OUR
ENSEMBLES
ON THIS PAGE
We provide music-making opportunities across an area roughly bounded by Buxton, Bakewell and Hope Valley. We offer two progression routes – one for string players and one for woodwind, brass and percussion – to cater and develop players of all ages and abilities.
We rehearse weekly during term times and perform regularly, from informal concerts to events in prestigious venues such as Buxton Opera House, as well as nationally through competitions and internationally through tours.
Young musicians are invited to try a group out at any time, and new members to our beginner groups get their first full term with us for free after registering!
Find out more and get in touch to arrange a visit!
OUR ENSEMBLES
ENSEMBLES FOR
WOODWIND, BRASS and PERCUSSION PLAYERS
PDMC is open to young musicians of any ability from beginner to experienced.
Many of our young musicians join us at the beginner level, at the very start of their musical learning and progress through our ensembles as their abilities mature
If you already have experience, we can place you in the ensemble that best fits your ability.
Young musicians wanting to try PDMC out can do so by arranging a visit to one of our rehearsals and experience what our ensembles are like.
Find out more...
If you want to try out one of our groups, just get in touch. We can arrange a date for you to come and try out what we do.
We may need to alter venues, days and times as we work within Government guidance throughout the Covid-19 pandemic with our venues.
In person rehearsals may also be sometimes be subsituted by digital activities.
Any changes will be updated and dispalyed on this page.
BEGINNER WINDS
Tuesdays – 4.00-4.45pm @ Hope Valley College
Thursdays – 4.00-4.45 @ St. Thomas More School, Buxton
Fridays – 5.30-6.15pm @ Lady Manners School, Bakewel
Our Beginner Wind Ensembles welcome young musicians at the start of their musical learning, working towards or at an approximate Grade 1 level. Players experience the fundamentals of ensemble playing before progressing to our intermediate and senior level ensembles.
Our beginner groups are directed by Chris Burge, Jane Taylor and Ben Simnett. Find out more about our Ensemble Directors...
INTERMEDIATE WINDS
Fridays 6.30-8.30pm @ Lady Manners School, Bakewell
Our Intermediate Wind Band provides an excellent opportunity for young musicians of an approximate Grade 2-4 ability to experience playing in a ensemble alongside other developing players.
The Intermediate Wind Band performs in public regularly, and provides opportunities for residential courses, workshops and projects with our senior players.
Intermediate Wind Band is directed by Jane Taylor. Find out more about our Ensemble Directors...
PEAK DISTRICT
WIND BAND
Fridays 6.30-8.30pm @ Lady Manners School, Bakewell
The senior level band, Peak District Wind Band (PDWB) has a fine reputation and over the years has performed in prestigious venues including the Birmingham Conservatoire.
Many of young musicians join the band at an approximate grade 4-5 ability, marking the culmination of several years of development through our wind ensembles. Some will enjoy a leadership role within their instrument type, leading sections, performing solos and helping to mentor younger players, and many will continue to perform or study music into adulthood.
PDWB enjoys major performance opportunities and stimulating residential courses and workshops throughout an academic year.
Peak District Wind Band is directed by Gareth Widdowson. Find out more about our Ensemble Directors...
PEAK DISTRICT
BIG BAND
Wednesday 7.00-9.00pm @ St. Thomas More School, Buxton
Peak District Big Band offers an exciting addition to the PDMC experience for young players who also want to perform jazz. The band plays regular gigs and has its own following. The wide ranging repertoire includes many well known and sometime less well known classics, arranged to suit the ensemble.
Players who join the Big Band are typically already members of one of our intermediate or senior ensembles.
Peak District Big Band is directed by John Milner. Find out more about our Ensemble Directors...
Players
ENSEMBLES FOR
STRING PLAYERS
PDMC is open to young musicians of any ability from beginner to experienced.
Many of our young musicians join us at the beginner level, at the very start of their musical learning and progress through our ensembles as their abilities mature
If you already have experience, we can place you in the ensemble that best fits your ability.
Young musicians wanting to try PDMC out can do so by arranging a visit to one of our rehearsals and experience what our ensembles are like.
Find out more...
If you want to try out one of our groups, just get in touch. We can arrange a date for you to come and try out what we do.
We may need to alter venues, days and times as we work within Government guidance throughout the Covid-19 pandemic with our venues.
In person rehearsals may also be sometimes be subsituted by digital activities.
Any changes will be updated and dispalyed on this page.
BEGINNER STRINGS
Mondays 4.45-5.30pm @ Curbar Primary School
Fridays 5,15-6.00pm @ St. Thomas More School, Buxton
These groups are temporarily suspended at the start of the 2020-21 academic year, but we intend on restarting them as soon as we can.
Our Beginner String Ensembles welcome young musicians at the start of their musical learning, working towards or at an approximate Grade 1 level. Players experience the fundamentals of ensemble playing before progressing to our intermediate and senior level ensembles.
Our beginner groups are directed by Kristina Craven and Jason Curteis. Find out more about our Ensemble Directors...
TRAINING STRING ORCHESTRA
Fridays 5.15-6.30pm @ St. Thomas More School, Buxton
Our Training String Orchestra provides an excellent opportunity for young musicians of an approximate Grade 1-3 ability to experience playing in a ensemble alongside other developing players and enjoy playing in public concerts.
Training String Orchestra is directed by Kristina Craven. Find out more about our Ensemble Directors...
INTERMEDIATE STRING ORCHESTRA
Fridays 7.00-9.00pm @ St. Thomas More School, Buxton
Our Intermediate String Orchestra provides an excellent opportunity for young musicians of an approximate Grade 3-5 ability to experience playing in a ensemble alongside other developing players.
The Intermediate String Orchestra performs in public regularly, and provides opportunities for residential courses, workshops and projects with our senior players.
Intermediate Wind Band is directed by Jason Curteis. Find out more about our Ensemble Directors...
PEAK DISTRICT
STRING ORCHESTRA
Fridays 7.00-9.00pm @ St. Thomas More School, Buxton
Peak District String Orchestra is PDMC’s senior string orchestra. The orchestra has a fine reputation and over the years has performed in prestigious venues, including the Albert Hall.
For many of our young musicians playing in PDSO marks the culmination of several years progressing through our ensembles; several players go on to pursue musical careers in their studies or adult life.
Major performance opportunities and stimulating residential courses and workshops form part of the PDSO experience.
Peak District Wind Band is directed by Gavin Usher. Find out more about our Ensemble Directors...
