Halsway Young Folk

The Halsway Young Folk music programme is for young people to explore folk arts, experiment, find their own sound and fuse different genres of music. For over ten years it has helped inspire young musicians to study music at a higher level, and to pursue careers as musicians and within related fields.

We work with young people to provide engaging experiences to ignite and support interest in folk music and dance. From residential music workshops, visits to schools to professional development for aspiring musicians we offer something for all ages and have access to many experienced and committed artists and tutors.

We have 4 residential opportunities each year catering for young musicians aged 7 through to 21. these take place in April, July /August as follows;

Introductory: Mon 8- Fri 12 April 2024

An introduction to folk for young people aged 11-16. Prior experience – as either a singer or musician – is essential, but it’s ok if you’re new to folk. The week culminates in an informal performance to friends and family.

Tutors: Becki Driscoll, Matt Norman, Archie Churchill-Moss, Kerrie Seymour

Junior Wed 21 – 23 Fri Aug  2024

For ages 7-12. Everyone welcome, join us for fun with folk. This is a great introduction to playing and learning about folk music working with supportive and experienced artists.
Tutors:  Ford Collier, Kate Griffin, Matt Norman, Kerrie Seymour

Intermediate Mon 29  Jul – 3  Aug 2024

For ages 12 – 18. You’ll have been on a course with us before or have some previous knowledge of folk. You will work with a team of exciting professional folk musicians to produce a performance piece for Sidmouth Folk Week.

Advanced Mon 19 – Fri 23 July 2024

For ages 16 – 21. You’ll be a competent musician or singer, keen to work at a higher level. You will have access to industry professionals, advice and skills development opportunity. This is the course to do if you have aspirations of being a professional musician or educator.
Tutors:  Archie Churchill-Moss, Kate Griffin, Matt Norman, Kerrie Seymour

 

3

More about the Courses

In each course, the participants stay at the manor and operate as a company: taking warm ups together, developing technique, learning repertoire and creating contemporary interpretations of traditional material. They live, work and play together, with opportunities for informal jams and social gatherings to enrich their understanding of the folk arts, and to make friends and have fun!

The Tutors

The Halsway Young Folk Programme is coordinated by lead tutor Becki Driscoll .

Becki is a musician, singer, composer and educator with many years’ experience. Based in the heart of the West Country she has a deep knowledge on love of our local – and wider – folk traditions.

Becki leads educational projects and workshops for festivals and specialist courses, ranging from beginners fiddle sessions, to mixed-instrument folk orchestras for all ages. She leads the prestigious English Fiddle Weekend at Halsway (together with Nick Wyke), and is an Associate Artist for Wren trust for whom she has led numerous community music projects including the Folk Orchestra of North Devon, the Fiddle Orchestra of Devon, regular music groups with children and young people, and a specialist early years project she developed with Bideford Bay Children’s Centre.

“folk music at its best” – The Living Tradition

Becki is well known for her celebrated musical partnership with Nick Wyke; two of the UK’s finest fiddle-players, together they give a playful and innovative take on English traditional music and song. They first collaborated as a fiddle duo on a busking trip around Spain and Portugal, and in the years since have worked with some of the leading lights of the English folk scene, always pushing the boundaries and developing new and inventive music. The duo’s compositions and interpretations of traditional songs are influenced by a wide range of musical cultures: “We are inspired by the people we meet and the places we’ve been. We like the idea of a global approach to the English tradition.”

“…lovely, inventive playing” – fRoots

 

Archie Churchill-Moss

Widely regarded as one of the best players of English traditional folk, Archie has worked as a session musician for some of the UK’s top folk acts (Cara Dillon, Eliza Carthy, Blair Dunlop), as well as performing with the trio, ‘Moore, Moss, Rutter’ – The outfit which saw him receive the coveted BBC Radio 2 Young Folk Award in 2011.

The past two years have seen Archie tour extensively across Western Europe and perform at some of Europe’s top music festivals, including headline slots at ‘Colours of Ostrava (Czech Republic), Tønder festival (Denmark), Cropredy Convention (UK) and Cambridge folk festival (UK).

With a contemporary approach to composition and arrangement Archie has developed a style of playing that draws as much influence from the tradition as it does modern popular music. He is currently seen to perform with: ‘Tom Moore & Archie Moss’, ‘Sam Kelly & the Lost Boys’ and ‘False Lights’.

His engaging teaching style comes from a wealth of experience in his position as senior lecturer in ‘Folk Music’ at Leeds College of Music and teaching on the National Youth Folk Ensemble.

Ford Collier 

Ford Collier is a Radio 2 Folk Award Nominated multi-instrumentalist, specialising in folk fusion. He plays low whistle, guitar, and percussion, and draws on a wealth of traditional Irish tunes, his 8 years of experience as an accompanist, and knowledge of the rhythmic language of Indian classical music to broaden his roots in UK folk. Ford regularly tours the UK and has played festivals including Glastonbury with his two bands; global folk collective Mishra with Kate Griffin, and electrified-folk duo The Drystones with Alex Garden.

Some of Ford’s first teaching experience came from Halsway Manor, where he participated in courses as a teenager and eventually became a tutor. He has since delivered a series of workshops in primary schools on local folklore in collaboration with Historic England and Halsway Manor, begun work as a peripatetic teacher at schools in Sheffield and taught one-to-one lessons privately.

Ford has been a core tutor on this course since it began three years ago; he has also himself been a participant on Young Halsway courses when he was younger!

 

Kate Griffin

Kate is a clawhammer banjo player, singer and composer on the UK folk and world scene. Described as “one of the top banjo players in the country” by virtuoso Dan Walsh, her innovative banjo style combines both traditional UK and American folk, whilst also placing the banjo in a contemporary setting.

In 2018 Kate formed award winning global folk collective Mishra, alongside musical partner Ford Collier, with their debut album released autumn 2019. She also performs as part of critically acclaimed transatlantic neo-folk band The Magpies.

Kate is also an incredible photographer, and we’re indebted to her for all the lovely Young Folk photos she captured in 2023!

 

Matt Norman

Matt is a performer, teacher, composer, arranger, workshop leader and conductor.

He predominantly works with traditional English music, steeped in the traditions of Devon and Dartmoor. He is also blues and classical musician, and a Dartmoor Step Dance Champion!

As a multi-instrumentalist, Matt plays mandolin, fiddle, mandola, banjos, piano and also sings. He performs solo and in bands including Gadarene and A New Vintage ceilidh band, and regularly deps in other line-ups. He’s also a singer and choir-leader.

Matt’s extensive teaching experience includes working in community and festival settings with all ages and abilities. He has a relaxed, fun and accessible approach to learning, tailored very much to the group. He has a broad expertise embracing mixed-instrument ensembles, choral and voice work, instrument specific tuition (mandolin, fiddle, banjo), and also step dancing.

Kerrie Seymour (Pastoral Support) 

Kerrie is a community artist, youth theatre director and project manager with a background in Social Work, specializing in Youth, Education and Children’s Residential care.

Working extensively with schools, community groups and a range of support services Kerrie has delivered countless projects from small theatre performances to large scale outdoor events. She strives to be part of creating fresh, innovative, thought provoking and exciting work that can motivate, inspire, and engage participants and audiences. At Halsway she’ll be leading fun team-building and confidence-boosting games and creative activities to complement the musical tuition, whilst making sure each young person feels included and supported during their stay.

Keep in touch: Follow the Halsway Young Folk Programme on Facebook @HMYoungFolk