Royal College of Music Junior Department record soundtrack for new Sadler’s Wells ballet

Wednesday 21 March 2018

The Royal College of Music Junior Department (RCMJD) and English National Ballet are collaborating to give young people the unique opportunity to create and perform a newly commissioned ballet at Sadler’s Wells Theatre.

Now in its third year, the Dance Journeys project gives young people the experience of being in a professional ballet company. The soundtrack of this year’s ballet, called Chrysalis, has been composed and produced by RCMJD alumnus Thomas Hewitt Jones. The music was recorded by the RCMJD Contemporary Ensemble in the College’s Amaryllis Fleming Concert Hall, conducted by RCM alumnus Jacques Cohen.

Composer Thomas Hewitt Jones said: ‘It is a pleasure to have been commissioned to write the new score to English National Ballet's Dance Journeys project for a second year, and a particular thrill to have collaborated to record it with the RCMJD Contemporary Ensemble. I enjoyed many happy years as a student in the RCM Junior Department and it is great to see the next generation of talented young musicians coming through the ranks.’

Chrysalis will be performed by young dancers from several local London schools at Sadler’s Wells Theatre on Wednesday 18 April at 2.30pm. Supported by John Lyon’s Charity, the young dancers are brought together by ENBYouthCo, Dance Journeys Artistic Director Jo Meredith and choreographers from the English National Ballet.

Find out more about the project here.