The IAPS Orchestra Trust

The IAPS Orchestra was formed in 1972 with the encouragement of Benjamin Britten who was to become the first patron of the trust; today’s patron is Sir Colin Davis.

From the first course, held in that same year at the Snape Maltings Concert Hall in Suffolk, the aim of the trust has been to promote music and raise standards of performance in IAPS schools. For this reason, intensive ensemble or group training under experienced coaches is the main activity of each course. However, the fact that children are on holiday is never forgotten and various ‘fun’ activities are organised. The end-of-course concerts, held in Snape at their internationally famous concert hall, are designed to provide a useful target to focus the children's work, and the style and format of the courses are under constant review.

Over the years the work of the Orchestra Trust has grown steadily, responding to the continuing need for high-quality music education, and now offers opportunities for music-making at all levels.

The courses on offer range from string ensemble to full orchestra, from jazz to wind band and from singing to instrumental workshops. The fact that each year around half the participants have already taken part in previous IAPS courses, is a testament of the enduring quality of the musical and recreational experience on offer. There is also a regular competition for ‘IAPS Young Musician’.

lt is not unusual for children to be inspired to take their music further, and many players have won music awards or competitions and become professionals. The 1992 BBC Young Musician of the Year, Frederick Kempf, was a former member of the IAPS Orchestra and is now a well-known concert pianist. But the central ethos of all their courses remains the kindling of a love of music-making among friends, with no professional aspirations.

IAPS music courses
All courses are residential and are based in schools offering high-quality boarding facilities. Each course is slightly different but they all follow the same general, well-established pattern. Every course is supervised by a Course Director (usually an experienced prep school Head) assisted by a full team of residential pastoral staff who are responsible for the children’s well-being and who organise a range of activities each day to provide the vital elements of fun and relaxation.

The musical input is provided by a team of professional musicians, led by the Musical Director, who are not only performers themselves but are also hand-picked for their ability to relate to the age-group in question. Tuition is by sections for the first few days while the music is being learnt, and then for the last part of the course the whole group works together to prepare for the final concert.

Courses take place in the Easter, summer and Christmas holidays. They usually convene after lunch on the first day and end with a concert on the final day, which families and friends are most welcome to attend.

The full cost of accommodation, activities and tuition is included in the course fee, the only additional costs being travel to and from the course and pocket money. There is a bursary fund, the Harrison Memorial Bursary Fund, which exists to ensure that no child is unable to attend a course purely for financial reasons. However, bursary applications can only be made once a place on a course is offered; they are rarely refused altogether, but the amount offered will vary according to parental means.

The trust welcomes applications from children who attend (or have attended) a school in membership of IAPS, and who will be under 14 at the time of the course. Applications should be accompanied by a report from either the Director of Music or the relevant instrumental teacher and sent in before the end of November (late entries will be considered where possible, but acceptance cannot be guaranteed).

Auditions take place in January at various locations around the country. Applicants and their schools will be notified of the place, date and time of the nearest audition. Auditions are friendly and low-key as their aim is simply to ensure that we are offering the right course for each child, as well as maintaining a balance of instruments in each group.
Offers of places will be sent out to parents in February, following the auditions, at which point the schools will also be notified. Full payment will then be requested. About a month before the course, joining details will be sent out, together with a form on which to indicate any special requests. Parents can contact the Director at any stage for further information or advice.

Further information can be obtained from the IAPSOT website: www.iapsot.org 
or by contacting IAPSOT Director: David Kidd  
North Barn,
Hill Road,
Westley,
Bury St Edmunds,
Suffolk IP33 3TR
Telephone: 01284 723623   
Mobile: 07885 577972   
Email: iapsot@aol.com