Warwickshire News Mine

The viol consort from Warwickshire’s County Music Service, whose members are aged between 12 and 14, have been selected to play at the National Festival of Music for Youth in Birmingham on July 7. The Fretted Five will join the country’s best young musicians at the event and, if successful, they could go on to perform at the prestigious Schools Proms in London’s Royal Albert Hall, later this year. 

Jacqui Robertson-Wade of Warwickshire County Council’s Music Service said: “The Fretted Five are a group of young people who really enjoying playing together and have taken their music making to an extremely high level.  I am extremely proud of their success and well deserved recognition for the viol.”

She added: “School friends are often curious about the instruments the Fretted Five play and ask whether it is a violin or guitar.  So they have to explain that it is a viol! Furthermore, if you play the viol and are taught by your teacher you have a `viol teacher` - which causes a few giggles now and then, especially by headteachers at school concerts!”

There will be an opportunity to see the Fretted Five play at the Pump Rooms on the 15 June at a concert organised to raise money for the Smile Train charity, which is dedicated to helping the millions of children in the world who suffer from cleft lip and palate. Tickets are available from Sue Douglass on 01926 337275.

The Fretted Five have been playing together as a consort for nearly a year, but four members have been playing together for nearly 2 years.  On 19 May 2007 they played for the National Federation of Music Services Conference in Meriden, after which they were invited to play for Cambridgeshire Music Service in the autumn. They have also played overseas and, in June last year, they travelled to Asfeld, near Reims in France for an International Festival of the Viol (or viola da gamba, as these instruments are also known).  They performed in a church, that was built by a French aristocrat in the in the 17th century, in the shape of a viol. Future plans for the consort include another tour to France and as part of a newly formed Renaissance Band within Warwickshire Music Service, a tour to America.

Link to WCC