8th September 2023Mrs S Field

Following on from their incredible performance at Glastonbury which hit our local news, Ezra Collective won The Mercury Prize last night.

This is such fabulous news and we are delighted for our ‘Old Boys’ and their band mates.

At the awards ceremony, Femi’s speech thanked people and organisations that gave support during their musical journey, and again, we are so proud to get a mention and know how our passionate music department was one of the various platforms that helped springboard these ex-students to where they are now. He emphasises how important all our local youth groups and services are in the UK, believing in and giving young people a chance.

Mr Escott, who is still teaching within our music department, was one of their music teachers when they were here in school and he recently got the chance to meet up with Ezra Collective where they reminisced about rehearsals in room C12 at Lower School, EGS music tours and concerts in our main hall; Mr Escott is pleased to say the boys still have very fond memories of their days at Grammar.

These brothers, Femi & TJ and their band mates are a shining example of what dedication and hard work can achieve, from the Year 7 Band to Mercury music prize-winners !

(YouTube clip 2.5 minutes long – a super delighted Ezra Collective moment and a lovely tribute to youth services inc an EGS mention at 1.35)

Ezra Collective is composed of drummer and bandleader Femi Koleoso, bassist TJ Koleoso, keyboardist Joe Armon-Jones, trumpeter Ife Ogunjobi, and tenor saxophonist James Mollison.

The group took the top prize over nominated artists including Fred Again, Arctic Monkeys and Raye!

#ezracollective #mercuryprize #EGSmusicdept #followyourdreams #supportouryouth

 

Femi & TJ playing in one of our EGS music concerts

“on music tour”!