The Commonwealth Resounds

Out today running in the snow and on icy paths. Set out aiming for 10k and it felt really good to get the miles in. There’s something about running in winter that just feeds the soul: lungs full of cold air, mind cleared out, and that brilliant “I’m alive” feeling you only get outside. I absolutely love this part of the world, and these are some of my favourite routes to explore, whatever the weather. Today was a reminder that you don’t need perfect conditions to feel refreshed, you just need to step out the door. Training run 7 ✅ London Marathon, April 2026 🏃‍♂️ I’m raising funds for three charities: • My Name’5 Doddie Foundation (Ardvreck School’s charity of the year) • The Amber Trust (musical opportunities for blind and partially sighted children, including children with more complex needs) • The Commonwealth Resounds (cultural connections across the Commonwealth) If you’re able to support, my fundraising page is here: /DEFVN Thank you so much, even a share helps 💛 #LondonMarathon2026 #MarathonTraining #WinterRunning #SnowRun #RunScotland TrailRunning 10KRun RunningInTheCold MilesForCharity RunForGood MyName5Doddie AmberTrust CommonwealthResounds

It’s here! The Commonwealth Dance Relay 🌍✨ Dance has a special power. It brings people together, lifts our mood, and lets us say something without words. This Relay is an invitation to share that energy across the Commonwealth. Watch the full film, explore the five regional sections, then create your own dance and upload it. Solo, duo, or group. Any style. Any place that feels right. Choose a region (Africa, Asia, Europe, Caribbean and the Americas, or the Pacific), or dance the full track from start to finish. Ready to join the relay? Visit the website to find out more: monwealthresounds.com/dance

Something is coming… 🌍🎶💃 Five regions. One soundtrack. Thousands of ways to move. Keep an eye on this space.

Music matters all year round, but at Christmas it feels extra powerful. It heals, it comforts, it stirs up the best memories, and it brings people together. It also reminds us how beautifully connected we are, because every culture has its own songs, rhythms, and traditions for this season, and yet the feeling is the same: hope, peace, and community. Wherever you are today, today, to all our friends, we hope there is a little music in it, and a lot of warmth. If you would like to make a donation towards Music Education in the Commonwealth, why not click this link to support us. /thecommonwealthresounds

20 years of the Commonwealth Resounds. We've brought people together from all over the world across 6 continents. Supporting the sharing of cultures across the world. Last night we met up again at the @roslarts , some of us seeing old friends we hadn't seen for many years, such is the power of music. A simply incredible evening of culture.

Hey guys, it’s Aliyah & Emily, your Commonwealth Music Ambassadors! Together with the Commonwealth Resounds, we’re launching an exciting project, the Commonwealth Youth Music Network- a platform for young creatives to connect, share their practice, and access new opportunities. Scan the QR at the end of the video or see the link in my bio to express your interest in joining in! We look forward to sharing this journey with you! 🎶🌍

Behind the scenes of Go Compose Antigua 🎶 Thank you @commonwealthresounds and students of Antigua who made experience so special ☺️❤️ We have a unique concert happening today at Lucky Eddi’s today at 4pm, featuring fantastic new compositions by students, so please come along if you’re in Antigua! 🇦🇬

The past few days in Antigua have been a whirlwind of activity. With the final concerts fast approaching, each group has been hard at work refining their compositions and preparing to share their musical journeys with an audience. In the Composing Beyond Boundaries group, the focus has been on bringing together all the elements that have been developed throughout the week. Students have been making key decisions about instrumentation, experimenting with extended techniques, and building accompaniments to support their melodic ideas. The final stages of composition are where the magic happens, where sketches become scores and musical fragments become fully fledged pieces. Across at the other workshops, jazz, film, and cross cultural, similar scenes have played out. The film composers have been learning about incorporating live instruments and sound effects into their pieces, led by Sam. The jazz groups have been rehearsing their arrangements and experimenting with improvisation, and the cross cultural group have been refining writing particularly for flute and violin. It’s been a joy to watch musicians from Antigua & Barbuda bring their ideas to life. Despite the intensity of rehearsals and the focus on fine details, the energy has remained joyful and upbeat. There’s been plenty of time for laughter, support, and celebration. One of the highlights for the tutors was a relaxed evening back at Jolly Beach, where the team gathered for karaoke, sea air and the glow of Caribbean sunset. As the final concerts approach, excitement is building. The performances will be more than just a showcase of talent, they'll be a testament to what happens when young people are empowered to explore, express, and experiment. From the first group meetings to these final rehearsals, every moment has been about unlocking their potential. Whatever the future holds for all these young musicians, they'll leave Go Compose Eastern Caribbean 2025 with new skills, unforgettable memories, and the belief that their voices, and their music, matters.

As Go Compose Eastern Caribbean 2025 unfolds in Antigua, we’re thrilled to spotlight the next of our inspiring tutors, Lucy Rowan, who is leading this year’s Cross-Cultural Composition strand. With a curiosity for musical traditions and a gift for collaboration, Lucy is bringing together young minds and diverse musical influences to create something truly original. “I’m really excited to be working on the cross-cultural side of the project this year,” Lucy says. “It’s fascinating to zoom in on the key qualities of different traditions of music around the world and how we can use those combined to create new music.” In her sessions, Lucy is encouraging participants to explore what makes music sound the way it does, whether that’s through rhythm, melody, texture, or cultural context. The group has been analysing different global musical traditions and asking questions like: What makes this style unique? How can we respectfully blend it with another? With a fantastic group of Antiguan students bringing ideas from gospel, calypso, reggae and soca, the sessions have already sparked exciting and innovative results. But Lucy isn’t just focused on the music, she’s also thriving as an educator and collaborator. “As a tutor, it is really inspiring to be working with such a fantastic team of fellow tutors,” she explains. “Bouncing ideas back and forth and watching myself becoming more confident and experienced as a group leader has been hugely rewarding.” Lucy believes that The Commonwealth Resounds is unique in its approach - blending creativity, collaboration and cultural understanding while encouraging young composers to make informed, intentional choices in their work. Her advice to newcomers? “Come into it with an open mind and enjoy the process - take influence from each group and look forward to that final product at the end of the week!” As the week continues, we can’t wait to hear the compositions being developed in Lucy’s group.

Basslines, Beats, and Beach Vibes: Meet Sam, Our Festival-Loving Double Bassist 🎻 If you've been anywhere near the bass end of Go Compose 2025, chances are you've already encountered Sam, our brilliant double bassist with a love for symphonic sound, sunny anthems, and cross-cultural creativity. Sam’s musical journey began in the audience. “I used to go to concerts when I was a child,” he says, “and it inspired me to start playing the double bass.” A few years later, everything clicked. “The first time I played in a symphony orchestra completely changed my perspective on music, it made me fall in love with playing.” That sense of wonder, of being part of something bigger, still drives him today. What makes working on an international programme like this so special? For Sam, it’s simple: “Learning new ideas and musical styles from the students! There’s a great exchange of ideas.” Whether jamming, mentoring, or creating something new, he thrives on the energy of shared creativity. If he were stranded on a desert island? You’d find him dancing, bass in hand, to Katy Perry’s California Gurls. (“I like dancing to it,” he grins.) And if given the chance to collaborate with anyone, he’d choose Quincy Jones: “I’d love to soak up the breadth of his musical knowledge.” Looking ahead, Sam is hoping this experience will sharpen his teaching and stretch his creativity. “I’m really looking forward to collaborating with my fellow musicians in different compositional styles.” He’s also swapping classical concert halls for summer festival fields, performing folk music at events like Kendal Calling. Whether it’s Mahler or mandolins, Sam’s musical spirit is infectious. #GoCompose2025 #MeetTheTeam #DoubleBassVibes #KendalCalling #CommonwealthMusic #FestivalLife #QuincyJonesDreamCollab

A day in the life of GoCompose! We'd like to give you a quick insight into one of our taster sessions from one of today’s Go Compose 2025 programme. In just one action-packed hour, the jazz group explored the magic of music in film with the brilliant Ka Youn Yoo. The session kicked off with iconic moments from Jurassic Park and Psycho, using them to unpack key film music techniques like leitmotif—where melodies represent characters—and mickeymousing, where the music directly mirrors the action on screen. Inspired, the group then created a graphic score (a visual, artistic representation of music) for a Charlie Chaplin silent film clip. From scribbles and swirls to bold symbols and blocks, their score captured the humour, drama, and emotion of the scene. Ka Youn brought their creation to life using Cubis software, turning their ideas into a real-time soundtrack. This whirlwind session gave the students a taste of how composers bring stories to life on screen under time pressure, reminding us all of the power of music to stir emotion, build tension, and bring a scene to life. #GoCompose2025 #FilmMusic #CharlieChaplin #GraphicScore #CommonwealthMusic #EasternCaribbean #KaYounYoo #CreativeYouth #MusicEducation

A really promising first day at GO COMPOSE 2025! 🎶 Four inspiring groups kicked off their creative journeys today: 🎵 Music Beyond Boundaries – led by Jamie Smith, with Rosemary Ball and Lily Hesper-Dugdale 🎷 Jazz Composition – led by Gabriel Taylor, supported by Josh Mitchell-Rayner and trainee Antiguan tutor Jahfari Hazelwood 🌍 Music Across Cultures – led by Reuben Bance, with Lucy Rowan and Emily Abbott 🎬 Film Composition – led by Ka Youn Yoo, with Ellen Wilkinson and Sam Nolan Follow our page and visit the blog to find out more... #GoCompose2025 #CommonwealthMusic #EasternCaribbean #youthmusic Antigua & Barbuda Youth Symphony Orchestra - ABYSO