AB Workshops
Music Workshops – 07711 998058
Take a Breath by Amy Dickson18th May 2024
Function Room 2, Poole Lighthouse
Take a Breath by Amy Dickson18th May 2024
Function Room 2, Poole Lighthouse
*** CANCELLED ***Due to circumstances beyond our control this masterclass is not going ahead. We hope to reschedule in the future.
On 18th May 2024 AB Workshops hosts Take a Breath with Grammy™ nominated saxophonist Amy Dickson. A breathing masterclass by the award-winning classical saxophonist which explores performance anxiety and includes breathing demonstrations and solo saxophone performances.
In this popular masterclass, Amy describes how she once explored the way in which breathing helped her to overcome her own performance anxiety and how this led to the birth of the Take a Breath programme. After nine years of workshops across the UK, Ireland and Australia, award-winning classical saxophonist Amy Dickson explains why we should all adopt ‘Elephant Breaths’ into our own lives. Amy demonstrates Take a Breath and explains its science. She looks at the importance of optimal breathing and the implications of compromised breathing as well as the value of relaxed breathing for our own mental wellbeing.
A two hour masterclass including a talk, breathing demonstrations, a Q&A and some solo performances.
Sponsored by Henri Selmer Paris.
As a classical saxophone soloist Amy Dickson is internationally recognised for her remarkable, distinctive tone and exceptional musicality.
Gramophone Magazine writes: “She has an individual and unusual tone, luscious, silky smooth, sultry and voluptuous by turns; her phrasing is beautifully finished, her control of dynamic infinitely subtle.”
She has been an exclusive Sony Music recording artist since 2007 and has since recorded eight solo albums and many singles. As a soloist, she has performed with orchestras worldwide and recorded with the Philharmonia Orchestra, Aurora Orchestra, Sydney Symphony Orchestra, Adelaide Symphony Orchestra, BBC Concert Orchestra, Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, Royal Scottish National Orchestra and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.
Appearing regularly in international chamber music festivals, Amy is invited to give masterclasses and talks throughout the world and has been appeared several times on ABC TV, BBC TV and the BBC World Service, ITV, PBS and NHK.
Hailing from Sydney, Australia, Amy studied at the Royal College of Music and the Conservatorium van Amsterdam, and has resided in London ever since. She made history by becoming the first saxophonist ever to win the following prizes: the Prince’s Prize, the Royal Overseas League Gold Medal, the Australian Young Performer of the Year Award, and a Classical BRIT award. She has been nominated for two Grammy awards, and in 2016 she was named Young Australian of the Year at Australia House, London. In April 2022, Amy was made a Fellow of the Royal College of Music receiving her honour from King Charles III. Amy Dickson has been acknowledged by BBC Music Magazine as one of the world’s best classical saxophonists of all time.
Amy is a brilliant interpreter of contemporary music and is devoted to the development of new repertoire for the classical saxophone. She has made a substantial contribution to the legacy of the instrument’s concerto, chamber and solo repertoire, working closely with many living composers, including Peter Sculthorpe, Huw Watkins, Steve Martland, Nigel Hess, Ross Edwards, Richard Blackford, Kenneth Fuchs, Stuart Greenbaum, Elena Kats-Chernin, Ivan Moody, Tarik O’Regan, Chris Rogerson, Toby Young, Alexis Ffrench, Jessica Wells, Carl Davis, Graham Fitkin, Graham Koehne, Martin Butler and Brett Dean. In 2020, 29 new solo works were dedicated to her, as part of the ‘Solo Sessions’ project.
• Take a Breath talk
- How Take a Breath began
- Introduction to the concept of Relaxed Breathing, and the ‘Elephant Breath’ technique
- The Science behind Take a Breath
- The Importance of Optimal Breathing & the Implications of Compromised Breathing
- Mental Wellbeing & The Future of Take a Breath
• Breathing Demonstrations
• Q&A
• Solo Performances by Amy Dickson
- Based at Function Room 2, Poole Lighthouse
- Suitable for the anyone and everyone, particulary those who play a woodwind instrument and/or suffer with Performance Anxiety
- Masterclass runs from 11am – 1pm, with a 15 minute break
- Lucy from Henri Selmer Paris will be on hand between 9.30am and 11am (pre-booked appointment only)
- Refreshments; There is a cafe on-site
- Price: £35, and £25 for under 18s
- Safe, simple, secure. We have now set it up for you to be able to book easier than ever before, simply BOOK ONLINE
Alternatively if you have any questions on the suitability of this course for you we will be happy to help. Contact us at hello@abworkshops.com or by calling 07711 998058 and we will be happy to discuss your needs further.
Sponsored By
