Don't miss your chance to learn some Hot Club swing from jazz harpist Ben Creighton Griffiths!

The Ben Creighton Griffiths Trio are delighted to present a series of workshops on their mini tours across the UK, including this exciting jazz harp workshop with Ben Creighton Griffiths. This workshop has been organised with the much appreciated help of Stokesley based harpist Anita Aslin who will be helping on the day.

Enjoy this opportunity to step into the world of swing jazz on the harp with Ben. Students will learn about many aspects of improvisation, rhythm, and harmony of this classic style of music. Previous experience in jazz/improvisation is not essential (though always helpful).

This class is suitable for all ages and players of all abilities and is open to both lever and pedal harp. It will take place upstairs in the main hall of Stokesley Town Hall from 4pm till 6:30pm and participants can arrive from 4pm. If you play another instrument but would like to take part, then please get in contact with us and we will try to get you involved. There will be guitar workshops at the same time elsewhere in the venue.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

Please note that this ticket includes entry to the evening's concert in the Town Hall. You do not need to purchase a ticket for the evening concert if you hold a workshop ticket.

Ben Creighton Griffiths

Benjamin Creighton Griffiths is an Internationally touring jazz and classical harpist based in Wales. He made his International debut at the 2004 1er Concours International de Harpe in Nantes, France where, aged 7, he came second in the Under 18 division. In 2006 he won the Under 13 Division of the Wales International Harp Festival before going on to win the 2008 Junior Lily Laskine competition in Paris, winning a concert harp in the process.

Originally classically trained with Catrin Finch, Elinor Bennett, and Ann Griffiths, he now specialises in jazz both as a soloist and with his bands – the Transatlantic Hot Club and Chube. His career has taken him across the world including to America, Australia, Canada, Singapore, Indonesia, China, the Caribbean, Hong Kong, India, Brazil, and across Europe and has seen him collaborate with excellent musicians in both the classical and jazz world including Dennis Rollins MBE (jazz trombone), Tatiana Eva-Marie (vocals), Adrien Chevalier (jazz violin), and Catrin Finch (harp).

As well as a performer he is a composer, most recently developing a concert schedule for his own Concerto for Jazz Harp & Symphony Orchestra. This has included performances with the The Chandos Symphony Orchestra (who commissioned the work), The Cardiff Philharmonic, Stratford on Avon Symphony Orchestra, Swindon Symphony Orchestra, and Trowbridge Symphony Orchestra. It received its first international performance in Tasmania with the Student Music Collective of Tasmania University.

Upcoming appearances at the time of writing include further UK and Corsican tours with the Transatlantic Hot Club, a series of mini tours with his quartet and trio across the UK, and a return to Australia and East Asia.

“A true virtuoso on the instrument” - The Jazz Mann

“Harp sensation” - Nation Cymru

“The musicianship on this is off the scale” - Adam Walton, BBC Wales Introducing

Anita Aslin

Anita is one of the most accomplished harpists in the North East. She began learning the harp at the age of nine, with Dorothy Gilbertson (in Harrogate) and years later, went on to study at the Guildhall School of Music & Drama.

Since graduating from College, Anita has played to Royalty, performed on stages with the London Gala Orchestra, international Opera Singers, has been on set with a television period drama and delighted many audiences with her solo playing. Her musical journey has taken her on many paths, from playing in St Paul's Cathedral ..... to strumming her strings over in Paraguay!

Find out more about Anita on her website here - http://www.harping-on.co.uk/ (http://www.harping-on.co.uk/)

Description supplied by the event organiser.