Daytime Orchestra

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#MfEMonday – 9th December 2024

9th December 2024 Music for Everyone

What a busy week that was!!

Our Loughborough Daytime Orchestra gave a wonderful performance at Emmanuel Church, Loughborough last Tuesday. We hope they had a great time in the pub afterwards and are looking forward to seeing what exciting music they will be sharing with us at the next concert! The Nottingham Daytime Orchestra have their performance this Thursday 12 December at St Martin’s Church Sherwood, 11am for 11:15 start. Please come along and support these wonderful musicians. Parking alert: gas works are in progress on Trevose Gardens, on-street parking may be limited.

Congratulations to the Lunchtime Voices Choir for their fantastic singing in the Victoria Centre on Thursday 5 December! It was definitely a highlight for many Christmas shoppers who gathered to listen. We would like to thank everyone who came along to support, including some of our wonderful Open Voices members, who joined in to make the event even more memorable. Thanks to your combined efforts, we raised an impressive £70.

Our next carol singing event will be on Wednesday 18 December at the Test Match pub in West Bridgford. Join us from 6pm for some carolling outside with children from Abbey Road school. Afterwards, warm up with a mulled wine while the carolling continues indoors with members of the various MfE choirs and our Open Voices singers.

On Saturday, our talented young musicians kicked off the festive season with their ‘Countdown to Christmas’ concert at Kingswood Methodist Church in Wollaton. The concert showcased the incredible skill and energy of our youth ensembles, and was the perfect way to close another year of great music-making from them.

The Christmas cheer continued on Sunday with the ‘Stories of Christmas’ concert at St Mary’s Church in Hucknall. The Nottingham Chamber Singers presented an entertaining and varied programme of Christmas songs, stories and carols, expertly compered by Robin Reece-Crawford, guiding the audience through the evening with wit and warmth.

With so much incredible music-making taking place it is impossible not to reflect on the power of music and how it brings people together. Whether it’s a rehearsal, concert, carol singing or simply playing on your own, music connects us in ways words alone cannot. We are really proud of the musical communities we create and support. With the new year fast approaching, let’s keep the momentum going and continue to use our collective voices, instruments, and passion to make the world a little brighter, one note at a time. Keep playing, keep learning, and keep sharing the joy of music with those around you!

A huge congratulations to our Assistant Artistic Director, Rachel Parkes, for her outstanding work as Chorus Master for the Nottingham University Choir, who performed with the BBC Concert Orchestra at the Royal Concert Hall last Wednesday. The choir delivered a stunning rendition of Eric Whitacre’s Leonardo Dreams of His Flying Machine before joining forces with the Nottingham Trent University choir for an epic performance of Carl Orff’s Carmina Burana. If you missed this unforgettable concert, you can catch it on BBC Radio 3 on Tuesday, 10 December, at 7:30pm.
The Villiers Quartet have an event this Wednesday. See attached flyer for details.
We recently secured a grant of £2,000 from Broxtowe Community Fund to support Beeston Open Voices. Below is a photo of the grant cheque being received.

A date for your 2025 diaries:
The Cranmer Singers are organising a “Fun and Sing” on Saturday 1st March. All comers welcome.

Have a great week!

Your friends at MfE

09/12/2024

Nottingham Chamber Singers “Stories of Christmas”

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

10 Goose Gate | Hockley | NG1 1FF

#MfEMonday – 2nd December 2024

2nd December 2024 Music for Everyone

Special message from John Hess, Chair of Trustees, Music for Everyone

It’s with great sadness I report that, after a short illness, MfE trustee Janet Wootton died last Monday. This news will come as a considerable shock to so many of you in the MfE “family” who knew and sang with Janet over many years.

I saw her husband Jeffrey to pass on our condolences on behalf of the trustees, staff and MfE members. If you would like to send a letter of condolence, please send it to the MfE office and we will pass it on to Janet’s family.

Janet joined the board several years ago and brought considerable experience and enthusiasm to her role as a trustee, having worked in the creative industries, journalism, TV regulation and public relations.

She first started singing with us in the late 1980s and also sang with the NTU (Nottingham Trent University) Choir, the Nottingham Operatic Society and with her local church choir in Wollaton. Janet was also an accomplished artist and her paintings were exhibited at an annual exhibition of the Nottingham Arts Society. Janet will be missed.

Events this week:

Carol singing inside the Victoria Centre on Thursday lunchtime at 1pm (near the entrance to John Lewis and Boots) members of the Lunchtime Voices and Open Voices will be serenading the Christmas shoppers. Do come and join us to sing or have a listen.

Sunday 8th December at 3.30pm – St Mary Magdalene Church, Market Place, Hucknall.

A magical afternoon of stories and carols for all to enjoy featuring Roisin Hickey on harp. Tickets available to book online or call 0115 958 9312.

Daytime Orchestra Loughborough end of term performance tomorrow at Emmanuel Church – All welcome, 11 for an 11.15am start.

Yesterday began the Christian season of Advent – a season of expectation and preparation for celebrating Christ’s coming (adventus) into this world. The four weeks that lead up Christmas are marked with beautiful and poignant music in anticipation and preparation of the son of God’s birth.

Follow this link to explore some favourite advent pieces: https://www.classicfm.com/discover-music/occasions/christmas/advent-carols-hymns/

Check out this advent calendar app from Naxos. A different piece of classical music is hidden behind each door which you can unlock every day, from well known classics like ‘Sleigh Ride’ to lesser known gems waiting to be discovered!

https://www.naxos.com/FeaturePages/Details/?id=The_Musical_Advent_Calendar_App__Free_App_Free_Music

MfE has a tree in the Christmas Tree Festival at All Saints Church in Loughborough. Entry is free and there are gift stalls, crafts, a tombola and festive refreshments. The Festival is open every Thursday and Saturday until 21 December from 10am to 4pm and all funds raised go towards the South Roof Appeal.

Have a great week!

Your friends at MfE

02/12/2024

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

#MfEMonday – 15th July 2024

15th July 202415th July 2024 Music for Everyone

Our talented young musicians offered a splendid end to the season with their The Sound of Summer concert at the Grange Hall in Radcliffe. Not only was the audience treated to top-notch musical entertainment, but there were outdoor activities for the children and refreshments for the audience. A huge ‘thank you’ and ‘well done’ to all who took part – children, helpers and conductors! We bid a fond farewell to Mike Shaw, conductor of Nottingham Strictly Strings, and wish him all the best for the future.

Booking for the Autumn Term for Daytime Voices, Daytime Orchestra, Sunday Afternoon Flutes and Big Band is now open. To book, please follow this link Music For Everyone (savoysystems.co.uk) We look forward to seeing you next term!

Well, what an exciting weekend of sport that was! But what would sport be without music? Imagine a football match without the anthems, chants and the occasional trumpet bursts of The Great Escape theme tune.

The first few notes alone of ‘Light and Tuneful’ the Wimbledon theme tune, is enough to put you in mind of strawberries and cream! Music provides athletes with motivation and focus making it a powerful tool during training sessions and competitions. The beats and melodies can help regulate breathing and pace, contributing to better performance and endurance. In the arena, music unites spectators, creating an exhilarating atmosphere that amplifies the excitement of the event. From energizing pre-game anthems to celebratory victory songs, the fusion of music and sport demonstrates how sound can inspire physical prowess and create a sense of community and shared enthusiasm among athletes and fans alike.

And while we’re on the subject, who spotted Djokovic’s musical celebration? Apparently, it is for his six-year-old daughter, who is currently learning the violin. Perhaps she can help him work on his technique?!!

Have a great week!

Your friends at MfE

15/07/2024

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

10 Goose Gate | Hockley | NG1 1FF

#MfEMonday – 17th June 2024

17th June 2024 Music for Everyone

Congratulations to all the adult instrumentalists who gathered at the Albert Hall on Saturday to ‘Blow the Dust Off’ their instruments. It was great to see so many new faces and we had wonderful day of music making together. The orchestra, wind band and string ensembles tackled some challenging music and gave a really enjoyable and polished performance that belied the fact that they had only met for the first time that morning!

We can’t wait for the next Blow the Dust event and hope that you can join us again at the Albert Hall on Saturday 11th January.

For the Bridgerton fans among you, season 3 has been treating audiences to a host of classical delights from Mozart and Scarlatti to Beethoven’s ‘Appassionata’ Piano Sonata, alongside Kris Bowers’ score and those beloved string quartet pop music covers. One of these pop covers is Taylor Swift’s ‘You Belong with Me’, which MfE Administrator Laura had a great time singing along to when seeing Taylor Swift live in Liverpool on Friday night!

Click here for Classic fm’s deep dive into the music of Bridgerton!

You are cordially invited to the MfE Daytime Orchestras’ end-of-term concerts!!

The Loughborough Daytime Orchestra concert takes place on Tuesday 2nd July in their new home of Emmanuel Church (Forest Road, Loughborough, Leicestershire, LE11 3NW), and the Nottingham Daytime Orchestra concert takes place at St Martins Church (Trevose Gardens, NG5 3FU).

Our adult instrumentalists have been working really hard, so please put these dates in your diary and come along to support them. Join us at 11am for a cuppa and a biscuit before the concert at approx. 11:20.

We hope to see you all there!

Have a great week!

Your friends at MfE

17/06/2024

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

10 Goose Gate | Hockley | NG1 1FF

#MfEMonday – 15th April 2024

8th April 202415th April 2024 Music for Everyone

The summer term is almost upon us!

For adult singers & players: all Daytime Voices, including Lunchtime Voices, Sunday Afternoon Flutes and Big Band and Daytime Orchestras start back from next Monday 22^nd April. For further detail on specific groups and how to sign up in advance visit our website here: https://www.music-for-everyone.org/whats-on/adult-music/ or you can pay at the first rehearsal for the term.

For youth players: the Nottingham Youth Band, for grade 2 – 4, have an open rehearsal for new players on Thursday 25^th April, 5.30pm – 7pm at Beeston Methodist Church. If you know a young musician who might like to try a group, encourage them to come along for free on the 25^th to try it out.

Other youth groups start back from Sunday 12^th May.

A date for your diary… Sunday 9^th June is MfE’s Family Festival Day – a musical extravaganza for everyone! There are workshops (advance sign up essential) in world drumming and intergenerational singing, open sessions with Open Voices and the Lullaby Bank, plus music in the garden and cake, punch and games stalls. Bring everyone down to Middle Street Resource Centre in Beeston from 1pm to join in the musical fun: https://www.music-for-everyone.org/event/family-festival/

A quick Monday Musing today… quite literally! Did you know the current official world record for the fastest performance of Rimsky-Korsakov’s Flight of the Bumblebee is 46.19 seconds? It’s over before you know it! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=naiDpqGFgV8#:~:text=Official%20World%20Record%20Flight%20Of%20The%20Bumblebee%2046.19%20seconds%20%2D%20YouTube

The Flight of the Bumblebee can be played on pretty much any instrument, but we’re most impressed with the multi-tasking involved in playing it on the organ: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hHZvMAJUN5g&t=1s

GOOD LUCK to all our young musicians approaching exam season, to get you in the revision mood, here’s a list of ‘scientifically proven’ (Disclaimer: not sure how scientific it actually is) pieces to help by Classic FM: https://www.classicfm.com/discover-music/classical-studying-music-for-brain-power/ and remember that a rehearsal break in revision is very good for you!

Have a great week!

Your friends at MfE

15/04/2024

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

10 Goose Gate | Hockley | NG1 1FF

#MfEMonday – 29th January 2024

29th January 2024 Music for Everyone

We are busy putting packs together for our next vocals singing weekend – ‘Vocals at the Movies‘! On Saturday 9^th March, our young singers will gather at Nottingham Trent University for a day of rehearsals and fun activities. On Sunday the 10^th they take to the stage at the Albert Hall to entertain the audience with well-known songs from classic shows and films including Trolls, Annie, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. To sign up for this course, click here.

Our Nottingham Festival Chorus Singers were in excellent voice at Nottingham Trent University this weekend, and we can’t wait to hear them alongside the Nottingham Concert Orchestra at the Albert Hall this coming Saturday. To ensure your ticket for this not-to-be-missed concert, online booking has now reopened, click here. Alternatively, contact the office on 0115 958 9312.

2024 is well underway and all of our regular groups are back to rehearsals. Have you ever wondered what goes on behind the scenes to get these groups up and running? For the Daytime Voices groups alone we prepare 430 packs with 6 pieces of music. A massive thank you to our volunteers for coming into the office to help prepare and stuff music folders!

That’s 2,580 individual pieces of music that are chosen, sourced, printed, numbered, stamped and put into folders, not to mention 180 pieces of music for our Lunchtime Voices singers, 880 for our Daytime Orchestra players, and 270 for our youth bands and string ensembles!

And let’s not forget the 1,120 pieces of music that our Blow the Dusters got through last weekend and the 750 vocal scores our Nottingham Festival Chorus singers will use on Saturday. That’s a whopping 5,780 pieces of music this year and it’s still only January! Right, I’m off for a lie down!

As you know, at MfE we are great believers in the power of music to make you feel good and enhance wellbeing. Here are 10 pieces of classical music that will, according to Classic FM, 100% change your life. Enjoy! 10 pieces of classical music that will 100% change your life – Classic FM

Have a great week!

Your friends at MfE.

29/01/2024

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.music-for-everyone.org/event/byme-bandwise-2023/

#MfEMonday – 18th September 2023

18th September 2023 Music for Everyone

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+

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

Something a bit different… Pachelbel’s Canon performed by… TRAIN HORNS! This is both brilliant and hilarious and is a must-watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cD3QlR98–A&t=158s

Have a great week!

Your friends at MfE.

18/09/2023

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

10 Goose Gate | Hockley | NG1 1FF