Blow the Dust

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

10 Goose Gate | Hockley | NG1 1FF

https://www.theguardian.com/music/2024/apr/22/sir-andrew-davis-obituary#:~:text=One%20of%20the%20most%20beloved,Orchestra%20(1989%2D2000)

#MfEMonday – 22nd April 2024

29th April 2024 Music for Everyone

What an outstanding performance at the Big Youth Music Experience yesterday! Over 150 young musicians came together following their rehearsals last weekend and performed for their friends and family at Nottingham’s Albert Hall. The grand finale raised the roof with ‘This is Me’ from the Greatest Showman. Well done to all those who took part!

Another fabulous performance took place last Monday night following a project with Inspire schools from the Spencer Academy Trust with a choir of 255 pupils singing their socks off under the brilliant direction of Sophie Pascall.

It won’t be long until it’s time for us to Blow the Dust off our Instruments!

Music for Everyone invites you to a friendly, relaxed playing day at Nottingham’s Albert Hall on Saturday 15^th June.

With some fantastic pieces lined up including Copland’s Hoedown for the Orchestra, Bernstein’s Magnificent 7 for the Band and String Quartet in G minor by Florence Price for the Strings. It’s not one to be missed.

To sign-up, click here.

Tributes have been pouring in this week following the loss of one of Britain’s greatest conductors Sir Andrew Davis.

Well-known for his kind nature and the ever-present twinkle in his eye, Davis will be widely remembered as the supreme master of ceremonies at the Last Night of the Proms. Throughout his long career Davis held many roles, including for more than a decade those of chief conductor of the BBC Symphony Orchestra (BBCSO) and musical director of Glyndebourne Festival Opera. In fact he conducted over 130 Prom concerts between 1968 and 2022 (click here to see the full list!)

Follow the link below to read the full obituary:

Have you heard the exciting news that Nottingham is going to be host to it’s first ever Prom concert this September?

https://trch.co.uk/whats-on/bbc-proms-nottingham/

On Monday 6 May (bank holiday), Nottingham Concert Band will be playing two 45 minute sets between 1:00 and 3:30 pm as part of the Ruddington Merry Monday celebration on The Green. We will relocate to St Peter’s Church if the weather is bad. Ruddington Community Choir and Mortimers Morris dancers will also be making appearances through the afternoon. So bring your picnic and enjoy some free entertainment!

Saturday 16 May gives you two choices for wind band concerts!

Nottingham Concert Band is at St Swithun’s Church, Woodborough to present a concert called “Here Comes Our Band!”. Tickets are £12.50 (£5.00 for under-18s), to include interval refreshments of wine or fruit juice, and can be obtained from Jean Bush (0115 9652195) or Terry Robinson (0115 9652396). Doors open at 7:00 pm, concert starts at 7:30 pm.
Nottingham Symphonic Wind Orchestra will be at St. Martin’s Church in Sherwood, to enjoy the great outdoors and nature at its best through music. Tickets are priced at £5, £10 or £15. Pay what you wish. Follow the link to purchase your tickets: https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/nottingham-symphonic-winds/the-great-outdoors/2024-05-18/19:30/t-krlmxrl.Tickets will also be available through the church. Doors open at 7:00 pm, concert starts at 7:30 pm.

Have a great week!

Your friends at MfE

29/04/2024

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

10 Goose Gate | Hockley | NG1 1FF

#MfEMonday – 22nd January 2024

22nd January 2024 Music for Everyone

Congratulations to everyone who attended our Blow the Dust off your Instrument workshop yesterday. It was wonderful to see such a large ensemble and you certainly didn’t have any dust left on your instruments by the end of the day!! There was a lovely supportive atmosphere during the final performance and we were treated to music by Sibelius, Tchaikovsky, Pharrell Williams and many more. A particular highlight was hearing the famous ‘Gabriel’s Oboe’ performed by 9 oboists! Here are some photos if you missed it and a link to the wind band with an arrangement of ‘Happy’ by Pharell Williams: https://youtu.be/wQLsHELAYWo

Date for your diary – our next Blow the Dust course is Saturday 15^th June.

You’ve heard of Gloria Vanderbilt, US heiress, and Gloria Estefan, singer. But where does the name come from? ‘GLORIA’ – meaning “glory” originates from the Portuguese and Spanish titles of the Virgin Mary and became one of the top 20 most popular female names in the early 20th century.

To celebrate this wonderful name, the Nottingham Festival Chorus are inviting all the Glorias in Nottinghamshire to their next concert for FREE! as they perform choral Glorias by Poulenc, Rutter and more, all accompanied by a full symphony orchestra! Join for this special occasion as this fantastic concert, featuring over 200 performers and French soprano soloist Clara Orif, takes you on a journey from the delicate sounds of Debussy to the fanfares by Dame Judith Weir.

So spread the word – anyone called Gloria can contact the box office to book a ticket, completely FREE! Call 0115 958 9312.

Gloria! Concert

Do you know of a company or business who might like to advertise in a Music for Everyone concert programme or perhaps sponsor one of our groups? If you do we would love to hear from you! For further information please contact Su Evans: su@music-for-everyone.org

Have a great week!

Your friends at MfE.

22/01/2024

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

10 Goose Gate | Hockley | NG1 1FF

#MfEMonday – 15th January 2024

15th January 2024 Music for Everyone

Greetings MfE followers!

This week sees Music for Everyone back into full swing with all of our regular rehearsing groups starting up again with brand new repertoire to sink your teeth into. If you haven’t been along to Daytime Voices in a while or have been meaning to get a long-neglected instrument out of the cupboard, January is the perfect time to dust it off and get playing and singing!

Our groups are warm, friendly and fun, so what are you waiting for?! Bring a friend and come along.

For more information on our current groups click here: Adult Music Groups & Courses | Music for Everyone (music-for-everyone.org

We also have a host of exciting concerts and events coming up including Blow the Dust and the Nottingham Festival Chorus Glorias! course and concert. Both events are a chance to work with Alex Robinson, MfE’s new Artistic Director, who brings a fresh approach and new enthusiasm and skill to Music for Everyone’s Artistic team, it’s going to be great working with him.

There are still spaces to join up, and we urge you to get involved if you’ve been apprehensive or putting it off. Last week, Rachel worked with the singers for the Gloria’s concert in sectionals, and we had the beginnings of some extremely exciting sounds. Participants are loving the programme and pieces, so if you’ve never sung these pieces before, it’s an opportunity not to be missed. It may seem challenging, but we know it’s going to be barnstorming.

Click here to sign-up for the gloria course and concert: NFC Singing Weekend Course & Concert (music-for-everyone.org)

However, if we can’t persuade you to sing, we hope we can encourage you to sell tickets. If every member of MfE sold 2 tickets for our concerts, it would ensure an incredible audience for our performers who work so hard, and help towards safeguarding the future of MfE and the arts. We know times are tough, a ticket may be the price of 4 coffees, 2 glasses of wine, or a pizza…. but the benefits of immersing yourself in live music for two and a half hours can far outlast those short-term treats. Maybe take a friend who hasn’t heard much classical music, or a teenager who you think could do with a bit more culture. The music we will be performing is youthful and colourful, with shining brass, noisy percussion and sumptuous strings. It’s going to be incredible.

Book now and don’t miss out! – Tickets available here: Gloria! Concert (music-for-everyone.org)

Last week members of our Open Voices Sherwood group went to the Panto to see Cinderella! The choir members and their carers had front row seats and absolutely loved the performance. One member was even given a red rose by one of the ugly sisters! Here are some photos that capture the fantastic day they had at the Nottingham Playhouse.

Want to test your knowledge of French composers? Rachel and Alex are here to provide obscure facts and questions about Poulenc, Debussy and Rameau which all featured in our upcoming concert ‘Gloria!’ on Saturday 3rd February, Albert Hall, Nottingham – not to be missed! Watch the video here:

· As Daytime Voices are starting this week, we have been thinking what films they would be! Which films do you like the look of?

Have a great week!

Your friends at MfE.

15/01/2024

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

10 Goose Gate | Hockley | NG1 1FF

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

#MfEMonday – 13th November 2023

13th November 2023 Music for Everyone

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 2^nd 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 (20^th 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:

Did you know that 60 years after their first hit, The Beatles topped the singles chart this weekend, with all four Beatles featured on the song Now and Then. To find out more click here: The Beatles top singles chart 60 years after their first hit – BBC News

Have a great week!

Your friends at MfE.

13/11/2023

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

10 Goose Gate | Hockley | NG1 1FF

#MfEMonday – 16th October 2023

16th October 2023 Music for Everyone

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 2^nd 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 10^th 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 17^th 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 20^th 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

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

10 Goose Gate | Hockley | NG1 1FF

#MfEMonday – 14th August 2023

14th August 2023 Music for Everyone

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 5^th 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 2^nd 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/

As it is nearing results time for many A Level and GCSE students – Good Luck to all MfE youth members waiting for results! – do you think you could pass GCSE music? Take a quiz here to find out: https://www.classicfm.com/lifestyle/quizzes/gcse-music-questions-pass-exam/

Have a great week!

Your friends at MfE.

14/08/2023

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.

#MfEMonday – 19th June 2023

19th June 2023 Music for Everyone

What a lovely day of music making we had on Saturday at the June ‘Blow the Dust off your Instrument’ day! 120 players took cover from the heat in Nottingham’s Albert Hall for a fabulous day of Elgar, Leroy Anderson and Queen!

12 DAYS TO GO!

The countdown has begun to the big BIRTHDAY WEEKEND! We’re so excited to welcome so many singers and players (over 400 performers!) to the 2 days to help us celebrate.

As well as the 2 concerts (Spotlight on Youth on Saturday 1^st July and A Musical Celebration on Sunday 2^nd July) here is what else will be on offer…

Video messages from Sheku Kanneh-Mason, Brian Kay, John Rutter and more!
MfE’s new world drumming ensemble will be playing in the Osborne Suite before the concert on 1^st July and Sunday Afternoon Big Band and Flute Choir will be playing in the Osborne Suite before the concert on 2^nd July.
There will be an exhibition taking you back through the decades, including photos, letters and the famous MfE pencil!

We’d love to see as many as possible in the audience, so do encourage family and friends to come along to watch and support on both days, details below.

Saturday 1^st July, 3.30pm ‘Spotlight on Youth’

Ticket prices: £10 for adults, £5 for children/students

Link to book tickets: https://www.music-for-everyone.org/event/a-musical-celebration-spotlight-on-youth/

We are beyond excited to be welcoming one of Britain’s finest folk-fiddle players of the moment, and MfE youth alumnus Sam Sweeney to headline this concert.

Sam will be performing one of his own numbers from his recent album ‘Escape this’ as well as joining the combined strings and voices of MfE’s youth ensembles for a special arrangement and world premiere of a local Nottinghamshire folk-song about… watercress!!!

The event will also feature music from our talented bands, strings and singers and there will be something for everyone to inspire the next generation of Nottingham born and bred music-makers.

Sunday 2^nd July, 3.30pm ‘A Musical Celebration’

Ticket prices: £15 for adults, £7.50 for children/students, includes souvenir programme and birthday cake!

Link to book tickets: https://www.music-for-everyone.org/event/a-musical-celebration-concert/

Bringing together over 300 performers from Daytime Voices, Orchestras, the Nottingham Festival Chorus, Chamber Singers and Concert Orchestra and opening with a brand new fanfare commission by Libby Croad ‘Hail, Bright Cecilia!’ the concert also includes ‘O Fortuna’ from Orff’s Carmina Burana, ‘Hallelujah Chorus’ from Handel’s Messiah and more!

Other things that are turning 40 this year!

Microsoft Word (the very first version 1.0) was launched in 1983!
Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi was released
‘Red Red Wine’ by UB40: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zXt56MB-3vc

The Sunday Afternoon Big Band, Flute Choir and members of the youth bands enjoyed a jazz workshop with celebrated jazz musician Tony Kofi yesterday – learning new techniques and getting to grips with improv! Well done all who took part!

Have a great week!

Your friends at MfE.

19/06/2023

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

10 Goose Gate | Hockley | NG1 1FF

#MfEMonday – 12th June 2023

12th June 2023 Music for Everyone

Yesterday, singers young and ‘less young’ gathered at The Grange, Radcliffe for our Family Sing day.

On a hot, sunny day, the singers were able to cool off with songs from Kool and the Gang (see what we did there?!) and dip their toes in the water with Under the Sea from the Little Mermaid.

They were transported to the Caribbean with a special performance from our new Steel Pan group supported by Music Leader Nicola Coker and her band Pure Steel, and were even able to have a go themselves!

It’s not too late to book for Blow the Dust this coming Sunday. We are particularly keen to hear from violas, bassoons and brass. Music can be emailed to you in advance, so don’t miss out on your opportunity to take part in this fun and relaxed playing day. To book, click here.

Here’s our latest brochure with details of everything happening from April – August. Click on the picture below to read through the brochure.

Please also share this link far and wide!

You know by now how much we love a playlist in the MfE office, so now that the Summer has finally arrived, here are 15 pieces of summery classical music to enjoy in the garden with a G&T.

Fun Fact: The oldest instrument is 50,000 years old. The earliest indications of humans wearing underwear date from 20,000 years ago. So, for approximately 40,000 we had music but no pants!

Read the full story here.

Have a great week!

Your friends at MfE.

12/06/2023

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

10 Goose Gate | Hockley | NG1 1FF

#MfEMonday – 5th June 2023

5th June 2023 Music for Everyone

We hope you have been enjoying the sunshine recently! It is a busy time for us all at MfE, as we gear up for an exciting summer of concerts, courses and workshops.

Don’t forget to book for the FAMILY SING, which is happening this Sunday 11 June from 2.00pm to 5.00pm at The Grange in Radcliffe on Trent. The whole family is invited to take part. It promises to be an uplifting experience, open to all keen singers aged 5+ (children must be accompanied by an adult). You will be singing favourites like ‘Celebration’ by Kool and the Gang and ‘Under the Sea’ from the Little Mermaid.

Special guests Pure Steel and our new Steel Pan ensemble will also be performing on the day. There will be an opportunity to ‘have a go’ at playing steel pan.

Full details and booking link here: https://www.music-for-everyone.org/event/family-sing-workshop/

NEW PROJECT CO-ORDINATOR – We are pleased to announce the appointment of Minder Kaur Athwal as our new Project Co-ordinator, supporting the 40^th Anniversary season. Minder is helping the team to deliver the 1^st and 2^nd July celebration events, as well as collating the exhibition for the Albert Hall. We would like to thank Arts Council England for enabling this appointment and we welcome Minder on board.

BLOW THE DUST OFF YOUR INSTRUMENT is on Saturday 17 June – places are still available and we particularly welcome applications from bassoon, viola and brass players. 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.

TONY KOFI will be leading a special workshop with the Sunday Afternoon Music group, for those who wish to attend. Tony is a jazz multi-instrumentalist born of Ghanaian parents, player of Alto, Baritone, Soprano, Tenor saxophones and flute. This closed workshop has been made possible through Arts Council England’s National Lottery Project Grants.

SUMMER SCHOOL – Monday 7^th to Wednesday 9^th August at Trent College, Long Eaton. Three days of shared music making with workshops for intermediate and advanced musicians aged 16+.

A MUSICAL CELEBRATION – 40^th Anniversary Weekend 1 – 2 July 2023. Come and be part of Music for Everyone’s 40^th birthday celebrations. Youth groups and invited alumni will perform on 1^st July at 3.30pm. The combined Daytime Voices, Daytime Orchestras, Festival Chorus and Concert Orchestra will perform on Sunday 2^nd July at 3.30pm at the Albert Hall

Book tickets for the concert now!

1^st July: Spotlight on Youth https://www.music-for-everyone.org/event/a-musical-celebration-spotlight-on-youth/

2^nd July: Musical Celebration https://www.music-for-everyone.org/event/a-musical-celebration-concert/

Have a go at this fun quiz! https://www.classicfm.com/lifestyle/quizzes/answer-only-music-notes/

Have a great week!

Your friends at MfE.

05/06/2023

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

10 Goose Gate | Hockley | NG1 1FF