunes.
Playing Reviews
“...a natural presence. Her phrasing is rhapsodic…”
Stephen Pettitt, The Times.
“…an attractive stylist with just as much subtlety as agility...”
Gerald Larner, The Guardian.
“...extraordinarily gifted...”
John Robert-Bhinn, Manchester Evening News.
Course and Workshop Reviews
“This course was inspirational and 3-4 weeks later I am still buzzing!”
“Joss is a brilliant tutor, one of the best!”
“... a very supportive tutor. Lots of useful tips”
“Joss lead the course with great style; approachable and energetic”
“Course delivered with lots of humour and enthusiasm”
Mel Orriss studied flute at Chetham’s School of Music and then at the Guildhall School of
Music and Drama with Peter Lloyd and Kathryn Lukas. As a student she was a semi-finalist in
the BBC’s Young Musician of the Year Competition and also toured with the European
Community Orchestra.Mel Orriss
In 1999 Mel swapped the hectic pace of life as a London musician for an equally hectic life as
a musician in Devon. She now teaches flautists of all ages both privately and in some of the
region’s schools, coaches flute ensembles and woodwind groups, and is the Assistant
Conductor and Woodwind coach of the Devon Youth Symphony and Concert Orchestras.
Mel’s passion for arranging and composing led to her co-founding the music publishing
company Wonderful Winds in 2010. The company has since built a global reputation for
excellence, providing inspiring ensemble music for wind players of all levels worldwide, and
its publications have been major prize winners in the National Flute Association (USA) Newly
Published Music competition.
Major Commissions
2013 – Shaun Davey’s “The Relief of Derry Symphony”
arranged for massed flute bands and soloists, Maiden City Festival, Derry, Northern Ireland.
2014 – “Towards the Blue Horizon”
the central piece for The Big Flute Challenge world record, Belfast.
2015 – “Bonny at Morn”
for The Big Flute Challenge, Belfast.
2016 – “1.7.16”
for the Hamilton Flute Band’s Somme centenary performance, Derry.
Customer Reviews
“...a real joy. Their arrangements are interesting and well prepared, easy to read and very well presented with humour,
goodwill and efficiency - a constant miracle.”
Atarah Ben-Tovim, MBE.
“Nobody could fail but to be delighted by all you do - great arrangements”
Liz Childs, Bedfordshire Woodwind Academy.
“I can truly say that you have transformed my working life!”
Liz Fife, Ex-principal Cor Anglais, Royal Opera House; Oboe teacher, Wells Cathedral School.
“The most brilliant arrangements for all abilities - witty, creative and super educational tools! I really don't know where
I'd be without them!”
Louise Rayner, Director, Flute Salad and Flute Cocktail, Hampshire.
We are delighted that Just Flutes, Europe's biggest flute shop, will be supporting the Flute Days! events (subject to availability). They will join us with a stand full of instruments, music, accessories and other goodies!
Wonderful Winds will also be there of course, bringing their full range of flute ensemble music for use as a library for the weekend event, and selling all titles on their trade stand.Trade Stands
We are now putting dates in the diary for events around the country in 2019-2020 and beyond; we'd love to visit your area, so get in touch and ask us for more details!
