#MfEMonday – 22nd May 2023

www.music-for-everyone.org | 0115 9589312

10 Goose Gate | Hockley | NG1 1FF

https://www.music-for-everyone.org/event/a-musical-celebration/

#MfEMondays are Music for Everyone’s weekly emails designed to keep you up to date with MfE events & to circulate interesting finds, special features, and musical musings for your Mondays! We are aiming to send out something new each week.

#MfEMonday – 15th May 2023

15th May 2023 Music for Everyone

MfEMondays is back! From Coronations to Eurovision, we hope you have enjoyed the various festivities over the past couple of weekends – we’re looking forward to a busy time at MfE, starting this Saturday… see below.

Hail, Star of the Sea

This coming Saturday 20^th May (7.30pm start), the Nottingham Chamber Singers are performing at St John’s Church, Beeston.

It will be a wonderful programme of contrast and beauty for voices and strings including Pergolesi’s Stabat Mater, Whitacre’s Five Hebrew Love Songs. For any of you who came along to the AGM you might remember singing the Brahms and Mendelssohn which will also feature in the concert.

Click here for more details. Click here to book tickets – save money when you book in advance!

*Special 40^th update* More exciting events from MfE as we continue the 40^th celebrations!

The FAMILY SING is now open for booking, happening on Sunday 11 June, open to all keen singers aged 5+ (children must be accompanied by an adult). Singing favourites like ‘Celebration’ by Kool and the Gang and ‘Under the Sea’ from the Little Mermaid, our new Steel Pan ensemble will also be performing with the opportunity to ‘have a go’. Full details and booking link here: https://www.music-for-everyone.org/event/family-sing-workshop/

BLOW THE DUST OFF YOUR INSTRUMENT is on Saturday 17 June – music packs will be going out to all players very soon; items include Edward Elgar’s rousing Imperial March Op.32 and Queen’s iconic rock anthem We are the Champions. Find out full details and book online here: https://www.music-for-everyone.org/event/blow-the-dust-off-your-instrument-3/ or contact the office on 0115 9589312 to book your place over the phone.

A MUSICAL CELEBRATION – 40^th Anniversary Weekend 1 – 2 July 2023

There’s something for everyone at the big weekend!

Vocals – sign up to take part in the youth concert on 1^st July (just £5 per child)
Spotlight on Youth concert: 1^st July, ticket booking is now open.
Daytime Voices & Orchestras – join us on 2^nd July for a Musical Celebration, including speeches and birthday cake!

All details of how YOU can get involved can be found here:

Woodwind players required for a Bulwell based wind band. Anyone is welcome and no weekly subscriptions are required. If you are interested, please contact David on 01159179203 or 07847099245.

Have a great week!

Your friends at MfE.

15/05/2023

www.music-for-everyone.org | 0115 9589312

10 Goose Gate | Hockley | NG1 1FF

#MfEMonday – 24th April 2023

24th April 2023 Music for Everyone

***BREAKING NEWS!!!***

Vocals have DONE IT again – and by ‘done it’, we mean absolutely smashed it out of the park (!!!), with their amazing concert this weekend.

Saturday and Sunday saw 120 children aged 5 – 13 come together for an incredible weekend of music making and fun. We went on a trip around the world both aurally and visually, with folk songs, traditional songs and popular songs spanning the continents of our globe. All of the vocals groups sang magnificently, filling Nottingham’s Albert Hall with their voices and their laughter, and delighting the audience with varied songs, actions and dance moves. Vocals 1 even made an impressive collection of flags from around the world which were used to decorate the hall throughout their performance.

We travelled to Scotland with a rousing ‘Loch Lomond’, raced through Finland with the exciting Reindeer song ‘ole le loyla’ and encountered the ‘Amazing Egyptians’ and Columbia’s fictitious ‘Family Madrigal’, not to mention that fellow that people don’t like to talk about… Bruno (from Disney’s En Canto if you hadn’t heard)!!!

The singing was enhanced beautifully by the masterful accompanying skills of our resident pianist Angela Foan, and we were treated to castanets, gongs and all manner of exciting percussion instruments from Steve Barwell our guest percussionist. We were also privileged to invite Madhav Mehta, a local young tabla player, who wowed the audience with his quick fingers and virtuosic skills on the beautiful Indian classical drums.

As well as being a wonderfully joyful occasion, Sunday carried a tinge of sadness as it was time to say goodbye to Alison Bennet, who has worked with the vocals team for the past 20 years – I think we’d call that a really good innings, and I’m sure we’ll continue to see Alison at various MfE events. Thank you to her for all her hard-work, enthusiasm and brilliant actions!!

A huge thank you to everyone involved in making the weekend such a huge success. Rachel, Kirstie and the rest of the MfE team were really proud of how it went, and can’t wait for the next one!

Vocals in pictures!

Callout to all MfE alumni. Do you know someone who used to sing or play in one of MfE’s youth groups? To help us celebrate our 40th anniversary, we’d love for as many alumni of the youth choirs, youth string orchestra and youth bands to join us on Saturday 1st July at the Albert Hall, Nottingham for a celebration event! Ask them to email by the end of April to admin@music-for-everyone.org if they would be interested in joining us.

Have a great week!

Your friends at MfE.

24/04/2023

www.music-for-everyone.org | 0115 9589312

10 Goose Gate | Hockley | NG1 1FF

Introducing Laura, the newest member of the MfE office team! Laura started work as our new administrator at the beginning of April and will be based in the office on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday mornings. She studied Music at the University of Nottingham and has taken part in a few MfE activities before so is excited to be involved with more of the organisation. Welcome Laura!

Nottingham Lunchtime Voices starts back this week. If you work in Nottingham City Centre, take your Thursday lunch break at the Concert Hall (Level 4 Foyer) for an hour of singing, 12.30pm – 1.30pm with Rachel, details on the attached flyer.

The Vocals course is coming up this weekend! (22/23 April) It’s not too late to take part if you know any young singers, age 5 – 14 who would like to take part, find out all the details and sign up online here: https://www.music-for-everyone.org/event/vocals-apr-2023/

With our journey around the world coming up at vocals and the steel pan and world drumming groups starting this week, we’ve been looking at different types of world percussion sounds, some of which we’ll be hearing this week!

The Steel pan ensemble starts this evening in Beeston. Their distinctive sound originates from Trinidadian culture, traditionally using paint pots, dustbins and oil drums with a series of dents hammered into the metal surface to create different notes. It has become popular to play familiar songs on steel pan, see the link below for a well-known song from The Lion King.

Find out more here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-18903131

Here is a school band playing ‘The Lion Sleeps Tonight’! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=woBZME7sN3E

Callout to all MfE alumni. Do you know someone who used to sing or play in one of MfE’s youth groups? To help us celebrate our 40th anniversary, we’d love for as many alumni of the youth choirs, youth string orchestra and youth bands to join us on Saturday 1st July at the Albert Hall, Nottingham for a celebration event! Ask them to email by the end of April to admin@music-for-everyone.org if they would be interested in joining us.

Have a great week!

Your friends at MfE.

17/04/2023

www.music-for-everyone.org | 0115 9589312

10 Goose Gate | Hockley | NG1 1FF

#MfEMonday – 17th April 2023

17th April 202317th April 2023 Music for Everyone

Find out more here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-18903131

Here is a school band playing ‘The Lion Sleeps Tonight’! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=woBZME7sN3E

Callout to all MfE alumni. Do you know someone who used to sing or play in one of MfE’s youth groups? To help us celebrate our 40th anniversary, we’d love for as many alumni of the youth choirs, youth string orchestra and youth bands to join us on Saturday 1st July at the Albert Hall, Nottingham for a celebration event! Ask them to email by the end of April to admin@music-for-everyone.org if they would be interested in joining us.

Have a great week!

Your friends at MfE.

17/04/2023

www.music-for-everyone.org | 0115 9589312

10 Goose Gate | Hockley | NG1 1FF

#MfEMonday – 27th March 2023

27th March 202327th March 2023 Music for Everyone

BBC suspends proposed closure of the BBC Singers

Music for Everyone (MfE) members, staff and trustees were among the 140,000 people who signed a petition, urging BBC to reverse its’ decision to close BBC Singers. We now are pleased to hear that the decision has been paused, after “a number of organisations” came forward to offer alternative funding. The group, which is the UK’s only full-time professional chamber choir, was targeted by budget cuts shortly before celebrating its 100th anniversary. A temporary reprieve has been granted, as new funding models are explored. Further details: BBC suspends proposed closure of the BBC Singers – BBC News

Sing Along AGM

Our Annual General Meeting was a unique experience last Wednesday, where members were invited to sing alongside Nottingham Chamber Singers, as part of their rehearsal. This followed the usual agenda where Trustees were elected and minutes of the last meeting were approved. Reports were given by John Hess (Chair), Angela Kay (Artistic Director), Donna Fox (Director) and Rachel Emmett (Finance, representing the Treasurer). Participants thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity, as you can see from the lovely photos by Andy Cooper. If anyone was unable to make it and would like a copy of the annual report please e-mail admin@music-for-everyone.org

Please join the Daytime Orchestras as they share their end of term pieces, conducted by Josh Goodman on:

Tuesday 28 March at Loughborough All Saint’s Parish Church, 11:30am.
Thursday 30 March at St Martin’s Church in Sherwood, Nottingham, 11:30am.

Free to attend!

We are recruiting a Project Co-ordinator: Deadline Mon 3^rd April

MfE would like to draw your attention to the vacancies on our website. In addition to the Artistic Director role, which we shared last week, there is new opportunity for someone to support the team as part-time Project Co-ordinator.

Thanks to support from Arts Council England’s National Lottery Project Grants, MfE is organising a 40^th Anniversary season of activities to celebrate inclusion in music. The Project Co-ordinator will help the team to organise specific elements of the programme. Further details on how to apply: Vacancies | Music for Everyone (music-for-everyone.org)

Celebrate around the World with Vocals! 22/23 April
Singing workshop on Saturday 22 April: South Nottinghamshire Academy, Radcliffe-on-Trent
Concert on Sunday 23 April: Albert Hall, Nottingham
Singing workshop: Vocals April 2023 (music-for-everyone.org)

Have a great week!

Your friends at MfE.

27/03/2023

www.music-for-everyone.org | 0115 9589312

10 Goose Gate | Hockley | NG1 1FF

#MfEMonday – 20th March 2023

20th March 2023 Music for Everyone

Well what a week it’s been for our Youth members!

Last Tuesday members of the East Midlands Youth String Orchestra and the Nottingham & East Midlands Youth Band travelled to Birmingham to take part in the Music for Youth festival at the CBSO centre. They performed brilliantly and received some excellent feedback from the panel.

What a treat on Friday evening when a choir of almost 300 children from the Spencer Academy Trust filled the Nottingham Albert Hall and gave a stunning performance under the expert leadership of Sophie Pascall.

And yesterday our highly-talented youth groups performed a Mothers Day concert at The Grange in Radcliffe-on-Trent.

Phew! Well done to everyone involved. Time for a well-deserved rest!!

We are on the hunt for a new Artistic Director.

As many of you will know, Music for Everyone‘s Founder and former Artistic Director, Angela Kay MBE, stepped down from the day-to-day running of the organisation at the end of our 2021-22 season. We appointed a new Director, Donna Fox, to lead the business and strategic development of MfE from September 2022, with Angela Kay continuing as Artistic Adviser for the current season. We are now looking for a dynamic new Artistic Director to build on Angela Kay’s considerable achievements and develop MfE’s artistic vision, strategy and practice going forward.

This is a key role in the further development of MfE and so please help spread the word far and wide!

Full details can be found via this link: https://www.music-for-everyone.org/about-us/vacancies/

As part of the celebrations for MfE’s 40^th Anniversary, we have 2 new intergenerational ensembles starting in April, steel pan and world drumming! Beginners welcome, suitable for adults and young people.
The first session is FREE – Steel Pan begins on Monday 17^th April, World Drumming begins on Tuesday 18^th April, both at Beeston Methodist Church. Register your interest to admin@music-for-everyone.org

Have a great week!

Your friends at MfE.

20/03/2023

www.music-for-everyone.org | 0115 9589312

10 Goose Gate | Hockley | NG1 1FF

https://www.classical-music.com/features/recordings/best-recordings-rimsky-korsakov/

#MfEMonday – 13th March 2023

13th March 2023 Music for Everyone

We are still riding high from the breath-taking achievement of Saturday night’s concert by the Nottingham Chamber Singers. After an ambitious and varied programme of choral music ranging from the 12^th to the 21^st Centuries, a packed house at St Martin’s Church, Sherwood could be heard cheering several streets away…we imagine!

Huge congratulations to all members of NCS, guest artists Henry Parkes (organ) and John Barker (saxophone), and MfE Assistant Artistic Director Rachel Parkes, under whose direction our wonderful chamber choir sparkled.

This week we celebrate the birthday of beloved Russian composer Nicolai Rimsky-Korsakov, born on 18^th March 1844. We have loved exploring this in-depth run down of the best recordings out there of NRK’s works!

This Sunday 19^th March – yes, Mother’s Day! – will see our youth ensembles – Nottingham Youth Band, East Midlands Youth Band, Nottingham Strictly Strings and East Midlands Youth String Orchestra – perform at the Grange Hall in Radcliffe on Trent at 3pm. Tickets available here!

Have a great week!

Your friends at MfE.

13/03/2023

www.music-for-everyone.org | 0115 9589312

10 Goose Gate | Hockley | NG1 1FF

#MfEMonday – 6th March 2023

6th March 2023 Music for Everyone

As you know, Music for Everyone is currently celebrating its 40^th Anniversary season. Founded in 1983 by Angela Kay, the Nottingham based music charity has long championed the voices of women within the field of music and performance. When we made the connection that our concert this weekend would fall in the week that we celebrate International Women’s Day, (Wednesday 8^th March) we wanted to celebrate some lesser-known female composers, whose works have often been underrepresented in established anthologies in the genre of sacred choral composition.

Come and join us as we celebrate women in music at St Martin’s Church, Sherwood: https://www.music-for-everyone.org/event/march-ncs/

Today we are musing on the INCREDIBLE Big Youth Music Experience concert yesterday at Nottingham’s Albert Hall, featuring over 160 young musicians and an amazing joint performance of ‘Feeling Good’. Here are some photos!

Flutes in Art History: Major Find by SAM Flutes Member.

Did you know that famous Derby painter Joseph Wright was a flute player? SAM flutes member Carol Craggs discovered that when she acquired a bound set of the flute duets he used to play in the 1770s with his Derby friend, Rev Thomas Gisborne. When fellow SAM flutes member Martin Gorman mentioned the duets in a blog article it was spotted by author Dr Stephen Leach of Keele University. He has recently written a book on Joseph Wright and acknowledged their help in identifying for the first time the music that Wright and Gisborne played together. Everyone had assumed the music was burned along with old family papers after Wright’s death. Dr Leach lists Carol’s collection of duets and is looking into the possibility of getting some of the music performed at the Joseph Wright Gallery in Derby.

Have a great week!

Your friends at MfE.

06/03/2023

www.music-for-everyone.org | 0115 9589312

10 Goose Gate | Hockley | NG1 1FF

#MfEMonday – 27th February 2023

27th February 2023 Music for Everyone

We’ve had an amazing weekend of music making with over 160 young musicians at South Nottinghamshire Academy in Radcliffe on Trent this weekend with Bandwise (Saturday) and Stringwise (Sunday). Can’t wait for their families and friends to hear the result in next weekend’s concert at Nottingham’s Albert Hall!

As we head into March, MfE is looking forward to a busy month of exciting events:

NCS concert – A Multitude of Voices on Saturday 11^th March at St Martin’s Church, Sherwood. Tickets available in advance here: https://www.music-for-everyone.org/event/march-ncs/ or on the door.
We’re excited to announce 3 of MfE’s youth groups will be ‘day-tripping’ to Birmingham for the Music for Youth Regional Festival on Tuesday 14^th March, playing in the CBSO Centre!
MfE youth groups Mother’s Day concert on Sunday 19^th March at the Grange in Radcliffe on Trent, tickets available in advance or on the door.

Music has been proven to have a positive effect on our health and some new research has shown how long it can take to feel happier, or more relaxed or even to overcome sadness.

It won’t come as a surprise that music with a slow tempo is best for relaxation, although it might be of interest to learn that 13 minutes is the optimum listening time for feeling peaceful and contented compared to 9 minutes of a driving rhythm and fast tempo to help you to feel uplifted.

Find out more here: https://www.classicfm.com/music-news/music-to-release-sadness-and-feel-happier-study/ for the stats and percentages!

Have you seen ‘The Piano’ on channel 4 as pianist Lang Lang and popstar Mika search for the top amateur pianists by listening to them perform at popular train station pianos in St Pancras, Birmingham New Street, Leeds and Glasgow? 13 year old Lucy plays a stunning version of a Chopin nocturne here: https://www.classicfm.com/composers/chopin/blind-pianist-lang-lang-the-piano/

Have a great week!

Your friends at MfE.

27/02/2023

www.music-for-everyone.org | 0115 9589312

10 Goose Gate | Hockley | NG1 1FF

#MfEMonday – 20th February 2023

20th February 2023 Music for Everyone

Tickets are still available for the Nottingham Chamber Singers’ Multitude of Voices concert at St Martin’s in Sherwood on 11 March. Join them as they dive into the rich, exquisite and relatively under-represented canon of choral works by female composers.

The concert, in the same week as International Women’s Day, will take the opportunity to celebrate 900 years of Passiontide themed motets, both reflective and uplifting from the 11th Century Abbess and Polymath Hildegard von Bingen through to the emerging and talented Kerensa Briggs (b.1991). Throughout the concert, acclaimed Saxophonist John Barker will be weaving transcendent melodies into and around our program, culminating in a second half performance of the beautiful Son of God Mass by James Whitbourn to ease you into Eastertide.

Click here for more information and here to book.

The youth groups are gearing up for a busy month of March, working towards their Mother’s Day concert on Sunday 19^th March at The Grange in Radcliffe on Trent, an instrumental treat for all! Click here for more information

We are really looking forward to welcoming 161 young instrumentalists to our Bandwise and Stringwise courses this weekend! After a weekend of being put through their paces by our crack team of experts they will then come together for a showcase concert at the Albert Hall on Sunday 05 March. We can’t wait to hear their joint performance of ‘Feelin’ Good’ arranged by our very own Josh Goodman. Perhaps most famously recorded by Nina Simone, it was first performed by Guyanese-British singer Cy Grant on the opening night of The Roar of the Greasepaint at the Theatre Royal in Nottingham on 3 August 1964!

Click here to find out what song was number one on the day you were born. The current range in the office is Fernando by Abba to I Owe You Nothing by Bros – but we’re not going to reveal who came out dancing to Abba!

Have a great week!

Your friends at MfE.

20/02/2023

www.music-for-everyone.org | 0115 9589312

10 Goose Gate | Hockley | NG1 1FF