Jazz Harp Workshop with Ben Creighton Griffiths

Benjamin Creighton Griffiths

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

Stokesley Town Council

Stokesley Workshops and Performance 2023

A day of harp and violin workshops and a performance by the Transatlantic Hot Club in Stokesley Town Hall on 31/05/23. Organised by Ben Creighton Griffiths (harp, Cardiff) and Adrien Chevalier (violin, New York) alongside Anita Aslin (harp, Stokesley)

The Transatlantic Hot Club are delighted to present a series of workshops on their UK Spring tour, including this exciting jazz harp workshop with our very own 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 Django Reinhardt, Stephane Grappelli, and the Hot Club style with one of the premier exponents of the genre. There will be two classes during the afternoon. Firstly Ben will work you through some classics of the repertoire including playing the head, improvising, and working with a band. Then, after a short break, the students will join the violin class taught by Adrien Chevalier to put together all of the students as a band. The day will then conclude with students taking part in the evening&#x27;s concert and showcasing their work, before enjoying a duo performance given by Adrien and Ben. This class is suitable for all ages and players of all abilities and is open to both lever and pedal harp. 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. Previous experience in jazz/improvisation is not essential (though always helpful). Please note that this ticket includes entry to the evening&#x27;s concert in the Town Hall. You do not need to purchase a ticket for the evening concert if you hold a workshop ticket. See the agenda attatched to this listing for the days activities.

Ben Creighton GriffithsBen Creighton Griffiths is a touring Jazz and Classical musician based in South Wales, UK. 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. Other competitions include runner up in the 2009 Texaco Young Musician of Wales, second place in the Elias Parish Alvars Competition 2008, and multiple 1st prizes throughout age categories at the Urdd Eisteddfod of Wales.International engagements include the Rio De Janeiro Harp Festival (2010, 2011, 2012), International Harp Festival of Sentmenat, Spain (2010, 2016), International Jazz Harp Academy, Netherlands (2010, 2013, 2016), 2nd International Harp Festival of Szeged, Hungary (2010), Arpa Plus Salamanca, Spain (2013), 1st Zagreb International Harp Festival, Croatia (2013), Journees De La Harpe en Caribbean, Guyana, Guadeloupe &amp; Martinique (2013, 2016, 2022), 1st International Prague Harp Festival, Czech Republic (2014), Dutch Harp Festival, Netherlands (2016), New Orleans Jazz and Pop Harp Weekend, USA (2017), ABRSM Summer Harp Academy, Louisville USA (2017), Camac Musikene, Spain (2018), Camac Tour, Netherlands (2018), Achill International Harp Festival (Ireland 2019), Godollo International Harp Festival, Hungary (2018), and Confluence New Delhi by HCL (India 2020).Benjamin has also performed at four World Harp Congress’ - Amsterdam (2008) with a performance alongside Russian harpists Andres and Artemy Izmaylov, Vancouver (2011) with a complete solo recital and participation in the memorial concert for Ceren Necipoglu, and Hong Kong (2017) with a complete solo jazz recital, solo performances in a presentation by Vanderbilt Music, and a duet with Catrin Finch during the handover ceremony. In Cardiff (2022) he performed with Adrien Chevalier and Don Sweeney as the Transatlantic Hot Club, performed in A Tribute to Ann Griffiths, and gave a recital on the Camac Exhibition stand on their new Jubile model. Closer to home Ben has performed as a soloist at International and local festivals including the European Harp Symposium, Edinburgh International Harp Festival, Wales International Harp Festival, Summer Harp Festival, The Monmouth Festival, The East Anglia Harp Festival, The Trinity Harp Festival, The Ludlow Festival, Vale Jazz Festival, Cambridge Jazz Festival, Glasbury Arts Summer School, Harp on Wight, The Urdd Eisteddfod, The National Eisteddfod, Cardiff Camac Harp Weekend, Wall2Wall Jazz Festival, Aberjazz, Llandudno Jazz Festival, and Brecon Jazz Festival.Benjamin has worked with many charities over his career. He is an Official Ambassador for City Hospice (formerly George Thomas Hospice Care), The British Heart Foundation Cymru, and St. John Cymru Wales. On 1st March 2010 he performed at Clarence House for HRH the Prince of Wales at a reception for George Thomas Hospice Care.In the corporate market Ben has performed at numerous events, dinners, receptions, and presentations for companies and organisations across the world including HCL India, Cardiff Council, The Senedd (Welsh Parliament), Welsh Water, The Anglo/French Medical Society, The Catholic Bishop&#x27;s Conference, The Draper&#x27;s Company London, Marston&#x27;s Brewery, and many more.As an Orchestral Musician Ben is the Principal Harp of Orchestra De Cymru and the former Orchestra West. He has performed with The Welsh Sinfonia, Llandenny Strings, Cardiff Philharmonic, Chandos Symphony Orchestra, Taunton Sinfonietta, Hereford Sinfonia, Trowbridge Symphony Orchestra, Ensemble Cymru, St Woolos Sinfonia, Frome Symphony Orchestra, Wessex Concert Orchestra, Swindon Symphony Orchestra, Les Alizés, the Orchestra of Le Garde Républicaine, and more. He has also performed with numerous choirs as both a soloist and accompanist.Whilst continuing his classical work, Ben is now in increasing demand for his jazz performances, working as both a soloist and with bands, singers, and other artists. His jazz repertoire covers all genres, including Swing, Latin, Funk, Electronic and Fusion, Gypsy, and more. He works as both an acoustic artist and also makes extensive use of electronics. He has also been teaching a series of very successful &#x27;Introduction to Improvisation&#x27; workshops as both one off events and at Harp Festivals worldwide, aiming to encourage harpists of all ages and abilities into the world of jazz.Benjamin has released several jazz CD&#x27;s including his &#x27;Incomplete A-Z of Jazz Harp&#x27;, &#x27;Pedals &amp; Paws&#x27;, and &#x27;1 Man Band&#x27;. His latest solo recording ‘La Vie an Rose’ (released September 2021) is an exploration into Gypsy Jazz, Swing, and French Chanson. Ben has also published numerous sheet music arrangements and original compositions, both classical and jazz, including his popular &#x27;Jazz Harp Series&#x27;. His largest work - Concerto for Jazz Harp and Symphony Orchestra - premieres on March 19th 2023 with the Chando Symphony Orchestra in Malvern and is to be published by Adlais Music Publishers soon after.Ben works extensively with Avignon born and New York based gypsy jazz violinist Adrien Chevalier as part of their group – The Transatlantic Hot Club. He is also a founding member of Electro-Acoustic fusion group ‘Chube’ alongside percussionist Jon Bradford-Jones and bassist Ashley John Long.

Anita AslinAnita 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 &amp; 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&#x27;s Cathedral ..... to strumming her strings over in Paraguay! Find out more about Anita on her website here - <a href="http://www.harping-on.co.uk/" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">http://www.harping-on.co.uk/</a>

Agenda

Harp class students to arrive and head to the Main Hall.

Arrival and Registration

Ben will lead the harp class through learning their part of a tune from our genre.

Class 1

A short break. The violin class will move into the Main Hall for the next session.

Break

The violin students will join the harp class to put together a performance for the evenings concert led by Adrien and Ben.

Class 2

A break for students to get food before the evenings performance.

A Transatlantic Hot Club performance with the very first item featuring the days workshop students.

Performance

Our {communityGuidelinesLink} describe the sort of content we prohibit on Eventbrite. If you suspect an event may be in violation, you can report it to us so we can investigate.

To report other categories of prohibited or illegal content, submit {link}

Jazz Harp Workshop with Ben Creighton Griffiths

More events from Benjamin Creighton Griffiths

Discover more events from Benjamin Creighton Griffiths, from Music to other experiences you might love.

Jazz Harp Workshop with Ben Creighton Griffiths

More events from Benjamin Creighton Griffiths

Discover more events from Benjamin Creighton Griffiths, from Music to other experiences you might love.

You might also like...

Browse more events with different dates, prices, and formats to find your next great experience.