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Student stories: Emma Arandjelović - The Open College of the Arts

To find out more details about the transfer to The Open University see A New Chapter for OCA.

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Student stories: Emma Arandjelović

One of the most useful elements of OCA study visits is the chance for students to gain an insight into real-life creative scenarios and experience the complexities of day-to-day professional practice. In addition, study visits can often sow the seed for further projects and opportunities.

Back in 2017, we held a study visit at MAC:Birmingham focussing on writing music to a set publishing brief, designed to imitate a professional publishing situation regarding music for the educational and examination market. It was an enjoyable day spent playing and discussing 14 student compositions with tutor Chris Lawry along with saxophonist and publisher Keri Degg (Masquerade Music). Students were also able to benefit from recordings of their pieces, an initiative that was kindly supported by OCASA

Following the study visit, one of the pieces was taken on by the publisher, Emma Arandjelović’s Leaving, which was expanded out into a suite of three pieces published in 2018. The successful conclusion of this project subsequently led to further work published. 

Music publishing is a patient business as each new publication takes time to establish and become more widely known. On top of this, repertoire for music examinations get reviewed every 2-5 years, depending on the exam board, so things can move quite slowly overall. However, on the 8th July, the new ABRSM saxophone syllabus came out, and just a few years on, two of Emma’s three pieces, Changing Landscapes and Leaving, have made it on to the Grades 6 and 7 lists. 

This will help to give more exposure to the pieces, and Emma’s other work, as the ABRSM operate in 93 countries throughout the world. It just goes to show how useful for development the study visits and other opportunities are at OCA. 

A hearty congratulations to EmmaOnwards and upwards!

More information about Emma’s publication can be found on the publisher’s site here and is available to buy from many online retailers.

 

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLeZzm2W58OO_AzYkHcCqT_GOT_mc6IAsS 

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Posted by author: ChrisLawry

5 thoughts on “Student stories: Emma Arandjelović

  • Many congratulations, Emma! That is brilliant news. And the pieces in ‘Changing Landscapes’ re a delight – really exciting (I have just been listening). Tremendous! All best, Deborah

  • Wow!!! Well done for this. Really love the quirky nature of this and how it is all under the fingers…also the consideration for mere mortals who may struggle with piano accompaniment. Love it …am going to be looking what else you may have written.

  • Thank you so much Deborah and Jane! It’s such a boost to have had my pieces selected. Huge thanks to Chris and the rest of the OCA team for kickstarting it all with the composition workshops!

  • Emma,
    These works are a real pleasure to the ear, and the instruments saxophone and piano go so well together. I hope one day I will become as good as you at composing, but I guess I still have a long long way to go.
    Congratulations !!
    Paul

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