#MfEMonday – 2nd December 2024

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

10 Goose Gate | Hockley | NG1 1FF

#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.

If you can’t view this email properly or you would like to unsubscribe from future #MfEMonday emails, please get in touch.

#MfEMonday – 25th November 2024

25th November 2024 Music for Everyone

A huge WELL DONE to all the Daytime Voices groups for their end of term concerts and cake stalls last week! Enjoy a well-deserved break this week and we’re looking forward to seeing all those singing in the Christmas concert for pre-rehearsals from next week – there’s still time to join us for the Christmas is Coming concert on 15^th December: https://www.music-for-everyone.org/event/christmas-is-coming-daytime-voices/

The Daytime Orchestras invite you to join them for their end of term concerts next week. These concerts are free to attend and will be showcasing the hard work each orchestra has done throughout the Autumn term:

Loughborough Daytime Orchestra concert

Tuesday 3^rd December, 11.15am – 12pm at Emmanuel Church, Forest Road LE11 3NW

Nottingham Daytime Orchestra concert

Thursday 12^th December, 11.15am – 12pm at St Martin’s Church, Trevose Gardens NG5 3FU

The 22^nd November (Friday just gone) marks the day of the patron saint of music and musicians, St Cecilia. Musical compositions are dedicated to her and a feast held in her honour on 22^nd November each year, so who is she? A martyr, she became the patroness of music and musicians, it being written that, as the musicians played at her wedding, Cecilia “sang in her heart to the Lord”.

Here are a few of the pieces dedicated to the saint of all music!

Purcell Hail! Bright Cecilia https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5AGUGdLj3Vo

You may remember we commissioned a special piece of the same name for MfE’s 40^th anniversary celebration!

Britten Hymn to St Cecilia https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cBFr5xCIwvw

It is no surprise that Britten wrote a piece for St Cecilia, having himself been born on her feast day 22^nd November, belated Happy Birthday to Britten!

Are you super organised and already started your Christmas shopping? (Don’t worry, we haven’t either) A reminder if you’re shopping online this year, please use EasyFundraising and support MfE to raise extra funds – at no cost to you! There are thousands of retailers out there that donate to charity every time you shop, all you need to do is shop through EasyFundraising! It’s easy to do, all the details are here: https://www.easyfundraising.org.uk/causes/musicforeveryone
Vacancy: Musical Director of Wind Orchestra. Freelance position. Loughborough.
Charnwood Symphonic Wind Orchestra is a 35-piece wind orchestra based in Loughborough. We rehearse on Sunday evenings in term time and perform at 5-7concerts per year. The position of Musical Director will be vacant from Spring 2025. We are seeking an MD to bring out the best of the band in a friendly, informal atmosphere. This will be a freelance paid position. For more information about the band please see www.charnwoodconcertbands.co.uk. Please write with an expression of interest and details of your relevant experience to Christine.Cassell@gmail.com Closing date 17th January 2025.

Have a great week!

Your friends at MfE

25/11/2024

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

10 Goose Gate | Hockley | NG1 1FF

https://www.classicfm.com/discover-music/periods-genres/musicals/best-movie-adaptions-ranked/

#MfEMonday – 18th November 2024

18th November 2024 Music for Everyone

What a fantastic concert yesterday at our Big Youth Music Experience! Well done to everyone who took part, there was some fabulous playing. We were joined by special guest, MP Lilian Greenwood who was very impressed. Here are some photos if you missed it!

Yesterday morning Nottingham Chamber Singers and Hucknall Daytime Voices were spreading some festive cheer at the Hucknall Community Christmas Fayre.

It’s not long now until the ‘Stories of Christmas’ afternoon concert in Hucknall on Sunday 8^th December with songs, stories and carols for all to enjoy. Click here for tickets

As it’s getting colder this week, you might be considering staying warm and cosy inside! Always a good excuse to enjoy a movie!!

There has been excitement building about the new film adaptation of ‘Wicked’ the musical which is out this Friday so here are some suggestions for other favourite musicals which have made it onto the big screen:

If it’s got you in the mood for singing some of the hits then our next Musicals singing workshop takes place on Saturday 15^th March and is now open for booking! Click here for more details.

Just a reminder that we are looking for a part time administrator for Tuesday and Thursday mornings! If you know anyone who might be interested please send them this link: https://www.music-for-everyone.org/about-us/vacancies/

Closing date is Friday 29^th November at 12 noon.

Have a great week!

Your friends at MfE

18/11/2024

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

10 Goose Gate | Hockley | NG1 1FF

#MfEMonday – 11th November 2024

11th November 2024 Music for Everyone

A great time was had at Bandwise and Stringwise this weekend where we were joined by over 120 talented young, enthusiastic instrumentalists. They sounded great and we can’t wait for their concert at the Albert Hall on Sunday!

Spaces are filling up quickly for our Christmas is Coming rehearsals and concert. Be sure to book your spot for the rehearsals happening during the weeks of December 2nd and December 9th. Simply click here to book, or call the office at 0115 958 9312.

After last week’s feature on soothing music for pets, we thought we would continue the pet theme with a smorgasbord of pet-related silliness!

Composing can be a lonely process, with hours spent in solitude waiting for inspiration to strike. It’s no wonder that many great composers turned to pets for companionship.

Ravel was obsessed with cats, allowing them to walk all over his manuscripts and even speaking to them in ‘cat language’. Ravel’s friend Vaughan Williams was equally fond of cats, owning a cat named Mrs Tim, and allowing his friend and fellow composer Gerald Finzi to be on cat-sitting duty when he was away on tour.

Mozart chose a starling as his less conventional pet companion! When his pet starling died, he planned an elaborate ceremony which included veiled mourners and hymns. Mozart himself recited a poem he wrote, which began, ‘A little fool lies here, whom I held dear, a starling in the prime of his brief time.’

Elgar adored dogs and after the death of his wife Alice, who hated dogs, he was finally able to have dogs of his own. His dogs were almost always at his side, and when they couldn’t be, Elgar would often keep in contact with them. He even wished them good night via a live radio broadcast when he was forced to be apart from them whilst celebrating his 70th birthday!

Click here to see Irish Setter, Elmo, singing a virtuosic solo, or here for a doggy duet with Pavarotti!

MfE is hiring! We are looking for a part time administrator to join the office team on Tuesday and Thursday mornings.

See the full details on our website here: Vacancies | Music for Everyone Please spread the word about this fantastic opportunity!

On 23^rd November, join Grantham Choral Society for a concert journeying from traditional and folk music to Jazz.

Have a great week!

Your friends at MfE

11/11/2024

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

10 Goose Gate | Hockley | NG1 1FF

#MfEMonday – 28th October 2024

4th November 2024 Music for Everyone

Hello!

We are looking forward to welcoming back all our regular groups this week after a short break 🙂

There is lots to look forward to in the coming weeks including Christmas Concerts a-plenty!

7^th December, Youth groups @ Kingswood Methodist Church, Wollaton – Countdown to Christmas

8^th December, Nottingham Chamber Singers @ St Mary’s Church, Hucknall – Stories of Christmas

15^th December, Nottingham Community Voices @ Albert Hall, Nottingham – Christmas is Coming!

To join in the music making please visit our website or call our friendly office team for more details on 0115 958 9312.

You can sign up for the next Nottingham Festival Chorus course and concert here: https://www.music-for-everyone.org/event/nfc-singing-course-concert/

Classical music has proved time and time again to be the perfect for calming anxious pets. With Bonfire Night tomorrow, classic FM have dedicated shows focused on calming music for pets, hosted by Dan Walker at 5pm on Tuesday 5 November.

Here you can also find recommendations of calming pieces to soothe nervous pets Calm music for pets: 10 soothing classical pieces – Classic FM

Nottingham Symphonic Wind Orchestra is performing “A Winter Celebration” in church at 3:30 pm on Saturday 30 November 2024. The orchestra will present a programme for all ages, which includes the music of Prince Igor, Take the A Train, Home Alone and Frozen, amongst many other favourites. There will also be few festive favourites sneaking in ahead of Advent Sunday! Admission prices are pay what you wish: Ticket A £15.00, Ticket B £10.00, Ticket C £5.00 – choose which ticket you want. Seating is unreserved. More information, including how to get tickets is available here: https://nsw.org.uk/nswo_concerts/a-winter-celebration/

Have a great week!

Your friends at MfE

04/11/2024

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

10 Goose Gate | Hockley | NG1 1FF

#MfEMonday – 28th October 2024

28th October 2024 Music for Everyone

Open Voices West Bridgford need your support!

We have applied for funding from Rushcliffe Community Infrastructure Levy and have got through the first round of the selection process. If you can spare a couple of minutes to complete the online form we would be extremely grateful! The deadline for completing this form is 2^nd November, so please do take a look this week. More details via this link: West Bridgford Consultations – Rushcliffe Borough Council

Regularly rehearsing groups are on Autumn half term break at the moment, so members of the Nottingham Chamber Singers have been helping with sorting some of our music out and took the opportunity to have a ‘Jumbo Party!’ last week.

We have a vast music library, choral and instrumental, on constant rotation around our many groups and events, most of which is stored in a lock up in Lenton. Many thanks to Angela, John, Dave and Sue for diving in to bring some order to the piles of music! If sorting music sounds like a blissful way to spend time, we’d love to hear from you! We are looking for a willing volunteer to look after the choral music library, this can be one person or a group. Please email Su Evans for more details: su@music-for-everyone.org

LAST CHANCE to join Bandwise and Stringwise on the 9^th/10^th & 17^th November! Percussion places are now full, but all other instruments are still open for young instrumentalists to join us, particularly saxophone, lower brass and strings. Find out more and sign up now – see you there!

Bandwise: https://www.music-for-everyone.org/event/byme-bandwise-nov24/

Stringwise: https://www.music-for-everyone.org/event/byme-stringwise-nov24/

Last year for Halloween, we put together our favourite spooky tunes from the office team so thought it would be fitting to share our extra-special MfE Halloween playlist with you again this week, it’s been fun to look back at what each of us chose! There’s a great variety in here, so you’re bound to find something you enjoy! https://www.music-for-everyone.org/news/mfe-halloween-playlist/

The Shipstone Street Jazz Orchestra are looking for a trumpet player to join their group. The band rehearse on Tuesdays, 7pm – 9pm in Bilborough and interested applicants should be at Grade 5 standard and good sight readers. Hear and see a bit more of the band here: https://youtu.be/uOnQ3pmar4s?si=y2an0rnYVO6bio9G
If you, or someone you know would like to join this friendly band, please contact Wendy, email address: wendy.bilborough@gmail.com

Have a great week!

Your friends at MfE

28/10/2024

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

10 Goose Gate | Hockley | NG1 1FF

#MfEMonday – 21st October 2024

21st October 202421st October 2024 Music for Everyone

Christmas is Coming!

Is it too early to talk about Christmas? We don’t think so! Santa is already polishing his boots in preparation for our festive family concert at the Albert Hall on 15 December. Join us for a magical afternoon of traditional carols and seasonal songs!

Do you know any young singers who’d love to be part of the fun? Our Vocals youth choir welcomes young singers of primary school age. Find out more here.

For adults, there’s also the chance to sing with the massed Community Voices. Interested? Learn more here.

Tickets are selling fast, so don’t wait—book yours today! Tickets can be purchased online here or by calling the office on 0115 958 9312.

Lullaby Bank

We’re incredibly proud of our Assistant Artistic Director, Rachel Parkes, who devised and launched the innovative Lullaby Bank project—special music sessions for mums and their babies in local libraries. The first group in Beeston was a huge success, and now the project has expanded, in partnership with Inspire, to seven other libraries in Nottinghamshire.

Read about Councillor Kate Foale’s recent visit to a session in West Bridgford here

As we gear up for our next Nottingham Festival Chorus workshop and concert, The Singing Bride, we’ve got Mozart on our minds! Think you know your Mozart? Try our fun Mozart or No-zart quiz and see if you can beat our office score of 18/20.

If you would like to take part in the next NFC course, details are on our website here.

Nottingham Trent University’s Culture Team is on the lookout for an experienced freelance choral conductor to lead both their University Choir and award-winning Chamber Choir. Please forward this information to anyone you know who may be interested https://www.ntu.ac.uk/about-us/news/news-articles/2024/10/ntu-arts-seeks-choral-conductor

Have a great week!

Your friends at MfE

21/10/2024

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

10 Goose Gate | Hockley | NG1 1FF

Workshop: Blow the Dust off your Instrument! (music-for-everyone.org)

#MfEMonday – 14th October 2024

14th October 2024 Music for Everyone

The Nottingham Chamber Singers launched their 40^th Anniversary Season in style on Saturday evening with a stunning performance at St John’s Church, Carrington.

Rachel Parkes skilfully guided the choir through a sublime programme including the Brahms’ Requiem accompanied brilliantly by piano duo, Angela Foan and John Hobbs.

We were also joined by two exceptional soloists, Will Burn and Alison Rose. Thanks to all those who came to listen, we can’t wait for the next performance!

BOOKING NOW OPEN!

Blow the Dust off your Instrument – Workshop day

Saturday 11^th January

Did you learn to play an instrument at school but haven’t got it out of the case for a long while? Have you taken up playing an instrument in adult life just for fun? Do you like playing orchestral music?

If the answer is YES to any of these questions then come to Blow the Dust off your Instrument January 2025. Click the link below for more information:

Nottingham Festival Chorus – Mozart C minor Mass

Rehearsal weekend: Saturday 25th/Sunday 26^th January

Concert: Saturday 1^st February

Come and sing Mozart’s greatest musical present to his wife, the C Minor Mass, a beautiful solemn mass which featured solos just for her, as well as an assortment of music inspired by love from composers Weir, Durufle, Tallis and Ferrario. Click the link below for more information:

NFC Singing Course & Concert January 2025 (music-for-everyone.org)

There have been a lot of reasons to look to the skies recently what with the spectacular sightings of the Northern Lights, Comet of the century and the mind-blowing SpaceX catching a starship booster!

Here are some sky themed classical pieces to enjoy whilst gazing upwards:

Ēriks Ešenvalds – Northern Lights – https://youtu.be/rXKJCdGMUas?si=sofm3bX53z2oYv8F

Ēriks Ešenvalds – Stars – https://youtu.be/ngqbf6mNpuE?si=uK7EU5utKb9RxQte

Ola Gjelo: Northern Lights – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rg-TGaNKqhk

Uuno Klami: Aurora Borealis – https://youtu.be/ZqgsAExhVvM?si=AMcI9F05WA7umrEa

There’s a chance to see the incredible female a capella group Papagena at Southwell Minster this evening – they will be performing underneath the giant ‘Moon’ installation. Those of you who were lucky enough to see them at our Summer School a couple of years ago will know how amazing they are! https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/papagena-moonset-tickets-932429149687?aff=oddtdtcreator
If you can’t make this evening it’s still possible to visit the Minster while the Moon installation is on display from 11-22 October. https://www.southwellminster.org/events/event/moon/

Have a great week!

Your friends at MfE

14/10/2024

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

10 Goose Gate | Hockley | NG1 1FF

#MfEMonday – 7th October 2024

7th October 2024 Music for Everyone

A wonderful weekend of music making with the Nottingham Festival Chorus yesterday and Saturday – well done to all involved for a great workshop day and another stunning concert at Beeston Parish Church, here’s some photos!

There is a special Arts & Culture draw with Movement for Good this week, with the opportunity to receive £5,000. Nominations are open from 7^th – 11^th October. Please consider supporting and nominating MfE! Here’s how…

Click this link: https://culture.movementforgood.com/index.php?cn=1153412&ct=community#nominateACharity
Music for Everyone should be already selected for you as a Community charity.
Fill in your details and complete by clicking the button to nominate us – it’s that easy!

The draw is only open until Friday, so please nominate us today! Thank you for supporting us!

We are very much looking forward to welcoming all the Bandwise and Stringwise youth instrumentalists to the next event in November! We still have spaces for more players to join us, if you know a young person please encourage them to sign up.

Bandwise sign up link: https://www.music-for-everyone.org/event/byme-bandwise-nov24/

Stringwise sign up link: https://www.music-for-everyone.org/event/byme-stringwise-nov24/

Each group will spend time on the workshop day rehearsing their own pieces, but we are also looking forward to the grand finale, which involves all the players together – this year, performing In the Hall of the Mountain King by Edvard Grieg, from BBC Ten Pieces.

Grieg was a composer who put his country, Norway, firmly on the musical map. Many of his pieces were based on Norwegian fairy stories and melodies, and over 100 years since his death he is still his country’s most respected composer. In the Hall of the Mountain King comes from undoubtedly his most famous work – Peer Gynt Suite, which was written in 1875 as background music to a famous play. Listen to it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kLp_Hh6DKWc

The character of Peer Gynt is even older and has been a Norwegian folk tale for many centuries, with a story of mountains, troll Kings and kidnapping!

A long-standing member of MfE is looking to donate her Dolmech (wooden) recorder to a deserving and keen recorder player. It’s in excellent condition and comes with it’s own box, including a brush. If you are interested, please let us know and we will put you in touch with the owner

Have a great week!

Your friends at MfE

07/10/2024

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

10 Goose Gate | Hockley | NG1 1FF

#MfEMonday – 30th September 2024

30th September 2024 Music for Everyone

Preparations are well underway for our In the King’s Company concert at St John’s Parish Church, Beeston this Sunday, and we are really looking forward to hearing the results of the Nottingham Festival Chorus’s hard work. We are delighted that Soprano, Rachel Parkes, can join us to sing the heart-breaking Dido’s Lament from Purcell’s Dido and Aeneas, and that our Artistic Director and Conductor, Alex Robinson, will also be directing some of the concert from the harpsichord.

Tickets are still available and it would be wonderful to see you there. Tickets can be purchased online here, or on the door.

———–

Dido’s Lament is one of the most beautiful and heart-breaking pieces of music ever written. In one of the most well-known and loved baroque arias, Dido sings of lost love and betrayal with a melody that seems to literally sob.

This sense of deep sorrow and profound loss has resonated with audiences and performers across the centuries. Some less conventional performances include those of Jeff Buckley at the Meltdown Festival in 1995, Annie Lennox with the London City Voices during the Covid pandemic, and cellist Yves Dharamraj in protest at the death of George Floyd.

Click here to hear mezzo soprano Sarah Connolly talk about why she finds the piece, sung by the likes of Janet Baker and Emma Kirkby, so extraordinary, and the skill it takes to perform it.

The sad news of the death of Dame Maggie Smith has put us in mind of one of her best-loved films, Quartet. If you haven’t seen it, you must! It revolves around a retirement home for former professional musicians, Beecham House, and its residents who prepare for a benefit concert to keep the place going. The charming comedy-drama explores themes of redefining old age, the human spirit and the joy of singing with friends, something very much at the heart of our work at Music for Everyone!

Have a great week!

Your friends at MfE

30/09/2024

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

10 Goose Gate | Hockley | NG1 1FF