Morley Turns up the Volume

Morley College London is cranking up the volume for an eclectic summer of sound, with concerts, events, radio shows and more planned to celebrate the musical talents and rich heritage of its Waterloo Centre and staff.

Jazz in SE1

Billed as the ‘Sounds of Morley’ series, we begin with a special pop-up jazz performance in the foyer of the Waterloo Centre between 1 and 3pm on Monday 16 May…no bookings required, just drop by to hear some jazz standards played by a scratch band of Morley’s best tutors.

On Friday this week, Morley’s highly respected jazz concert season will return, after a two-year hiatus during the pandemic.

Flavio Li Vigni, Head of Jazz at the Waterloo Centre, has coordinated an exciting concert season featuring award winning jazz artists like the Sara Dowling quartet (British Jazz Awards Best Vocalist 2019), performing a fresh take on the American song book, and the ABBC Jazz award winning saxophonist Julian Siegal joining some of jazz’s new distinctive voices. The London Jazz Orchestra, Morley’s Artist in Residence 2020, rounds off the season in June, with another sure to be resounding and energetic concert.

Ahead of the concerts, Flavio said:

“I am delighted to launch our second series of concerts. Morley plays a significant role bringing professional musicians, semi-pro, amateurs, and new jazz lovers together in the same place to enjoy and discuss this ever-evolving art form.

“I can’t wait for the series to start, and to see our concert hall full again.”

At all performances, there will be live interviews with the performers, giving the audience a unique insight into their craft and the inspiration behind their unique sounds.

Pushing the sound barrier

Continuing Morley’s legacy of inspiring new talent, the innovative experimental music and sound art competition for emerging sound artists will return this summer. The Engine Room attracts entries from across the world and the competition will conclude with the announcement of the winning artist and a display of the competition entries from 6-18 June, in the Morley Gallery, Waterloo.

With new courses in beatbox and rap available at the North Kensington Centre, it is a great time to be musical at Morley…

Strength through partnership

The highly regarded Centre for Young Musicians (CYM) turns 50 this month. CYM runs hugely popular Saturday music courses for young people aged 5-18 at Morley’s Waterloo Centre. They will celebrate their collaboration with Morley in a new podcast on Morley Radio later this month and a special birthday concert at the Barbican later this month.

Another Morley partner – Edward George, whose podcast The Strangeness of Dub is a firm favourite on Morley Radio – will make an appearance at the Barbican in July, with a special podcast recording that is part of The Edge of the Centre, a series inviting artists working around the periphery of the Barbican to programme events in their spaces. The show will be released on Morley Radio later in the year.

A compelling history

Attracting and retaining highly skilled, passionate and innovative staff has been a hallmark of Morley’s history.  Today tutors who are active practitioners in their fields, bringing expertise and innovation to their work, teach our courses. 

Musical directors have included the composers Gustav Holst and Michael Tippett and a doyen of English 20^th century music the composer Ralph Vaughn Williams also taught music at Morley.

Moreover, in the 150^th anniversary year of Vaughn Williams birth, Morley will be celebrating its connections with him in a series of concerts this autumn coming.

Make marvellous music with Morley

If you have a passion for music, and want to renew it again, or even start from scratch altogether, whether it be learning the guitar, becoming an opera singer, jazz musician or member of a folk choir, or anything else musical, Morley is the place to come to. Find out more and join one of our many courses throughout the year.