Nottingham Chamber Singers

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 – 11th March 2024

11th March 2024 Music for Everyone

WELL DONE to our VOCALS CHOIR for an amazing performance of songs from the Movies at the Albert Hall yesterday. 140 children worked incredibly hard in Saturday’s workshop ready for the concert to family and friends, we’ve had a great weekend with them all!

Don’t forget, the Nottingham Chamber Singers have their Angels, Dreams and Flying Machines concert this Saturday 16th March at St Mary’s Church in Clifton, last chance to book tickets in advance this week, we’ll have some on the door as well but best to reserve them now to avoid disappointment! Book here

It’s been a Movie-filled weekend with our Vocals event and the Oscars last night! (You might not know the results yet unless you were up at 1am to watch, so don’t read on if you’re not a fan of spoilers!)

The dark and tense score for Oppenheimer won Best Original Score by Ludwig Goransson. Using the violin as a starting point, Göransson and his wife Serena, a violinist, began experimenting with vibratos and microtonal glissandos, they aimed to convey the anxiety of Oppenheimer through the violin’s ability to instantly switch from a romantic and sentimental sound to something “neurotic” and “horrifying.” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LLUwsAbkmx0

By stark contrast, Best Original Song was won by Billie Eilish for her song What Was I Made for? From the Barbie movie: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cW8VLC9nn ,a ballad that reflects on identity and belonging.

Blackwood Clarinets are excited to be organising their first Clarinet Play Day. This will be a full day event, on Sunday 14th July, including workshops and play sessions exploring music from the clarinet choir repertoire, along with a masterclass and optional improvisation session. The day will end with a short concert free for friends and family to attend. Please see attached flyer and for more information follow this link
An exciting upcoming concert by Melodic Fanfare, a Nottingham based brass ensemble. They will be holding their first live performance : A relaxing lunchtime debut concert featuring a variety of classical music. The concert will be held at University Hall, Nottingham on Friday 5^th April with all proceeds going to Mind. See attached flyer and book tickets here.

Have a great week!

Your friends at MfE.

11/03/2024

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

10 Goose Gate | Hockley | NG1 1FF

#MfEMonday – 4th March 2024

4th March 2024 Music for Everyone

We’re gearing up for an exciting and busy March, so much music making coming up!

The Nottingham Chamber Singers concert ‘Angels, Dreams and Flying Machines’ is on Saturday 16 March at St Mary’s Church, Clifton. Join us for an evening of flight, fantasy and winged creatures, featuring poetry and musical works by Whitacre, Panufnik, Mendelssohn and Vaughan-Williams. Tickets available online in advance now: https://www.music-for-everyone.org/event/ncs-concert/ or you can buy on the door.

On Sunday 17th March, we’ll be ‘Springing into Music’ with our youth groups spring concert at Chilwell School for an afternoon concert of varied repertoire by string orchestras and wind bands. Tickets available online in advance now: https://www.music-for-everyone.org/event/yth-concert/ or purchased on the door, subject to availability.

Places are still available for West End to Broadway on Saturday 23^rd March. Don’t miss out the opportunity to learn from the fantastic Simon Theobald. Click this link to hear from the man himself!: https://youtube.com/shorts/qCPwQ5jhyk4?feature=share

Call-out for volunteers! We are looking for some extra help at our friendly Open Voices group in Mansfield. They meet on Friday afternoons from 1.45-3.15pm at Portland College in the wonderful Newstart Theatre. If anyone is able to help our leader Cliff and join in the singing that would be great! Please email su@music-for-everyone.org

It’s not quite officially springtime just yet, but as we have now reached March (and, fingers crossed, some nicer, dryer weather!) it seems apt to welcome the beginning signs of spring with some seasonal music. The most obvious is of course, Spring from Vivaldi’s Four Seasons, who was born on this day, 4 March 1678: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3LiztfE1X7E

Another is Vaughan-Williams The Lark Ascending, originating from a poem by George Meredith about the song of a skylark. The poem inspired Vaughan Williams to write a musical work of the same name: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wbFi85piaEg Vaughan Williams also features in the NCS concert on 16 March.

If you haven’t already seen on our website, we have now released the choir repertoire for Summer School 2024! We’re thrilled that Hilary Campbell will be with us again and exploring the following pieces:
- Lily Boulanger – Hymn au soleil
- James MacMillan – O Radiant Dawn
- Harold Arlen – Over the Rainbow
- Roger Emerson – Ain’t no Mountain High Enough
The choir will also be doing Handel’s rousing anthem Zadok the Priest with the orchestra and an arrangement of Abide with Me with the string ensemble: https://www.music-for-everyone.org/event/summer-school-2024/

Have a great week!

Your friends at MfE.

04/03/2024

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

10 Goose Gate | Hockley | NG1 1FF

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LLrEujhHsjs

#MfEMonday – 18th December 2023

18th December 2023 Music for Everyone

Dear MfE friends, supporters, volunteers, singers, blowers, pluckers, bowers, arm-wavers, ivory-tinklers and bangers (that’s percussionists in case you were wondering)…

As it is our last MfE Mondays of 2023, it falls to me to thank each and every one of you for all of your contributions, both musical and otherwise, to all of Music for Everyone’s endeavours over the past year.

It has been a very busy and exciting 40th Anniversary year, with us saying welcome to new members, staff, our Artistic Director Alex Robinson, as well as wishing a fond farewell to some wonderful and hard-working members of the team, not least our fabulous founder, Angela Kay, for 40 years of enthusiasm, inspiration and frankly – REALLY HARD WORK!

We hope you have enjoyed all of our weekly groups, special events and concerts as much as we have. Each and every one of these ventures takes an enormous amount of work, and we wish to especially thank our office staff of Anne, Kirstie, Laura and Su, as well as all their team of volunteer-office supporters, for making these events run so smoothly. We hope they all enjoy a restful Christmas break.

Yesterday saw the Albert Hall full of singing, laughter and seasonal spirit for our annual Christmas is Coming celebration. A huge thank you and well-done to all of the participants, the Daytime Voices Choirs Nottingham Community Voices, Nottingham Chamber Singers, members of the Nottingham Concert Orchestra and of course our fabulous Vocals groups for putting on an amazing show. The roof was raised with everything from the rousing carol O Come all ye faithful, to a beautiful sign-language spectacle of White Christmas and a wild and joyous ride of Jingle Bells, along with our children performing a witty and impressive sung panto of Roald Dahl’s Jack and the Beanstalk. We hope you all left feeling suitably festive, I know I did, and our special visitor Father Christmas told me he was REALLY impressed with the beautiful singing!

Wishing you a peaceful and joyful Christmas and we look forward to seeing you all in the New Year!

Rachel

Vocal animateur and Assistant Artistic Director, MfE

No Christmas concert would be complete without the iconic whip crack in Sleigh Ride. Look what happens when you give percussionists free ‘rein’ (see what we did there?)

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/NOoF0DR9ESA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WCLavUoX7Sc&list=RDWCLavUoX7Sc&start_radio=1

Don’t forget we will be singing carols at the Test Match Pub in West Bridgford, this Thursday 21^st December 5.30-6.30pm for an informal sing in aid of open voices. Please meet us there for a 5.30pm – everyone is welcome.
The Office will be closed for a Christmas break from 1pm on Friday 22^ndDecember. We will be back open on Tuesday 2^nd January for an exciting new term!

Have a great week and a Merry Christmas!

Your friends at MfE.

18/12/2023

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

10 Goose Gate | Hockley | NG1 1FF

#MfEMonday – 27th November 2023

27th November 2023 Music for Everyone

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

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 – 23rd October 2023

23rd October 2023 Music for Everyone

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

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

10 Goose Gate | Hockley | NG1 1FF

#MfEMonday – 25th September 2023

25th September 2023 Music for Everyone

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

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

Muppet Songs: Gonzo – Eine Kleine Nachtmusik – YouTube

#MfEMonday – 31st July 2023

31st July 2023 Music for Everyone

Nottingham Chamber Singers will be kicking off our 2023/24 concert season in style with an enchanting concert at St Barnabas Cathedral on Saturday 23rd September. Joined by Mezzo Soprano, Emily Hodkinson and Organist, Peter Siepmann, the Nottingham Chamber Singers will present a flavour of the styles and sensibilities of some of the greatest romantic composers of the 19^th and 20^th Centuries including Franck, Boulanger, Elgar and Faure, finishing with Duruflè’s profoundly moving and deeply consoling Requiem.

Click here for more information about the concert, or here to book tickets.

Please be aware that the MfE Office will be closed next week while we decamp to Trent College for our annual Summer School. Nottingham Bookwise will remain open as normal. If you would like to experience a flavour of what the Summer School is all about, why not come along to our Showcase Concert on Wednesday 09 August at 6:00pm? Tickets are only £5 and include drinks and nibbles! Click here to book.

Did anyone catch MfE friend and alumnus, Sam Sweeney, on radio 4 this week?

Click here to listen and find out how Bach’s Toccata and Fugue and Ski Sunday are connected!

We’re looking forward to hearing the Summer School strings playing the Romance from Eine Kleine Nachtmusic. Let’s hope it’s more successful than this death-defying acrobatic version!

Have a great week!

Your friends at MfE.

31/07/2023

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

10 Goose Gate | Hockley | NG1 1FF