Choral Workshop

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

10 Goose Gate | Hockley | NG1 1FF

#MfEMonday – 8th September 2025

8th September 2025 Music for Everyone

Well done to all the recorder players who came along to our playing day on Saturday. Over 40 people received expert tuition from László Rózsa and Nigel Martin. So much was achieved in the day!

Booking open for BANDWISE & STRINGWISE!

These workshop days for young wind, brass, percussion and string players are a great way to build confidence and play alongside other young musicians from across the region. All players come together for the Big Youth Music Experience concert on Sunday 16 November at Nottingham’s Albert Hall. Booking details below – please share with any young musicians you know!

Bandwise: Saturday 8 November, concert Sunday 16 November

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

Stringwise: Sunday 9 November, concert Sunday 16 November

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

We are also taking bookings for our Christmas Vocals course for children ages 5-14, you can find out more information here

Our Youth Groups start back w/c 15^th September – new members welcome, just get in touch with anna@music-for-everyone.org to arrange a free taster session.

And now some very sad news,

Andrew James MBE, chair of MfE 2006–2017, died on Saturday 30th August. He passed away peacefully at home. His wife Valerie and their children were with him.

Andrew was a remarkable man, an architect by profession, an active Quaker and social entrepreneur, selfless in his charitable work. He will be greatly missed by so many people but most of all by his family and close friends.

MfE owes Andrew a great deal and will always regard him with gratitude. He was a member of the Nottingham Festival Chorus and a supporter of all MfE events. Beyond that, however, as chair, he took crucial steps to secure the long-term success of MfE as a dynamic music education charity. He oversaw the updating of the Nottingham Choral Trust’s image through its re-branding as Music for Everyone. He negotiated and introduced a robust new constitution and legal status (Charitable Incorporated Organisation). It was Andrew who came up with the idea of Bookwise, a chain of second hand bookshops, run by volunteers, to provide a sustainable independent income stream for MfE. Bookwise continues to provide just the financial underpinning for MfE that Andrew first dreamed about.

An MfE Event coming soon – Voices of Venice concert (5pm-6.30pm) St Nic’s Church, Maid Marian Way, NG1 6AE

Enjoy an evening of glorious music by Monteverdi and Vivaldi with the Nottingham Chamber Singers and Nottingham Festival Chorus.

Click here to book tickets or call the office on 0115 9589312

Have a great week!

Your friends at MfE

08/09/2025

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

10 Goose Gate | Hockley | NG1 1FF

The BBC Proms 2025 – Everything you need to know about the world’s greatest classical music festival

#MfEMonday – 21st July 2025

21st July 2025 Music for Everyone

Congratulations to our amazing Kirstie on the arrival of Toby who was born on Monday! We are sending them all our best wishes and can’t wait to meet the newest member of the MfE family.

Coming up on Friday 25th July, Open Voices Sherwood are performing a musical version of My Fair Lady at St Martin’s Church, Trevose Gardens, Sherwood NG5 3FU. Tea and cakes will be served at 11:00am and the performance begins at 11:20am. Free entry with a retiring collection to the Open Voices Fund.

Booking is now open for Voices of Venice, the next Nottingham Festival Chorus singing event on Saturday 4^th October at St Nic’s Church in Nottingham city centre. Focusing on the music of two of Venice’s greatest exports – Monteverdi and Vivaldi.

Follow the link for more details and online booking or call 0115 958 9312.

The BBC Proms got underway last week, running from Friday 18 July to Saturday 13 September 2025, the season features 86 Proms, with 72 at the Royal Albert Hall and 14 at venues across the UK!

The Proms was founded in 1895 by impresario Robert Newman, who decided to plug a hole in the culturally fallow summer months by experimenting with a revolutionary kind of concert format, in which the seats in the stalls – traditionally the priciest – would be removed and a promenade created in their place. Standing tickets to watch music from the promenade, Newman declared, would be the cheapest, meaning those who paid the least would be closest to the orchestra.

In the Gallery area up high you can sit on the floor, or lie down, as plenty of people do. You’re welcome to lie down in the Arena too, but there usually isn’t enough space!

Follow the link to find out more about the Prom season this summer:

An upcoming concert that you may be interested in, including some familiar MfE faces, Anne Jackson and Gill Henshaw.

Friday Lunchtime Concert: Nottingham Chamber Wind Ensemble at Southwell Minster, July 25, 2025 1:30pm – 2:15pm: https://www.southwellminster.org/events/event/friday-lunchtime-concert-nottingham-chamber-wind-ensemble-3/

Have a great week!

Your friends at MfE

21/07/2025

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

10 Goose Gate | Hockley | NG1 1FF

Best Classical Music For Winter: Top 10 Pieces

#MfEMonday – 30th June 2025

30th June 2025 Music for Everyone

Daytime Voices Sherwood bid an emotional farewell to their conductor Greg Treloar at their end of term concert on Thursday. Greg is leaving Nottingham to take up a new teaching position at St Thomas’ in Battersea. We are really grateful for everything he has done to keep the Sherwood Daytime Voices thriving, and we wish him all the best for the future. We are delighted to announce that Owen Jones who currently leads the Wollaton group, will be taking over at the helm.

Our choral workshop at St Martin’s Sherwood on Saturday drew singers from across the region for a day of inspiring music-making. Led by renowned choral conductor Neil Ferris, our singers explored well-loved choral classics and delved into newly written partner works by contemporary composers. Neil’s warm, cheerful approach, expert technical guidance and deep musical insight left everyone energised and musically enriched, despite the heat! The workshop concluded with an informal performance, showcasing the remarkable progress made in just a few hours together.

Upcoming Events:

A Summer Celebration – Saturday 05 July, St Luke’s Church, West Bridgford, 3:30pm

Music for Everyone’s Strictly Strings, Youth String Orchestra & Youth Bands present a concert to celebrate summer!

Tickets are available online here, by calling the office on 0115 958 9312 or on the door.

Recorder Day – Saturday 06 September, NTU Clifton

We are thrilled to be joined by 2 recorder maestros, Laszlo Rozsa and Nigel Martin, for this workshop day! Book your place here or by calling the office on 015 958 9312

With temperatures continuing to rise, here is a lovely wintery playlist to help you keep cool!

Monday Night Live! Monday 30 June, 7-9pm, Sherwood Methodist Church.

A fun-packed evening of entertainment for all tastes. Music, even dance from performers who all meet to practise at Sherwood Methodist Church. Up to 10 acts including The Belters, Sherwood Chorus and The Rise Choirs.

Free entry with refreshments and cake (including Greg’s famous chocolate squares – if you know, you know!) available during the interval. All funds raised in aid of the church.

Have a great week!

Your friends at MfE

30/06/2025

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

10 Goose Gate | Hockley | NG1 1FF

15 best pieces of classical music for summertime – Classic FM

#MfEMonday – 23rd June 2025

23rd June 2025 Music for Everyone

Happy Birthday to Nottingham Chamber Singers!

Temperatures soared and so did the melodies on Saturday night as the choir celebrated their 40^th anniversary with a special concert at Beeston Parish Church. Angela Kay and Rachel Parkes guided us masterfully through a sumptuous programme of works chosen for their personal connection to the choir.This included a world premiere of The Nightingale composed specially for the choir and strings by Nottinghamshire born composer Libby Croad and we were delighted that she was able to join us for the performance. Flute soloist, Annette Negus captivated the audience with Syrinx by Debussy for solo flute and joined the choir and strings for the dreamy Pastoral ‘Lie Strewn the White Flocks’ by Arthur Bliss. The celebrations concluded with a special rendition of Happy Birthday followed by very welcome refreshments of cake and fizz!

Here are some photo highlights…

Last few spaces available for the singing workshop with Neil Ferris next Saturday 28th June!

Click here to book online or call the office on 0115 958 9312

After the recent heatwave, keep cool and ring in the sun-drenched months ahead with these chilled classical melodies, courtesy of Vivaldi, Albéniz, Gershwin and more.

Two upcoming concerts you may be interested in:

Monday Night Live – 30th June, Sherwood Methodist Church, 7pm. A concert celebrating musical and artistic diversity as part of Sherwood Arts Week. Free admission.

Nottingham Chamber Wind Ensemble Concert: next Saturday 28th June, 7:30pm at St Mary’s Church, Bleasby (see attached flyer)

SoundLincs are seeking a Marketing Consultant to join the Future of the Past team.

Have a great week!

Your friends at MfE

23/06/2025

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

10 Goose Gate | Hockley | NG1 1FF

#MfEMonday – 9th June 2025

9th June 2025 Music for Everyone

Much fun was had at our Family Festival day in Beeston on Saturday – and we even managed some sunshine between the showers! Thanks to everyone who came along to take part.

The cake and tombola stalls did a roaring trade and we were entertained by a host of musical groups including Open Voices, Nottingham Chamber Singers, SAM Big Band and Wollaton Daytime Voices. Huge thanks to all the groups for performing, Milla’s African drumming workshops and Rachel and Owen for the singing workshops.

We also want to say a massive thank you to our wonderful Kirstie for all her hard work co-ordinating the whole event and wish her all the best for her maternity leave!

Calling all recorder players! Our Recorder Workshop Day on Saturday 6^th September is now open for booking.

The workshop will be led by principal recorder player of the renowned Dunedin Consort, László Rózsa, who will also be giving a short performance and take a Q & A session. László will tutor the advance repertoire sessions in the afternoon, and we are thrilled that Nigel Martin will join us in the afternoon to conduct the main ensemble. The music chosen reflects a broad sweep of styles from the heyday of the Renaissance to the present day.

For more details click here or call 0115 958 9312.

There is also still time to book for the following upcoming events:

Blow the Dust – 14th June

NCS 40th Birthday Celebration Concert – 21st June

Singing Workshop with Neil Ferris – 28th June

A Summer Celebration, Youth Concert – 5th July

Summer School – 4th – 6th August

We are very excited that MfE has got a mention in a new book by cellist Sheku Kanneh-Mason! The Power of Music: How Music Connects Us All. Sheku talks about how MfE singing weekends provided him and his siblings with an introduction to harmony and music-making with others:

“We began exploring music through the Music for Everyone charity in Nottingham which ran courses for children’s choir singing. Our mum was very keen that we should sing in choirs, and vocal courses spanned two or three intensive weekends of group tuition with other Nottingham children, culminating in a big concert at Nottingham’s Albert Hall. This allowed us to learn harmony and music-making with others before we began learning instruments, at least string instruments.

We were all very young – I must have been three or four years old – and we were all excited to be taking part in this adventure. We were given a cassette tape to play in our battered seven-seater”…

Definitely one to add to the reading list!

Do you know anyone looking for a full size or ¾ size violin? If so please ask them to get in touch with Su via email su@music-for-everyone.org or call 0115 958 9312.
Bookwise Nottingham has new summer opening hours for June July and August:
Monday to Thursday – 11am – 4pm
Friday and Saturday – 11am – 4.30pm
Come and take a look at the amazing range of books and sheet music!

They would particularly welcome donations of good quality paperback fiction, science fiction and advanced instrumental sheet music.

Have a great week!

Your friends at MfE

09/06/2025

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

10 Goose Gate | Hockley | NG1 1FF

#MfEMonday – 19th May 2025

19th May 2025 Music for Everyone

We hope you have been enjoying the sunshine this week – even if your gardens are not!

Here is a round-up of all our summer musical offerings:

07 June, Family Festival

Musical fun for the whole family. Something for everyone from World Drumming workshops to singing sessions for the whole family, and music to enjoy in the garden. There will also be a cake stall, a second-hand bookshop, drinks, and games/activities in and around the venue. Book your workshop place here.

14 June , Blow the Dust

Instrumental playing day. Places are still available, click here.

21 June, Nottingham Chamber Singers 40th Birthday Celebration Concert

Don’t miss this wonderful celebration! Tickets are available here.

28 June, Choral Workshop with Neil Ferris

Workshop with BBC Singers choral director, Neil Ferris. Places still available. Click here to book.

4 – 6 August, Summer School

A wonderful 3 days of music making with expert conductors and tutors, and performances from exceptional guest artists.

Places still available. Click here to book.

This year’s BBC Proms season has just been announced and features 86 concerts, 72 at London’s Royal Albert Hall and 14 at venues elsewhere around the UK.

The Proms was founded in 1895 by impresario Robert Newman, who wanted to bring life to the quiet summer months with a bold new kind of concert. His idea was simple but revolutionary: take out the expensive stalls seats and create a standing area, a ‘promenade’, right in front of the orchestra. Newman made these standing tickets the cheapest in the house, putting those who paid the least closest to the music and flipping the usual stuffy rules of classical concerts on their head.

That approach still defines the Proms today. ‘Promming’ remains the most affordable way to attend, and you don’t need to book ahead. Each day at 10:30am, around 1,000 standing tickets are released online for just £8, even if all seated tickets are sold out, making The Proms the most accessible major classical music festival. Shame they can’t do anything about train fares to London!

Can you help with donations for our Family Festival? This is a reminder to donate any spare bottles or chocolates! At our Family Festival we will be running some tombola stalls. If you are able to donate a box of chocolates or a bottle of any kind (wine, shampoo, water bottle, olive oil etc.) please drop them into Bookwise Nottingham (10 Goose Gate, Nottingham, NG1 1FF) or hand them in to Rachel Parkes at DTV Hucknall, Southwell or West Bridgford!
How well do you understand noise? See flier to help participate in an NTU Psychology study: Flier

Have a great week!

Your friends at MfE

19/05/2025

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

10 Goose Gate | Hockley | NG1 1FF

https://youtu.be/vsut8hlCrcg?si=w8IAUk7OlGuukK8p

#MfEMonday – 12th May 2025

12th May 2025 Music for Everyone

On Sunday, the Nottingham Chamber Singers gathered at Nottingham University for a special ‘Meet the Composer’ workshop with composer Libby Croad. They were joined by fellow singers from Music for Everyone, talented string players, and young musicians from the East Midlands Youth String Orchestra. Libby, who has been commissioned to compose a brand-new work ‘The Nightingale’ for NCS’s 40th Anniversary Concert this June, shared fascinating insights into her creative process. From the first spark of an idea to the shaping of musical phrases, attendees were given a rare behind-the-scenes glimpse into the journey of a composition in the making.

There was plenty of opportunity for discussion too — singers and players were invited to ask questions, offer feedback, and even influence the work itself. It was a unique opportunity to be part of a very special historic moment for the NCS

Don’t miss the chance to hear the final piece come to life at the anniversary concert on 21st June. Tickets are available online here or by calling the office on 0115 958 9312.

On Saturday 28th June, we have the Singing workshop day ‘Choral Inspirations’ with BBC Symphony Chorus Director Neil Ferris. Sign up to take part here: https://www.music-for-everyone.org/event/neilferris/

We are excited to welcome Neil Ferris to our next singing workshop day at St Martin’s Church in Sherwood. Neil recently spoke with Rachel over Zoom about all things choral music, here’s a snippet introducing himself to you!

Keep an eye out for the full interview coming soon!

—————————————

As our singing workshop in June is all about ‘inspiration’ we’ve discovered some quotes about music from composers – some inspiring and some downright strange for musing on a Monday!

Leonard Bernstein – “To achieve great things, two things are needed; a plan, and not quite enough time.”

Benjamin Britten – “The old idea of a composer suddenly having a terrific idea and sitting up all night to write it is nonsense. Night time is for sleeping.”

Richard Wagner – “Imagination creates reality.”

Do you shop online? If you do, you can support MfE further at no extra cost to you through Easy Fundraising! It is free to set up an account, choose your charity to support (Music for Everyone!) and visit your online shops through their website to generate donations straight from the brands you shop with. Information is anonymous so we can’t tell where you’ve been shopping for peace of mind! Find out how and set it up today here: https://www.easyfundraising.org.uk/causes/musicforeveryone

Music For Everyone Fundraising | Easyfundraising

Raise free funds for Music For Everyone today by shopping online via Easyfundraising. Click now to shop at no extra cost and raise free donations.

www.easyfundraising.org.uk

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There is a free drum workshop taking place on Thursday 15th May at NTU.

Details can be found here: https://www.ntu.ac.uk/about-us/events/events/2025/4/slow-hands,-fast-ears-drumkit-worshop?fbclid=IwY2xjawJ1qcBleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBicmlkETFycjlRZ3lvVGM5em5FRnpSAR7s55DOVB0UjwpSc1s-Mx_M9p1ZUxIZtsaOvG0wUa5fo4I9kMX2Zryo5xuuIg_aem_LcT-9mdI7hAyZi1EzDDkfQ
Free SING! Workshops for Y5-8 from the National Youth Choir. These will be on 18th May, 13th September and 18th October in Newark and Mansfield. Each workshop day is led by a friendly team of vocal leaders from National Youth Choir. Young singers in school years 5-8 will learn exciting new songs, make new friends and develop their musical skills. Sign up now to join them at their next free event https://www.nationalyouthchoir.org.uk/sing-nottinghamshire

Have a great week!

Your friends at MfE

12/05/2025

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

10 Goose Gate | Hockley | NG1 1FF

Choral Inspirations: Singing workshop day with Neil Ferris, Saturday 28 ^th June, 10am-5.30pm

#MfEMonday – 7th April 2025

7th April 2025 Music for Everyone

Well done to all our amazing youth groups for their ‘Spirit of Spring’ concert on Saturday at Sherwood Methodist Church. From Vivaldi and Mozart to ‘Music in the Dark’ by Danny Elfman performed in streaming sunlight (as it was a lovely afternoon!) there was a varied programme for all to enjoy! Here are a few photos of them in action!

Limited places available – don’t miss out!

We are excited to welcome Neil who is Chorus Director of the BBC Symphony Chorus so you may have seen him at the Proms! He is conductor of the professional chamber choir ‘Sonoro’ who will be joining us at the Summer School and has worked with some of the finest choirs in the UK. We can’t wait to see what he has in store.

The workshop day will include choral favourites from Bach, Brahms, Franck and Elgar which will be paired with new works with fresh re-imaginings of the same texts such as the two versions of Panis Angelicus below:

César Franck – Panis Angelicus (https://youtu.be/_j7-XOmlob8?si=wXBTttKW5jGgtCPn)
Rebecca Dale – Panis Angelicus ‘Reimagined’ (https://youtu.be/ezfbwdMCNsE?si=WTjCy_tlbVnlfIjR)

Don’t miss this incredible experience! click here to book online or call the MfE office on 0115 958 9312.

Summer School is also booking up fast – Clarinets and oboes now fully booked and last few places left for flutes! Please email anne@music-for-everyone.org if you would like to join a waiting list.

Plenty of places left for all voice parts. To book your place please click here or call the MfE office on 0115 958 9312.

You might have seen King Charles playing twinkle twinkle little star on the carrot last week. Did you know that London has it’s own Vegetable Orchestra seen here on Saturday Night Takeaway with Gary Barlow!

With the School Easter Holidays just starting, why not see what edible instruments you can make?

Here’s something to get you started: How To Turn A Carrot Into A Recorder

MfE Music Amnesty! – Please return any sheet music you can find belonging to MfE. There will be a box on the mezzanine at Nottingham Bookwise or music can be posted to the office.
An upcoming concert that may interest you: Sleaford Choral Society Concert – Saturday 12th April in St Denys, Sleaford, 7.30pm.

Tickets online and at door, details on poster attached.

Have a great week!

Your friends at MfE

07/04/2025

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

10 Goose Gate | Hockley | NG1 1FF

#MfEMonday – 10th March 2025

10th March 2025 Music for Everyone

This weekend has seen over 130 young instrumentalists attend the twice-annual Bandwise and Stringwise workshop days at South Nottinghamshire Academy. Lots of music-making and fun was had, we can’t wait to hear all the groups in their concert at the Albert Hall next Sunday!

Places are now full for the From West End to Broadway workshop day this coming Saturday 15^th March, but why not come and support the choir in their early evening concert!

Tickets available to buy in advance here: https://www.music-for-everyone.org/event/from-west-end-to-broadway/ or buy on the door, subject to availability.

The bar will be open from 4.30pm to grab a drink before the concert at 5pm.

It was International Women’s Day on Saturday 8^th March, so we’d like to take a moment to recognise all the incredible women in music, from composers, performers and conductors taking over the world, to the strong women of MfE!

One woman who has recently gained attention is the first full-time female musician in the New York Philharmonic, Orin O’Brien. A double bass player, she was hired under the baton of Leonard Bernstein and a documentary telling her story won an Oscar for Best Documentary Short Film at the recent 2025 Awards. ‘The Only Girl in the Orchestra’ is available to watch on Netflix and you can read more of her story here: https://www.classicfm.com/artists/new-york-philharmonic/orin-obrien-first-woman-orchestra-interview/

The Nottingham University and Chamber Choirs invite MfE members to their next concert on Saturday 22^nd March 7.30pm in the Great Hall, Trent Building. Featuring Will Todd’s Mass in Blue with singer Lorna James and guest jazz trio Sharp Little Bones. The programme is a gorgeous mix of French, jazz-inspired and Lenten music. Both choirs are conducted by MfE’s wonderful Rachel Parkes – come and support the next choral generation! Tickets and more information can be found here: https://www.lakesidearts.org.uk/event/university-choir-chamber-choir-2/
Teak 1970s piano is available, in great condition – pictures below. If you, or anyone you know, community groups or individuals, are interested, please email us and we will put you in touch with the owner.
PIANO STOOL WITH MUSIC COMPARTMENT. If you need a stool to go with the piano, we also have one of those on offer too! Contact the office for more details.

Have a great week!

Your friends at MfE

10/03/2025

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

10 Goose Gate | Hockley | NG1 1FF