As part of its Island of Culture 2014 celebrations, the Isle of Man Wind Orchestra (IoMWO) has two events in early November.
 
The weekend of the 1st/2nd November will see a visit by the Tempest Flute Trio, an award-winning group founded at the Royal Northern College of Music (RNCM).
 
Its members are Helen Wilson, Holly Melia and Sarah Bennett, who are from Yorkshire and studied together at Chetham’s School of Music and then at the RNCM.
 
The trio covers a wide spectrum of music including new works and its own arrangements.
 
The visit starts with a workshop for woodwind and players and saxophonists on Saturday 1st November, 9am-4pm, at St Ninian’s Church, Douglas. The workshop is open to musicians of all ages and talents and not just wind orchestra members.
 
Michael Morrison, orchestra chairman, said: ‘The workshop builds on the success of the brass workshop we held last year and there will be sessions about how to get the best sound from your instrument, breathing techniques and performing together in groups.’
 
The workshop is supported by Sure Isle of Man and underwritten by the Isle of Man Arts Council as part of the Island of Culture 2014 celebrations. As a result, adults will be charged ?20 to take part but students can enjoy the workshop free of charge.
 
The trio will give concerts at St Paul’s Church, Ramsey, on Saturday 1st November at 7.30pm and at Kirk Braddan Church on Sunday 2nd November at 2.30pm. Admission is ?5 for adults and free for children.
 
On Saturday the 8th November at 7.30pm the Isle of Man Wind Orchestra will hold a concert entitled “Music from the Isle” at St Mary’s Church, Douglas. Musicians are delighted to be joined by Manx Gaelic choir Caarjyn Cooidjagh, which will sing with the orchestra and perform separate items.
 
The concert will include the premiere of a work by Annie Kissack called “Curragh”, which is written for wind orchestra and choir and is unique in that it is the only work for these groups performed in Manx.
 
‘Curragh is inspired by and incorporates elements of traditional song Mylecharaine, the miser of the Curragh,’ said Annie. ‘It is the first time I have tackled a work on such a scale and I am grateful to IoMWO musical director Paul Dunderdale for this practical help and advice so freely given while working on this project.’
 
Caarjyn Cooidjagh will perform some of its own a cappella favorites with a short programme of songs both traditional and newly-composed, in both Manx and English, arranged by Annie. These include original settings of poems by Mona Douglas, a main source of inspiration for the revival of interest in Manx culture.
 
The concert will include a number of pieces composed and arranged for the wind orchestra by its musical director, including the “Mannannan Suite”, which has three movements – “Smuggler’s Lullaby”, “Sea Invocation” and “When I Was Young and Strong” – and a recent composition based on the traditional Manx tune “Yn Scollag Aeg”, commissioned by Culture Vannin.
 
The concert will also include “Mannin Veen”, a spectacular piece written for concert or wind orchestra by Haydn Wood. It weaves together Manx traditional folk themes including “The Good Old Way”, “The Manx Fiddler”, “Sweet Water in the Common” and “The Harvest of the Sea” (better known as the “Manx Fisherman’s Evening Hymn”).
 
The third contemporary composer included in the concert is Charles Guard and the wind orchestra will perform his composition “Tynwald March”.
 
Again, the event is supported by Sure and the Isle of Man Arts Council and Sure’s support means that there is no charge for admission to the concert for anybody under the age of 18. Admission for adults is ?5.
 
For further information or to take part in any of the events, contact Michael on 437751, email winds@wm.im or send a message via the website, http://www.iomwo.com.