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Witter-Johnson has collaborated with our specially-created virtual orchestra on a unique arrangement of the Destiny’s Child classic, ‘Survivor’

This summer, young musicians from across the UK got the chance to create a music video with leading singer, songwriter, cellist and composer Ayanna Witter-Johnson for Trinity Laban’s Summer Session Virtual Orchestra project.

Run by TL’s Learning and Participation team, the project was one of four digital sessions that encouraged young musicians aged 11 – 17 to connect and get creative.

Guided by inspirational tutors and artists including guest artist Ayanna and in-house audio specialist Kit Venables, participants worked together across four days of interactive online workshops to develop their listening, playing and recording skills.

The project culminated in the production of an exclusive digital track, specially arranged by lead tutor Kit Massey.

On joining the project as a guest artist, Trinity Laban alum Ayanna commented –

“It was a joy to be part of the Trinity Laban ‘Virtual Orchestra’ project with a group of such enthusiastic and dedicated young musicians, for many of whom it was their first time being in an orchestra.  To be able to inspire them to remain creative during lockdown and stay connected to other musicians was very special indeed.

“Kit Massey’s energetic and refreshing arrangement of Destiny’s Child’s ‘Survivor’, with its positive lyrics, was the perfect song to bring us all together in the spirit of positivity and collaboration.”

Since graduating from Trinity Laban in 2008, MOBO nominated Ayanna has been committed to proving that classical and alternative R&B music can coexist. She has participated in the London Symphony Orchestra’s Panufnik Young Composers Scheme, been an Emerging Artist in Residence at London’s Southbank Centre and released debut album Road Runner on her own label Hill and Gully Records.

As a composer she has been commissioned by the London Symphony Orchestra, Kronos Quartet, and the Hip-Hop Shakespeare Company amongst others, and was most recently announced as a new Royal Philharmonic Society composer 2020/21 where she will be writing for the Philharmonia’s Music of Today series.

Learn more about studying music at Trinity Laban.

Building on the success and reach of our annual Young Musicians’ Summer School, over 60 young musicians took part in our first Summer Sessions online series, which also included Music Technology & Sound Design, Writing Music for Film, and Song-writing projects.

Find out more about our Learning and Participation programmes.