Last week, the Daytime Voices had their end of term concerts in Hucknall, Southwell, West Bridgford, Wollaton and Sherwood. Well done to all for a fantastic term and performance!

The end of term concerts for Southwell and Wollaton groups were the last with their conductor Angela Kay, who will be handing over the reins to a new conductor next February. Wollaton performed a special rendition of ‘Thank you for the Music’ as a surprise for Angela, see the video here:  Wollaton DTV thank you to Angela.mp4

Just a reminder that this coming Saturday our chamber choir, the Nottingham Chamber Singers are giving a special Advent/Christmas concert entitled Sparkling Baroque – a programme packed full of seasonal goodies with complimentary festive refreshments during the interval. The church is easy to find, situated on the right hand side of the Mansfield Road heading out of Nottingham towards Sherwood. There is plenty of on-street parking close by and we have arranged that we have the use of the well lit car park, which is situated just past the church. 

Conducted by Angela Kay with soloist Rachel Parkes – a concert full of musical sparkle!

Further details can be found on the attached flyer or from our website https://www.music-for-everyone.org/event/ncs-sparkling-baroque-concert/


 

Who else is excited for the FINAL of the Great British Bake Off tomorrow night? To get in the mood, we’ve been listening to the original soundtrack of all the familiar tunes you hearing during the show, composed by Tom Howe. With unique names, from ‘Bakewell Counting’ (usually heard in the last-minute-dash to finish their bake!) to ‘Happy Pizza’ (the pizzicato motif that means something funny is about to happen…) these violin, cello and percussion compositions have become instantly recognisable and familiar to Bake Off fans.

Hear all the original tracks here and choose your favourite: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lhcn3LaVFZM


 

  • Remember, if you’re shopping online for the festive season, use EasyFundraising and support MfE! It’s so easy to do and raises money for MfE without it costing you anything extra. Follow these simple steps here to sign up and visit your favourite websites through the link: https://www.easyfundraising.org.uk/causes/musicforeveryone Every time you buy, a donation is made to support Music for Everyone.

Have a great week!

Your friends at MfE.

27/11/2023

admin@music-for-everyone.org

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

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Hello Everyone,

Bandwise and Stringwise were off to a great start this weekend, working on an exciting programme to perform in a Big Youth Experience Concert next weekend at the Albert Hall.


If you’re looking for an uplifting festive concert our chamber choir, the Nottingham Chamber Singers, are performing a joyful selection of Sparkling Baroque music on Saturday 2nd December at St John’s Church, Carrington. Angela Kay is conducting the concert and here she is to tell you a bit more about it!  https://youtu.be/AZo4466aMsQ

To book tickets call the office on 0115 958 9312 or follow this link: https://www.music-for-everyone.org/ncs-sparkling-baroque-booking/

Looking ahead to next year, places are booking up for our next Blow the Dust off your Instrument event (20th Jan) and the ‘Gloria’ Singing Weekend and Concert (27th-28th Jan and 3rd Feb).

There’s time to book if you haven’t already!


Here are a selection of reflective classical works to mark this weekend’s Remembrance Day:

https://www.classicfm.com/discover-music/reflective-classical-music-remembrance-day/


Have a great week!

Your friends at MfE.

13/11/2023

admin@music-for-everyone.org

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Greetings MfE members!

We hope you’ve all kept safe and dry in the recent storms, and that everyone in our regularly rehearsing groups is looking forward to coming back together after the half-term break.

We’ll be excited to hear the fruits of this term’s labours in a couple of weeks at plenty of informal daytime concerts, and hoping that many of you are signing up for our Christmas is Coming! extravaganza.

You can sign-up here or by ringing the office.


This weekend and next, it’s the turn of brilliant young instrumentalists from beginner to advanced, as they will be busy rehearsing for their Big Youth Music Experience, which will be culminating in a grand showcase on Sunday 19th November.

To sign-up for Bandwise click here, and Stringwise click here.


We are pleased to announce the appointment of Phil Houghton, who will be leading MfE’s two Daytime Orchestras in Loughborough and Nottingham from November.

Phil is a freelance conductor, violist and violinist, and received his initial musical training in Leicestershire. After graduating from Trinity College of Music, London, he has had a varied career of playing, teaching and conducting in many styles and genres. He currently conducts LSU Classical in Loughborough, and the Bedworth Symphony Orchestra, and regularly works with other orchestras including The Stratford upon Avon Symphony Orchestra and The Charnwood Orchestra. He was also previously the conductor of the Leicestershire Schools Concert Orchestra.

Phil had his first conducting lessons as a teenager with Robert Mandell, in return for managing the library of his Melachrino Strings Orchestra! He has also had tuition from Peter Stark, who is Professor of Conducting at The Royal College of Music. Phil lives in South Leicestershire with his wife Rebecca and their 3 children.


You’ve likely seen a lot of fireworks around this weekend. If you’d like to add some musical fireworks to this sunny Monday, follow this link for a firework and bonfire themed playlist: Classical music inspired by fire – Classic FM.

It even features the brilliant Chariots of Fire which Bandwise and Stringwise will be performing in their concert on the 19th of November!


  • If you’re free on Saturday 18th November – Charnwood Voices have a fantastic concert lined up for you. With professional soloists performing, it promises to be an inspiring event. See flyer below for more details, and they hope to see you there.

Have a great week!

Your friends at MfE.

06/11/2023

admin@music-for-everyone.org

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Booking is now open for our next choral workshop and concert in Jan/Feb next year! 

On 27 and 28 January, our new Artistic Director, Alex Robinson, will guide you through a glorious programme with a spellbinding few days diving into the music of Poulenc, Rutter and more with a professional symphony orchestra! These phenomenally exciting settings of the Gloria are sure to give you Goosebumps!

For more information see the attached flyer or click here to book your place.


We are offering a free taster session for our Youth Bands on Thursday 9th November. 

Both groups rehearse at Beeston Methodist Church on Thursday evenings.  Our Nottingham Youth Band (5:30 – 7pm) is for players of grade 2 – 5, while the East Midlands Youth Band (6:30 – 8pm) is for players of grade 5+. 

For more information about the groups, click here

Please do join us for the start of our Christmas concert rehearsals – and don’t forget to let your friends know about it!


 

The stormy weather this weekend has inspired us to put together a stormy play list for you.  Enjoy!

Into the Storm by Robert W Smith https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hrPDguuxw7o

The Storm from Four Sea Interludes by Benjamin Britten Britten – “Storm Interlude” from “Peter Grimes” (London Philharmonic Orchestra, Andrew Davis) – YouTube

Cloudburst by Eric Whitacre Cloudburst – Eric Whitacre – YouTube

Storm from The Sea, The Sea by Frank Bridge Frank Bridge, The Sea, The Sea: No. 4 Storm – YouTube


 

  • On Saturday 28 October, the Nottingham Chamber Orchestra will be performing a delightful selection of music from Mozart, Parry, Delibes and Saint-Seans at St Mary’s Church in Clifton Village.

Click here to find out what AI might make of Gustavo Dudamel conducting Beethoven 5.


 

Have a great week!

Your friends at MfE.

23/10/2023

admin@music-for-everyone.org

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10 Goose Gate | Hockley | NG1 1FF

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With the colder weather and the darker nights drawing in this Autumn, why not turn your attention to the “winter warmers” we have in store for you at MfE?  We can all look forward to a festive concert to brighten our spirits.

FESTIVE CONCERTS…

On Sunday 2nd December the Nottingham Chamber Singers and Classical Players will bring you SPARKLING BAROQUE! A concert of joyful and uplifting music for Advent and Christmas, from the ‘Baroque’ period (1600-1750) – with seasonal motets and festive extracts from Bach’s Christmas Oratorio and Handel’s Messiah. Conducted by Angela Kay. 

Tickets: Full £14, Concessions £13, Child/Student £5.

Available online: www.bit.ly/SpBaroque or from the MfE Office.

Season’s Greetings! Join us on Sunday 10th December from 3.30pm at Kingswood Methodist Church, Wollaton for a varied programme, where MfE’s youth groups present their end of term concert, featuring the Nottingham and East Midlands Youth Bands, Nottingham Strictly Strings and the East Midlands Youth String Orchestra. Conducted by Claire Franklin, Tamaki Higashi and Mike Shaw.  

Tickets: Full £9, Concessions £8, Child/Student £5.

Available online: Season’s Greetings Concert (music-for-everyone.org) or from the MfE Office.

For a traditional afternoon Christmas concert for all ages, perhaps Christmas is Coming! is the concert for you, on Sunday 17th December from 3.30pm at the Albert Hall in Nottingham. With well known carols and seasonal songs performed by the Children’s Vocals choir and Nottingham Community Voices, there is something for everyone. Even a special appearance from Father Christmas.

Tickets: Full £15, £12, £10. Concession £14, £11, £9. Child/Student £5.

Available online: Music For Everyone (savoysystems.co.uk) or from the MfE Office.


 

On Saturday our World Drumming group performed to a packed audience at the Middle Street Resource centre as part of the Oxjam festival. Don’t worry if you missed them, they will be performing again at Beeston’s Light Night on 04 November.  More information to follow.


Don’t forget to book for “Blow the Dust off your Instrument” Orchestral Playing Day on Saturday 20th January 2024 at the Albert Hall, Nottingham from 10.00am to 5.30pm. Tickets are selling fast!

Sign-Up online here: Music For Everyone (savoysystems.co.uk) or contact the MfE Office on 01159589312.


  • A Bradford Primary school wants the world to know how they have improved school results by adding…no…not extra maths lessons…but extra music lessons!

Read the full article in the Guardian here: Improve school results with extra music sessions – The Guardian article


Have a great week!

Your friends at MfE.

16/10/2023

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10 Goose Gate | Hockley | NG1 1FF

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Good Morning All! October has arrived, and with it a few milestones of the season… sure, there’s Bake-Off and Strictly on our screens, and a host of Nottingham Forest and Notts County games to keep an eye on, but here at Music for Everyone, it’s time for our big choral ‘come and sing’ workshop day at NTU Clifton Campus, this Saturday 7th October!

Last year we had a lovely day with Brian Kay, long-time friend of MfE and, I don’t think he would mind us saying, veteran of the choral music scene. This year we have the wonderful Sam Evans coming to work with us for a day. Sam is much in demand on the UK and International Choral Scene, conducting and singing with many of the top choirs in the country and Europe, including the BBC Singers, Monteverdi Choir and Swedish Radio Choir to name a few.

As well as being a talented chorus-master and Baritone, singing on many of the most prestigious stages around the globe, Sam is a passionate advocate for healthy and happy singing, and getting the most enjoyment out of what we do when we come together to sing and make music. This lies at the heart of what we at MfE believe, so we know that as well as working on some glorious traditional repertoire (choruses from Mendelssohn’s Elijah and CPE Bach’s Magnificat), we will all have a thoroughly lovely day meeting and learning from Sam. Sam and the singers will be accompanied on the day by our fabulous pianist Angela Foan.

If you haven’t signed up – hurry and do so, it’s going to be fab!

Sign up here (it’s not too late!): https://www.music-for-everyone.org/event/autumn-singing-workshop-day/


Bake Off fever has hit the office again this week, with the hot topic of debate being the ‘missing raspberry’ from the title sequence of the show – where do you stand?

Here are some pieces of music inspired to get you baking!

Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_W1F4YVmV8Y

‘Cakes and Ale’ from the Suite on English Folk Tunes (Britten): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZEAbV2-RJMY

Sweeney Todd (Worst Pies in London): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eVI6pGfHB2c


  • Do you have a small person in your life who is obsessed with the hit TV programme Bluey?  We would like to think that the secret to its success is the liberal use of classical music!  Click here to hear what pieces of classical music have been used in the show.

Bluey soundtrack: what pieces of classical music are used in the TV show? – Classic FM


Have a great week!

Your friends at MfE.

02/10/2023

admin@music-for-everyone.org

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10 Goose Gate | Hockley | NG1 1FF

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#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.

The gothic splendour of the Cathedral Church of St Barnabas was the setting for the Nottingham Chamber Singers’ performance of Durufle’s Requiem last Saturday.  Under the expert baton of Rachel Parkes, the Nottingham Chamber Singers, accompanied by the Nottingham Classical Players and organist Peter Seipmann, performed a sumptuous programme of French Romantic music by Franck, Durufle, Elgar, Boulanger and Faure.  Joined by renowned mezzo-soprano, Emily Hodkinson, the concert closed with a luscious and deeply moving account of Durufle’s masterful Requiem.

Join us for the next Nottingham Chamber Singers’ concert  ‘Sparkling Baroque’ on Saturday 02 December at St John’s Church, Carrington.  For more information, click here.


 

On Monday 18 September, we held a special event to thank our Supporters and Donors for their contribution to the success of Music for Everyone.  After a chance to mingle over a glass of wine, the audience was treated to performances from Artistic Director, Alex Robinson on viola and harpsichord – not at the same time! – and a beautiful selection of songs from Rachel Parkes, soprano, accompanied by Alex on harpsichord.  Chairman John Hess then put Alex under the spotlight with a question and answer session, where Alex revealed that when he isn’t playing badminton and listening to Nordic Jazz, he secretly enjoys a bit of Euro-pop!


 

  • Anyone else watch open mouthed as the Fijian rugby team made history in a win against Australia last week?  Is singing the key to their success?   It would seem that they are a harmonious team on and off the pitch and often use singing as part of their preparations.

Click here to hear how the team unwinds before a big game!


 

Have a great week!

Your friends at MfE.

25/09/2023

admin@music-for-everyone.org

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It’s going to be a busy week for MfE, with not one, not two, but EIGHT Daytime groups starting their new term. Plus there is the beautiful Chamber Singers concert to look forward to on Saturday evening at St Barnabas Cathedral, 8pm start – tickets on the door!

For more information see the attached flyer, or click here: https://www.music-for-everyone.org/event/ncs-concert/

The youth groups, all Open Voices groups, Sunday Afternoon Big Band and Flute Choir and Nottingham Chamber Singers have all started their new seasons, with the World Drumming starting next week (26th Sept). See a full weekly schedule below.

To find out more about any of these groups and how to join, please contact the office.

The next BANDWISE & STRINGWISE workshop is open for young musicians to join! We’re so excited to see many young wind, brass, percussion and string players taking part this November. Over the last few years the combined concert has been a magnificent affair with more than 150 young players all coming together to share the music making.

Bandwise: 11 & 19 November, young wind, brass and percussion grade 2+

https://www.music-for-everyone.org/event/byme-bandwise-2023/

Stringwise: 12 & 19 November, young string players from beginners


 

We’ve been ‘musing’ on the fantastic music chosen for the NFC workshop day in October with Sam Evans. Interesting fact about the operetta by Franz Lehár The Merry Widow – did you know Lehár was not the first choice to compose the music? Richard Heuberger was asked first, but his draft was deemed ‘unsatisfactory’ and he left the project.

The Vilja Song is one of the most well-known pieces from the score, if you’re not familiar, take a listen here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4366WDO3jhU


 


 

Have a great week!

Your friends at MfE.

18/09/2023

admin@music-for-everyone.org

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10 Goose Gate | Hockley | NG1 1FF

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Nottingham Festival Chorus

We are now taking bookings for our Festival Chorus day on Saturday 7th October.

We are very lucky to be joined by the seasoned and acclaimed Chorus Master Sam Evans! Much in demand for workshops for singers of all kinds, Sam has run events for large choirs such as Highgate Choral Society, The London Chorus and Henley Choral Society. He has run numerous “Come and Sing” workshops, on repertoire ranging from opera choruses to pop music from movie soundtracks.

Get ready to sing a selection of well-loved choruses from Mendelssohn’s epic Oratorio Elijah, Carl Philipp Emmanuel Bach’s sparkling Magnificat and the beautiful Vilja chorus from Lehár’s opera The Merry Widow.

Booking can be made online here: Music For Everyone (savoysystems.co.uk) or by calling the office.

Autumn Term Begins

It might not have felt like Autumn with all this glorious sunshine, but some of our groups started their Autumn term this weekend.

SAM Big Band and Flutes had a sweltering start to the term, with the Flute Choir even resorting to playing outside!

To check when your group is starting, and to sign-up for any of our Adult groups, click here

Bandwise and Stringwise

For any young musicians wanting to get involved in Music for Everyone, we have the exciting Bandwise and Stringwise coming up in November.

Bandwise:

Date

Venue

Who’s it for?

11 & 19 November 2023

Course venue – South Notts Academy, Radcliffe on Trent

Concert – Albert Hall, Nottingham

Young wind, brass and percussion players grade 2 – 8

 

Book online here: https://www.music-for-everyone.org/event/byme-bandwise-2023/

Stringwise:

Date

Venue

Who’s it for?

12 & 19 November 2023

Course venue – South Notts Academy, Radcliffe on Trent

Concert – Albert Hall, Nottingham

Young violin, viola, cello and double bass players beginners – grade 8

Book online here: https://www.music-for-everyone.org/event/byme-stringwise-2023/


 

Did you know Mendelssohn’s oratorio Elijah was given its premiere in Birmingham in 1846 to an ecstatic audience of 2,000 people. It had taken him some ten years to prepare, including penning most of the libretto himself. It was very much the ‘Messiah’ of its day: hugely popular, cementing Mendelssohn’s position as one of the greatest composers of sacred music.

It will be fantastic to work through this in our Nottingham Festival Chorus day with Sam Evans next month.


 


 

Have a great week!

Your friends at MfE.

11/09/2023

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10 Goose Gate | Hockley | NG1 1FF

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MfE are hiring!

We are seeking an inspiring and charismatic conductor to lead our Daytime Orchestra programme on a freelance basis. The successful candidate will be an experienced symphony orchestra conductor, with a strong background as an adult educator, animateur and/or teacher.

Deadline for applications: 12 noon on 5th September

Find out more and please do pass this information on to anyone you think might be interested here: https://www.music-for-everyone.org/about-us/vacancies/

Recorder consort workshop day

Saturday 2nd September, Belton House, Grantham

Taking place in the historical setting of Belton House, enjoy a day of recorder playing followed by informal performances to members of the public visiting the house. The workshop day will be led by Chris McDouall.

Find out more and book here: https://www.music-for-everyone.org/event/recorder-consort-day/


August is turning a bit cold for our liking so here’s a summer holiday playlist to transport you to sunny beaches and proper summer weather: https://www.classical-music.com/features/articles/best-classical-music-summer/



Have a great week!

Your friends at MfE.

14/08/2023

admin@music-for-everyone.org

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

10 Goose Gate | Hockley | NG1 1FF

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#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.