Nottingham Festival Chorus

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 – 2nd September 2024

2nd September 2024 Music for Everyone

We are excited to welcome you back to our regular groups in the coming weeks! Here are the start dates for all groups:

Wednesday, 4 September: Nottingham Chamber Singers
Thursday, 12 September: Nottingham Youth Band
Sunday, 15 September: Flute Choir and Big Band
Week of 16 September: Daytime Voices, Lunchtime Voices, and Open Voices
Week of 23 September: Daytime Orchestras
Sunday, 29 September: East Midlands Youth String Orchestra, East Midlands Youth Band and Strictly Strings

For more information on dates, venues, and prices, click here. To register online, please click here.

Note: Music for Everyone offers a subsidised scheme for all groups and courses. This scheme is available to anyone who needs it and is considered on a case-by-case basis. If you would like to discuss this further, please contact our office at admin@music-for-everyone.org or call 0115 958 9312.

King Charles has appointed composer Errollyn Wallen as the new ‘Master of the King’s Music.’ Born in Belize, Wallen moved to the UK at the age of two. She is a celebrated composer, pianist, and singer-songwriter who studied music and composition at Goldsmiths, King’s College London, and King’s College Cambridge. Her work includes 22 operas and a range of compositions including orchestral, vocal and chamber music. Errolyn joins an illustrious list of musicians to hold the position of Master of the King’s Music dating back over 400 years to the Baroque period and the court of Charles I. During this era, similar positions were held by renowned musicians across Europe, including Lully and Rameau in the French court, and Handel, who was appointed ‘Composer of Musick to the Chapel Royal’ in 1713.

The Nottingham Festival Chorus will perform works by these composers at their concert, In the King’s Company, on Sunday 06 October! It is still possible to join the NFC for the workshop and concert.

Please click here for more details. Tickets for the concert are also available here.

Who knows, perhaps in 400 years, the Nottingham Festival Chorus will be performing a historical concert of Errollyn Wallen’s music!

Charnwood Voices are looking for new members! Why not join them for their first rehearsal on 4 September at Belton Village Hall and experience what they have to offer? See the attached flyer for more details.
Lyrical SoNGbirds are looking for a new Musical Director. If you or someone you know is interested, please see the attached flyer for more details.
Contemporary Music for All (CoMA): Registration is now open for the CoMA weekend in Yorkshire on 26-27 October. Don’t miss this inspiring and lively event in the heart of historic York. With activities ranging from an Open to All Orchestra to workshops on contemporary voice and open score composition, there’s something for everyone. Click here for all the details. To learn more about CoMA music, ensembles, and events, visit www.coma.org.

Have a great week!

Your friends at MfE

02/09/2024

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

10 Goose Gate | Hockley | NG1 1FF

#MfEMonday – 19th August 2024

19th August 202419th August 2024 Music for Everyone

Preparations are well underway for the new season at MfE! We’ve told you all about the upcoming courses and workshops for the Autumn term, here is a bit more information about the beginning of our concert series in October.

The NOTTINGHAM FESTIVAL CHORUS are performing an afternoon concert on Sunday 6^th October at St John’s Beeston Parish Church.

In the King’s Company features scrumptious choruses from Handel’s Acis and Galatea and Rameau’s Castor et Pollux. You’ll get a thorough dose of royal pomp and majesty with more music from Lully and Purcell, tickets are online now! https://www.music-for-everyone.org/event/in-the-kings-company/

NOTTINGHAM CHAMBER SINGERS launch their 40^th anniversary season on Saturday 12^th October at St John’s Church, Carrington with a programme titled Come, Comfort of the World: Songs of Hope and Consolation.

A concert bringing the vitality and expressive detailing of a chamber choir performance to the presentation of works of hope and consolation, with Bach’s intimate Komm, Jesu, Komm and Reger’s beautiful motet The Hermit and Brahms’ well-loved Requiem, an evening not to be missed! Tickets online here: https://www.music-for-everyone.org/event/ncs-concert/

NCS have an exciting programme of events planned for this coming season to celebrate their 40^th anniversary, see brochure for full details.

ATTENTION HISTORY BUFFS!!!

We’re pleased to attach details of a research project event at Worksop Priory later this month, entitled ‘Medieval Worship and the Cult of St Cuthbert at Worksop: A Discovery Day and Night Liturgy’.

Highlights include:

An early morning, candlelit Matins service for St Cuthbert, as it might have been known at Worksop some 700 years ago
A rare performance of what is arguably the oldest surviving English music: a set of chants in honour of St Cuthbert, composed around 930 AD for King Athelstan
Family activities inspired by the local illuminated manuscript treasure, the Tickhill Psalter, once used in connection with Worksop’s daily offices and now held in New York
History talks on medieval Office liturgy, the cult of St Cuthbert, and the historical value of attempting an enactment of this sort

Events run over the weekend of 31 August and 1 September 2024. All are most welcome to attend at any point. We are particularly keen to encourage participation in Sunday’s dawn liturgy and its rehearsal, which is open to all, regardless of experience.

The full schedule is as follows:

Saturday 31 August

10am Tea and Coffee (Church)

10.30am– Family activities (Church)

11am History talks (Gatehouse*) *no step-free access

The Office in Medieval Parish Churches – Paul Barnwell (University of Oxford)
Cuthbert, Durham, Worksop – Charlie Rozier (University of East Anglia)

12.30pm Lunch (Church)

1.30pm Introduction to act of worship (Church)

Cuthbert and the Night: Bringing a Forgotten History to Life – Henry Parkes (University of Nottingham)

2pm–5pm Open rehearsal of night liturgy (Church)

Sunday 1 September

5am Night Liturgy for the Translation of St Cuthbert

followed by a parish breakfast

A limited amount of free parking is available in front of the church, and there is public car park very close by on Priorswell Road.

Send your questions to worksop.discovery.day@gmail.com. We look forward to seeing you there!

American musician Clejan shares his string-based adventures as The Trap Violinist on social media. During a recent performance by the side of a lake, he was met with a new, unexpected audience: an octet of music-loving turtles. See the video here: Violinist summons turtles from water with his virtuosic playing – Classic FM

Have a great week!

Your friends at MfE

19/08/2024

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

10 Goose Gate | Hockley | NG1 1FF

Recorder Workshop Day – 14^{th September}

#MfEMonday – 12th August 2024

12th August 2024 Music for Everyone

We are all recovering from a marathon of music-making at our Summer School last week!

There was a great buzz of excitement at Trent College as we welcomed back Hilary Campbell to lead the singers, Keiron Anderson the wind band and our Artistic Director Alex Robinson to direct the orchestra and strings. Our guest artists included the talented folk-jazz fusion duo, Katie Foster and Ben Sayah who also delivered a workshop on improvisation with the string players (pushing quite a few of us out of our comfort zone!) and Heron Brass, a London-based quintet who entertained with a superb recital.

On the final day we were treated to a relaxing programme of piano classics by the wonderful Richard Cox, our Summer School accompanist.

As well as all the fantastic music-making, breaktimes were an excellent time to catch up with fellow musicians, drink bottomless tea and coffee and browse the Bookwise stall of second-hand books and sheet music which raised an epic £587 of sales over the three days!

Thank you so much to all the staff, conductors tutors and volunteers who made it happen – you are all AWESOME.

The biggest THANK YOU and WELL DONE to all the singers and instrumentalists who took part and worked so hard over the 3 days, your performances were incredible. Hope to see you at the next one!

If you can’t wait that long for your musical fix then take a look at our season brochure for opportunities coming up next season…Click here

Booking now open for the following:

Singing Workshop and Concert – 5^{th & 6th October}

Nottingham Chamber Singers Concert – 12^th October

Youth Music courses – Bandwise / Stringwise – 9th/10^th November & 17^th November

Have you been swept up in the sporting fever of the Olympics? If you’re suffering from OWS (Olympic Withdrawal Syndrome) then at least there isn’t long to wait until the Paralympics on 28th August!

Music has always played a huge role in the Olympics – take a look at the top musical moments that brought occasion and spectacle to the world’s biggest sporting stage:

https://www.classicfm.com/discover-music/top-classical-music-olympic-games/

Nottingham City Council is currently undertaking a public consultation around changes to the library service including closure of 4 libraries (Aspley, Basford, Bilborough, Radford-Lenton) and reduction of hours elsewhere plus cuts to other areas of spend.

If you would like to have a say in the future of the City library service please complete the survey via the following link: https://www.nottinghamcitylibraries.co.uk/shape-the-vision/

Please note this is relating to City libraries not County (Inspire)

Have a great week!

Your friends at MfE

12/08/2024

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

10 Goose Gate | Hockley | NG1 1FF

#MfEMonday – 8th July 2024

8th July 2024 Music for Everyone

What an enjoyable weekend with the Nottingham Festival Chorus and a wonderful performance of Haydn’s Harmonie Mass! Masterfully directed by Artistic Director, Alex Robinson and skilfully accompanied by organist Peter Siepmann. Thanks also to our four amazing soloists as pictured.

Last week saw the end of term performances for our Daytime Orchestras in Loughborough and Nottingham. Some fabulous playing everyone, well done! Hope you enjoy a well-earned break and we look forward to welcoming you back in September.

Our Lunchtime Voices singers also gave a final performance in very blustery conditions outside Yarn this week. A special mention to Alex for keeping the accompaniments going despite his music flying away!

Upcoming performances:

Our Youth Bands and String Orchestras have their Sound of Summer performance on Sunday 14^th July at 3.30pm at The Grange Hall in Radcliffe-on-Trent. Book your tickets here: https://www.music-for-everyone.org/event/yth-concert/

Open Voices Sherwood are putting on a show of Oliver! Come and join them on Friday 19^th July at 11am at St Martin’s Church, Sherwood.

Following the election of our new Prime Minister Keir Starmer last week, did you know he had such a musical background? Click the link below to hear him talking about the importance of music, playing flute, recorder, piano and violin and his love of Beethoven:

Song Community Festival taking part in Derby on Sunday 14th July: Are you a singing practitioner, facilitator, choir director or teacher, who runs community choirs, amateur choirs or singing groups for health conditions such as dementia?

Or, do you want to learn more about singing and its benefits for health and well-being? Do you want to find out more about how to lead Mental Health Inclusive Group Singing? If you answered ‘yes’ to any of the questions above, come to the Community Song Festival! https://www.derby.ac.uk/events/latest-events/song-community-festival-/

The Villiers Quartet is hosting an event Friday 12^th July in Nottingham: Haydn Emperor Quartet play-along. It is guided playing, open to amateurs, students, everyone, and promises to be informative and great fun! https://nottchamberfest.com/events/haydn-play-along-vq-discovery/
See all the Nottingham Chamber Festival events taking place from 11^th – 14^th July here: https://nottchamberfest.com/

Have a great week!

Your friends at MfE

08/07/2024

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

10 Goose Gate | Hockley | NG1 1FF

#MfEMonday – 13th May 2024

13th May 2024 Music for Everyone

Gift Stall – Call out for volunteers!!

After over 30 years of service Janice Weston-Smith is stepping down from the running of the MfE Gift Stall at the end of this season.

We are looking for a team of volunteers to help with the Gift Stall at MfE events, setting the stall up and down, manning it throughout the day and selling merchandise. The big events we would expect the gift stall to be at are the youth courses/concerts Bandwise, Stringwise & Vocals, NFC/Blow the Dust weekends and Summer School event. Participants in these events would still be able to volunteer to help with the gift stall as this would not interfere with music-making sessions.

If you are interested in finding out more please contact Su via email su@music-for-everyone.org or call 0115 958 9312.

Nottingham Festival Chorus – singers wanted!

There are still places available for Haydn’s Harmonie Mass workshop and concert with Alex, Rachel and the Nottingham Festival Chorus on 5^th & 6^th July. The workshop on Friday 5^th July will take place in the evening at NTU Clifton, followed by a workshop and concert on Saturday 6^th July at the beautiful Beeston Parish Church, located in the centre of Beeston, a short distance from The Square. There are excellent facilities nearby and local trams and bus routes serve Beeston Bus Station, which is a short walk from the church.

Find out more about this stunning course and book here: https://www.music-for-everyone.org/event/nfc-singing-course-concert-july-2024/

Mansfield Open Voices is 1 year old! They had a party to celebrate last week, attended by Mansfield Mayor Andy Abrahams, MfE trustees Janet and John and of course the Mansfield Open Voices team – Cliff, Andy and learners from Portland College. Happy Birthday OV!

We were thrilled to get a first look at a position statement on Arts and Health, written by a MfE volunteer and youth group parent for the Institute of Health Promotion and Education.

As part of the statement, IHPE state “Arts subjects urgently need to be given a higher priority in education. In the UK additional resources are needed to provide equal opportunities for arts provision, particularly musical instrument playing in schools, to contribute to the prevention of widening inequalities.” And “Arts provisions should form an integral component of social prescribing, as part of a balanced approach to the social and medical models of health and be adequately resourced to increase availability and access across all areas of society, including marginalised groups.” To read the full statement, see here: https://ihpe.org.uk/resources/position-papers/

It was the Eurovision grand final on Saturday, with Switzerland taking the crown for their 3^rd win with a gravity defying performance on a large spinning disk (only in Eurovision!)
EUROVISION FACT: Did you know up until 1998, each act was supported by a live orchestra and every country brought its own conductor? Dutch conductor Dolf van der Linde conducted for a record number of 7 countries; Belgium, Germany, Ireland, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Sweden and Switzerland before the rules changed and acts could perform with a pre-recorded backing track.

Have a great week!

Your friends at MfE

13/05/2024

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

E: kirstie@music-for-everyone.org

Searching for the Glorias of Nottinghamshire

23rd January 2024 Music for Everyone

The search is on for the Glorias of Nottinghamshire to step forward. The Nottingham-based Music for Everyone (MfE) is offering every Gloria a FREE ticket for their next big concert at the city’s Albert Hall, on Saturday 3^rd February.

MfE’s Festival Chorus will be singing not one, but two of the most memorable pieces of music ever written that rejoice in the title of “Gloria!”

So, you’re thinking; where does the name Gloria come from…. you’ve probably 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.

So, 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 and conducted by MfE’s Artistic Director Alex Robinson. Join for this special occasion as this fantastic concert, featuring over 200 performers and French soprano soloist Clara Orif, in a programme that includes the delicate sounds of Claude Debussy to the fanfares by British composer Dame Judith Weir.

Anyone called Gloria can contact the box office on 0115 9589312 to book a ticket*, completely FREE, bring your ID on the day and experience the thrill of a concert that celebrates your name!

The Nottingham Festival Chorus is MfE’s flag-ship choir, a large-scale four-part chorus performing major classical, and twentieth century works. There are three intensive and highly enjoyable events per year for singers of all abilities. from a one-day workshop to a full weekend course and concert.

For more information on the full range of singing and orchestral courses for youth and adults and how to join in please see the MfE website: www.music-for-everyone.org. Tickets for the Glorias concert are available online and telephone at the MfE office on 0115 958 9312.

Notes: *one ticket per person. Additional tickets half price.

……..ENDS…….

For further information and requests for photographs and interviews:

John Hess – Chair E: john@johnhess.co.uk

Kirstie Hind – Marketing Officer 0115 958 9312

Music for Everyone is an educational charity committed to making a difference to people’s lives through the creativity and enjoyment of music. It supports people to discover and develop their musical interests, abilities and aspirations at all levels. Music for Everyone is an open, welcoming and collaborative organisation. It builds a sense of community and belonging through the high-quality musical experiences provided for participants, audiences and our staff. MfE aspires to enhance the inclusivity of its programme by building partnerships with likeminded organisations so we can reach more people.

Music for Everyone has:

Board of Trustees, chaired by John Hess.
A small, dedicated staff team.
Over 400 subscribing members who regularly take part in core parts of our programme.
200 friends who support the organisation within their communities and through financial assistance.
18 performing groups, both choral and instrumental, involving over 1000 participants.
Many volunteers who do a huge range of work for the organisation from running vital parts of the programme to assisting at events.
A Patrons scheme supported by local businesses and private individuals, with major sponsorships-in-kind from Nottingham Trent University.
Music for Everyone is a key partner in Nottinghamshire Music Hub – Inspire

Brief History

Music for Everyone was originally formed as the Nottingham Choral Trust in 1983 by Angela Kay MBE (Founder/Artistic Advisor). The organisation celebrated its 40^th Birthday in July 2023.

The founding aim was to promote weekend choral courses and concerts for singers from all walks of life in the Nottingham area. Committed from the beginning to an imaginative and adventurous approach to choral music, the work of the Trust has developed rapidly since then. We present a varied programme of high-quality concerts per season and work throughout the year in developing education programmes with schools and health and well-being initiatives in Nottingham and surrounding areas.

#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