Ambassadors
Hertfordshire Music Service are looking for Ambassadors to help promote the competition across the county, which we will accredit with the Trinity/Guildhall Arts Award (like Duke of Edinburgh, but without the camping).
Click here for more information on this role
Click here for the Songwriter Ambassador Agreement-Action Plan form.
Click here for information on the bronze level Arts Award
Chloe Tingey
'"Wrote musical 2007. Started band (Pandora’s Box) 2008. Won competitions incl. Herts Songwriting Contest. Played Camp Bestival. Featured in Metro. Interviewed on First TV. 70,000 Youtube hits. Taking next musical to Edinburgh Fringe 2011. Scholarship to Berklee, Boston studying Songwriting 2011"
Jessie Tang
"I play piano, guitar, percussion and other bits & bobs.
Angelina and I won in the acoustic intermediate age category in Songwriter 2007 for our song 'Lost in the Darkness' which you can hear here:"
Lizzy Hardingham
“I love writing music and playing music because it lets me express myself in a way I otherwise can't. My music is me." Songwriter 2009 Winner and Songwriter 2012 Ambassador
Kate Baxter
“I'm 15 years old. Started writing songs a few years ago on a whim and realized how much I liked it and so kept it up!”
Conor Bond
“Aged 15 and playing the guitar since 10 and drums since 12, I’m in a band called Two:10. My passion is music and I’m inspired by Green Day, Stereophonics and Muse.”
James Christie
Acoustic Folk/Ambient influenced Singer-Songwriter from Hitchin. Runner-Up Songwriter 2009
Stereo Breakout
‘3 Piece indie band from The Highfield Rockschool, Letchworth.
George Hunt
‘I got into songwriting because music has always been my hobby. When I started playing guitar I began with covers and then found it more satisfying to write my own songs. When songwriter 2009 came along, it was the perfect opportunity to give it my best shot.’
Workshop Tutors
As part of the project we have appointed workshop leader trainees to shadow our workshop leaders to learn how to turn their interest in music into a teaching skill.
Meet the Songwriter 2012 Trainee Workshop Leaders
Kat Evans
As an instrumentalist, Kat has much experience in the Music Industry working and collaborating with artist such as
Dave A. Stewart (Eurythmics),Terry Hall(The Specials),Van Morrison, Culture Club, Thomas Dolby, Spiritualized, The Mission, Shakespears Sister ,Eddie Reader(Fairground Attraction), Cast, Shriekback, Fluke, Roachford ,T’Pau ,to name a few
Kat has music credits on Hollywood Blockbuster films such as Starship Troupers, Showgirls and various Films/T.V /and Radio Sessions.
Enthusiastic and passionate about bringing out the more creative side in young peoples education; Kat is based in Hertfordshire where she continues to inspire student’s musical creativity.
Electric 5 string Violinist…Live Performance/Studio Recording
Tuition in Piano, Theory of Music, Songwriting / Composition
Oscar Leach-Pikal
Ozz has had a love for music ever since he was pictured clapping on the ultrasound. During his childhood, his family played an eclectic range of styles. To this day his influences vary from Stravinsky to Stevie Wonder and even through to So Solid Crew. Despite this he maintains his own identity and unique sound.
His enthusiasm for both composing and recording music led to Leeds University where he studied Popular & World Music. Here, he developed a further interest in writing analytically and academically on popular music, with particular focus on the relationship between music and its surrounding cultures. His major dissertation: "Defining Neo-Soul", alongside a major in Composition earned him a First Class Honours degree.
Today Ozz writes and performs as a solo artist as well as fronting live Hip-Hop/Soul group The New Tradition. He also writes for other performers as well as composing for TV and commercial projects. He has produced remixes for a number of artists and works closely with several thriving independent labels. As a journalist, he contributes to several online magazines.
http://www.ozzlp.com/sounds.html
Jon Jo Pitts
Guitar, Drums, Beats and Production
From Freman College, Buntingford, Jon Jo is the latest of a stream of young music leaders to be nurtured by the College's annual Event, and informal rock gig.
Jon Jo's main interest is in Electronica and Urban Music, and he also promotes local gigs.
Rory Davidson
Keyboards, Bass Guitar, Drums and Beats Programming
Rory came up through the Hertfordshire Music Service Workshop activities, attending Rockschools, Stevenage Taiko Group, Songwriting Days and Family Jams, as well as playing at our bands’ showcase at Rhythms of the World in 2004.
He’s particularly interested in production and composition, and began to develop this by remaking beats from artists like N-Dubz, Wiz Khalifa, Tinchy Stryder and Skepta.
You can check out the Logic remakes at http://www.youtube.com/magicmannmusic
You can download some of Rory’s remakes and original beats to rap over from his MagicMann user area on the Songwriter Numu Chart.
Rory has worked with Yorkshire based rapper Keon, producing and recording his first iTunes release ‘Til I Die’ in March 2011 and is currently working with up and coming performers Kwamz, and singer Belle.
David Francis
Beats and Production
Whilst completing a Music Technology degree at Thames Valley University, David began helping at Lancaster Gate Youth Club in London, using Music production to help engage risk of exclusion young people and to provide diversionary activiies.
Meet the Songwriter 2012 Workshop Leaders
Ellis Weintrob
"I am extremely passionate about both Music and Youth Work and very much enjoy mixing the two together. I believe that both music and lyric writing are great ways of engaging with young people and provide them with a platform to express themselves."
"I have a well rounded knowledge of many musical genres such as; Hip Hop, Grime, UK Garage, Drum N Bass, Dubstep, Rock and Pop Music."
"I have a great deal of experience in the Music Industry after having several successful releases. I have produced music for established UK artists and have gained a respected reputation in the music business."
"I also play the Guitar, Bass, Drums and Piano."
"I am a fully qualified Youth Worker and have a Degree in Music Technology."
Tom Gearing
Keyboards, Bass, Beats programming and drums
Tom has been the main tutor for Hertfordshire Music Service informal music projects for the past 8 years, beginning with being part of the songwriting workshop team on the Musical Futures project.
He was lead tutor/producer on the Youth Music funded Vocalise Project, from 2008-9, deliveriing workshops in Youth Clubs and Education Support Centres, and mentoring trainee young workshop leaders.
Tom is also an in-demand MC, having run bands at West End Shows and for numerous television shows.
Composition credits include adverts for Orange Mobile Phones
Robert Taylor (aka MC Tukka)
MC and Beats
Robert has been an inspirational workshop leader for Hertfordshire Music Service for the past 8 years.
A former member of the Urban/Jazz crossover act US3, Robert pioneered the Street talk Rap project, encouraging young people to write and rap lyrics about their lives and local environment, instead of cliched ideas of Urban lyrics.
Robert has also delivered workshops funded by Police Diversionary, Substance Abuse and Anti-Bullying Funding
With Tom Gearing, Robert was lead tutor/ Rapper on the Youth Music funded Vocalise Project, from 2008-9, deliveriing workshops in Youth Clubs and Education Support Centres, and mentoring trainee young workshop leaders.
Robert is highly skilled at creating a relaxed workshop environment to help engage young people lacking in confidence, and in drawing energetic performances out of them.
Ben Smith
Guitar, Vocals, Blues and Acoustic Songwriting
A 'graduate 'of the acclaimed Freman College Informal Music Event Gig, we're delighted that Ben is now back at the college training up a new generation of young music leaders as part of Songwriter 2012.
Ben's songwriting is steeped in the traditions of Americana, and his ambition is to put transform Buntingford into the East Herts Nashville.
Recently returned from a tour of USA, including residencies in New Orleans, Ben's live performances are joyful and inclusive occasions, with surprise guests appearing to jam.
Ben started playing the guitar when he was nine years old. He actually wanted to play the Banjo, but due to the lack of banjo teachers in rural Hertfordshire he started to learn the guitar, with the intention of switching to the banjo at a later date. That still hasn't happened...
Phil Marriott
Drums, Production, Songwriting
Phil has been the mainstay of the Highfield Rockschool in Letchworth for the past 4 years, helping develop some notable bands, including previous winners of Hertfordshire Songwriter, Common Chaos, and Songwriter 2012 Ambassadors Stereo Breakout.
Tim Hallas
Music Tech, Production, Songwriting
Tim dellivers some highly focussed song-writing workshops that use music tech, including free online software that learnes can access after workshops.
Leader for Music Technology for Hertfordshire Music Service, Tim is at the forferont of using Music Technology in Music Education, and also contributes to a number of Music Technology publications.