Guildhall Young Artists students perform with Les Misérables

A group of 167 students learnt musical scores from the iconic musical and performed to an invited audience in Milton Court Concert Hall. Production Arts students from Guildhall Young Artists King's Cross also collaborated with Cameron Mackintosh’s production team on sound and lighting.

The project is part of a new partnership with Guildhall School and The Mackintosh Foundation, to give young performers from all backgrounds the opportunity to work with and learn from industry professionals, to build a greater understanding of the skills required for the performing arts industry.

We asked music students from the GYA centres involved in the project to answer a few questions about their experience.

Centre for Young Musicians (CYM)

Hi Vika, can you tell us about your involvement with the Les Mis and Cameron Mackintosh project?
It was a lot of fun to sing as part of the choir in the Les Mis concert. I had a great time with my friends from CYM, and also made new ones within the other centres, even from abroad (one student came from Romania). But the best part was working with our super-professional vocal coach Louise Marshall: her industry insights and approach to leading the choir impressed me so much! 

If you had to re-live a moment again from the project, what would it be?
Can I name two please? First of all, of course, the final song of the concert! For the whole performance we sung the Les Mis pieces, watched our orchestra, who also impressed with their team spirit, and listened to the Guildhall soloists. But the final song was the pinnacle — glorious, energetic and thrilling. 

However, for me personally, there was an equally fascinating moment — I met Monsieur Schonberg* himself! 

Having now had this opportunity, do you feel that this might be something you want to pursue in the future?
I have always dreamt of pursuing a career in the music industry, and this event proved once more that I am on the right path. 

Vika is 16 years old and has been on the CYM Full Programme for 7 years.

*Composer for Les Misérables

Junior Guildhall 

Can you tell us about your experience with the Les Mis and Cameron Mackintosh project?
I had the most amazing experience playing clarinet and Eb clarinet in the orchestra. The orchestra was bigger than any pit orchestra in the West End so being part of the immense sound, playing the Les Mis score, was extraordinary. Playing alongside the professional players from the Les Mis orchestra and working with Stephen (Head of Music at Cameron Mackintosh) and Stuart Morley (Musical Director at Cameron Mackintosh and Conductor for the project), allowed me to gain an insight into the career I aspire to. It was incredible to have Schoenberg sit in on the rehearsal and hear him speak about the interpretation of the music. 

Can you tell us about something you learnt from the experience?
In the rehearsals we learnt about the best ways to blend between sections with accompanying singers so that no one instrument stands out. 

What does it mean to you to be given an opportunity like this?
This opportunity has meant so much to me as an aspiring pit musician, it has really validated this as a great career choice. Often when I say I want to be a pit musician in musical theatre it's seen as a second best choice to standard orchestral playing and this experience showed how the orchestra is really valued in the industry and has inspired me to work as hard as I can to fulfil my ambition. 

Galina is 17 years old and has been on the Junior Guildhall Music Course for 6 months.  

GYA King’s Cross

Can you tell us about your involvement with the Les Mis and Cameron Mackintosh project?
I was part of the chorus during the Les Mis and Cameron Mackintosh project, and I loved every moment of it. From working alongside professionals and other like-minded musicians that are around my age, I really felt in my element. 

Do you have a favourite memory from the project?
I would say that my favourite moment was seeing all of the hard work we had put in during rehearsals come to fruition. The final performance was definitely one to remember, the atmosphere was almost electric. 

Having now had this opportunity, do you feel that this might be something you want to pursue in the future?
Yes, without a doubt. This opportunity affirmed that I would love to pursue music in the future. I think occasions like this really help to give you that extra push to make your aspirations seem attainable. 

Naima is 17 years old and has been on the King's Cross Music Course for 5 months. 

GYA Norwich

Can you tell us about your involvement with the Les Mis and Cameron Mackintosh project?
I was invited to participate in the Les Mis project through GYA Norwich. For the first time I was able to meet musicians from other GYA centres across the country and it was nice knowing we are not the only ones out there. I applied for the project to play on the double bass, however, for the first time in my life, I was initially refused because they had too many double bassists so I played my secondary instrument, the viola. It was my first time playing viola in an orchestra of that size, or of any size, so it was a completely different sound to any I’d ever experienced before.

What was your highlight from the project? 
My highlight from the project was being able to play with the Les Mis pit orchestra. It was fascinating to see how they interacted with each other across the orchestra, making small inside jokes from months of playing in a small pit under the stage together. Although not having their mentorship for long it was an unbelievable learning experience of how to play music for a musical and how to cope when not being able to play to the standard that the parts required to play it fully.

What does it mean to you to be given an opportunity like this?
This experience has been incredible and has meant I have opened up a whole new realm of ideas for what I could do in the future. As a violin/viola/double bassist, the opportunities that are available for me are completely endless within the music industry and this was an area I hadn’t considered before. Having been in many shows in the past with schools, I had never considered how difficult the music would be for those accompanying the singers and actors. Without these amazing musicians that I was able to play with, shows would be dull and boring compared to the shows that are full of life that you see on stage.

Inez is 16 years old and has been on the GYA Norwich Music Course since it started. 

GYA Online 

Hi Lucy, can you tell us about your involvement with the Les Mis and Cameron Mackintosh project? 
I played Little Cosette and was part of the chorus. We had a couple of days of rehearsals where we met some of the Les Mis team who helped us prepare for the concert. It was brilliant meeting some of the other members from the other GYA centres!

How did this opportunity come about? 
I have been studying with GYA online since September. I was offered the opportunity to apply and be part of the chorus or orchestra in December. After this, I was asked if I'd like to sing the part of Little Cosette. 

What does it mean to you to be given an opportunity like this? 
It was amazing! Les Mis is my favourite musical and I've always dreamed of playing Little Cosette, so it was an incredible experience to be able to do this, especially in front of Claude-Michel Schönberg himself! Guildhall was so supportive during this and it was really great seeing people from all over the country coming together to put on this concert. I even had a session with the musical supervisor from the Les Mis film and he gave me lots of tips and was really helpful and encouraging. We sang with a huge orchestra from Guildhall Young Artists and even some from the Les Mis pit orchestra itself and that was really special. The other soloists were very inspiring and I learned so much from them - one day I hope to sing one of the older roles! It was an experience I'll never forget and I'm so grateful to Guildhall and Cameron Mackintosh for this opportunity.

Lucy is 12 years old and has been on the GYA Online Folk Course for 1 year.

GYA Taunton 

Hi Henry, can you tell us about your involvement with the Les Mis and Cameron Mackintosh project?
I was able to be a part of the backing choir with other young people to support the lead singers and orchestra.

What does it mean to you to be given an opportunity like this?
It was an honour to learn with incredible performers such as the orchestra and other singers that shared my love for Les Mis. 

Having now had this opportunity, do you feel that this might be something you want to pursue in the future?
Yes definitely, the performance showed me that there are loads of people who share my dreams and ambition.  

Henry is 16 years old and has been on the GYA Taunton Music Course for 3 years. 

Find out more about Guildhall Young Artists, Guildhall School's network of centres that provides inspiring performing and production arts training for children and young people.