Andrew Ashwin Author Visit

We were delighted to welcome Andrew Ashwin (the uncle of one of our Beacon boys) to The Beacon today. Andrew is a well-known singing teacher in the UK and has a fifteen-year professional singing career, a decade of which was spent on the international opera circuit. He has performed operas, concerts, galas and recitals across the UK, Europe, and further afield, so it’s no surprise that his workshops were full of drumendus-related music and rhythms.

Andrew has now moved into the world of literature by writing his first book, ‘Drumendus: Mission to the Drum Planet’. Drumendus is the music-infused tale of twelve-year-old Ella Crinkle and her best friend Freddie, who find themselves on an unexpected adventure in a homemade spaceship invented by brilliant and eccentric Aunt Belinda, the most famous astronaut in history. The tale takes in a mysterious purple planet, a remarkable family secret, and music … everywhere!

Andrew joined our Years 4, 5 and 6 boys today, hosting two separate workshops where he took everyone through the story of writing and getting a book published. Then, using a keyboard, trombone, ukulele and bell as props, he revealed how he got the inspiration for all the music-related names, themes and adventures in his book. Boys’ (and teachers’) brains and bodies were taxed by some fun, rhythmical clapping and stamping exercises as they experienced some of the pulsating beats of the purple planet of Drumendus.

Take a look below to see our gallery of images.