CGE 2021-22 Mentee
Lydia Kenny
Lydia is a saxophonist and multi-disciplinary actor-musician based in the UK. Lydia studies saxophone with Lara James, having won Gloucestershire Young Musician 2018 and achieved Licentiate of the Royal Schools of Music Distinction in 2019. She is currently applying to study for a Masters in saxophone. Lydia has enjoyed being able to attend workshops and masterclasses in the US including the American Saxophone Academy 2021 and the Great Plains Saxophone Workshop 2020. Alongside the saxophone, Lydia is studying for a BASc in Arts and Sciences at University College London. Within her degree, Lydia is interested in the use of arts to promote science communication, and is currently writing her dissertation project on ‘Music and Climate Action in Global and Local Communities’.
As an actor-musician, Lydia is enthusiastic about bringing music to all parts of the community, having worked with Music for Miniatures, School of Music Live!, Cheltenham Music Festival, Gloucestershire Symphony Orchestra, Gloucestershire Academy of Music, Red Dog Theatre, Cheltenham Everyman, The National Trust, Curious Move Theatre, Gecko and Theatrephonic Podcast. During the UK lockdowns in 2020, Lydia curated a street concert series ‘Live on the Drive’, bringing over 50 neighbours outdoors together with live music and dance each week. Lydia is an associate artist with Open Arms Artist Collective, bringing multi-disciplinary arts to people living with dementia, and a senior tutor and teaching lead with Opportutoring, teaching English to refugees over Skype. Lydia is also a theatre director, and directed ‘An Orange in the Subway’ by Owen Thomas, nominated for the Origins Award at VAULT Festival, London 2020. Lydia is also an audio artist, and won the HearSay International Audio Festival Rising Award 2021 for her documentary audio piece ‘Chameleon’. Lydia hopes to extend her practice, collaboration and community music work with the CSW mentoring program.
As an actor-musician, Lydia is enthusiastic about bringing music to all parts of the community, having worked with Music for Miniatures, School of Music Live!, Cheltenham Music Festival, Gloucestershire Symphony Orchestra, Gloucestershire Academy of Music, Red Dog Theatre, Cheltenham Everyman, The National Trust, Curious Move Theatre, Gecko and Theatrephonic Podcast. During the UK lockdowns in 2020, Lydia curated a street concert series ‘Live on the Drive’, bringing over 50 neighbours outdoors together with live music and dance each week. Lydia is an associate artist with Open Arms Artist Collective, bringing multi-disciplinary arts to people living with dementia, and a senior tutor and teaching lead with Opportutoring, teaching English to refugees over Skype. Lydia is also a theatre director, and directed ‘An Orange in the Subway’ by Owen Thomas, nominated for the Origins Award at VAULT Festival, London 2020. Lydia is also an audio artist, and won the HearSay International Audio Festival Rising Award 2021 for her documentary audio piece ‘Chameleon’. Lydia hopes to extend her practice, collaboration and community music work with the CSW mentoring program.