Summer School

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

https://www.music-for-everyone.org/event/workshop-day-ncm-from-west-end-to-broadway/

#MfEMonday – 24th February 2025

24th February 2025 Music for Everyone

We are delighted to let you know that Summer School 2025 is now open for booking!

4^th– 6^th August 2025 – Trent College, Long Eaton

We are delighted to announce the return of Hilary Campbell conducting the choir, Kieron Anderson conducting Saxophones and Wind Band and Alex Robinson conducting the Orchestra and String Ensemble.

Introducing our guest artists this year as: Tailleferre Ensemble, Leo Melvin and Sonoro.

Biographies for each artist and conductor can be seen on our website.

Click the link to find out more and book your place: Course: Summer School 2025

Looking to the next few weeks, We are fast approaching the end of February and looking forward to some brighter days and a musical March!

Here’s what we have coming up…

Saturday 15th March – ‘From West End to Broadway’ at the John Godber Centre, Hucknall

Come and sing some hits from shows including Wicked, Les Misérables and Fiddler on the Roof!

Or to watch the performance book tickets here: https://www.music-for-everyone.org/event/from-west-end-to-broadway/

Saturday 29^th March – Easter Images concert

The Nottingham Chamber Singers warmly invite you to the village church of St Peter’s, Ruddington to experience glorious music by Bach, Handel, Rachmaninov and Poulenc.

To book online visit: https://www.music-for-everyone.org/event/ncs-easter/ or call the MfE office on 0115 958 9312.

We are delighted to have been awarded a National Lottery Project Grant by Arts Council England which will fund a new commission from composer Libby Croad. Many of you will remember Libby from our 40th Anniversary celebrations in 2023 when she wrote a piece to celebrate MfE’s big birthday! This time she will be creating a work for the Nottingham Chamber Singers accompanied by a string orchestra which will be premiered at their anniversary concert in June. Below is an extract from an interview in the ‘Strad’ magazine where Libby talks about her journey to becoming a Composer.

You’ve enjoyed a career as a violinist – what made you decide to pursue composition as well?

I’ve always loved composing ever since I was a little girl, and it’s always been part of my life in the background. Composing feeds my soul! I did second study composition at the Royal Academy of Music where I developed my love of choral writing, guided by one of my teachers Gareth Wilson, who commissioned me to write a piece for his choir Christ Church Chelsea, while I was still at college. Once leaving college I followed the path of being a violinist, which I also love, however I just started to feel like a huge part of me wasn’t being fulfilled. So I started to write again!

In 2016 I wrote my first Christmas carol Silent Night, which was premiered by The New London Singers at St Martin in the Fields. It’s since been published by Multitude of Voyces in a Christmas Anthology of sacred music by female composers and has been performed all over the world, including Washington D.C. by the award winning Lux choir, and the BBC Singers on BBC Radio 3. I followed that up with writing a string orchestra movement for the chamber orchestra I was playing with at St Martin in the Fields, Trafalgar Sinfonia, and it developed into my Suite for String Orchestra which has become popular today. Since then, my composition has grown year on year and I’m very lucky that so many people seem to be enjoying performing my works.

Tell us about your stylistic influences – your violin and string knowledge is evident in your writing – are there particular elements you like to include in your compositions?

I’ve been told that my music sounds very English! I think this stems from my love of composers such as Vaughan Williams and Elgar. I love using modes in my writing and there’s often a folk feel to my music. As a violinist I love writing close emotional string harmonies, and a good melody! Obviously with my knowledge of the instrument I know what’s physically possible which definitely helps. I do enjoy mixing up pizzicato and more lyrical lines, often in a fugue-like way.

Click here for the full interview.

We are really excited to be working with Libby once again! There will be the chance to see her working on the piece with the Nottingham Chamber Singers in May. More details to follow soon.

The MAJOR OAK CHORUS is looking for a new MUSICAL DIRECTOR. They are a group of about 30 singers based in Nottingham, and practise on Tuesday evenings from 7.30 to 10.00 at the Carlton Junior Academy NG4 1QS.

Anyone who is interested is welcome to attend a practise session and even direct the Chorus before applying for the position!

If you are up for the challenge, please contact the Secretary, Jonathan Ankers, e-mail secretary@majoroakchorus.com

Have a great week!

Your friends at MfE

24/02/2025

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

10 Goose Gate | Hockley | NG1 1FF

#MfEMonday – 17th February 2025

17th February 2025 Music for Everyone

We have some exciting news to brighten up your Monday! Summer School 2025 is shaping up well, and we are really excited to announce that the incredible vocal ensemble Sonoro will be joining us for a special recital and vocal workshop! The Summer School runs from 04 – 06 August so put the dates in your diary and stay tuned for more details coming soon!

And that’s not all! Before the Summer School, why not warm up your vocal cords with a singing workshop led by Sonoro’s acclaimed conductor, Neil Ferris? Join us on 28 June at Nottingham Trent University for an inspiring day of singing. Spaces are filling up fast, so book now to secure your spot! Click here to book or call us at 0115 958 9312.

If you need a little musical inspiration, why not listen to Sonoro perform their breathtaking Choral Inspirations by clicking here?

If, like us, you rely on coffee to get you going in the morning, you are in good company! Coffee has long been the unsung hero of the creative mind, and composers in particular seem to have had a long-standing love affair with the magical bean:

Bach was so devoted to coffee that he composed an entire Coffee Cantata, a mini-comic opera about a young woman so addicted to her daily brew that she defies her father’s attempts to curb her habit. The lyrics include the line: “If I can’t drink my bowl of coffee three times daily, then in my torment I will shrivel up like a piece of roast goat.”!

Beethoven was equally particular about his coffee, allegedly insisting that every cup he drank be made with exactly 60 coffee beans!

Gustav Mahler’s daily composing routine involved a strict schedule, punctuated by coffee breaks and long walks in nature. Reportedly, his love for coffee was so great that he would only drink it from a special cup and owned a coffee maker that he took with him everywhere, even on his extensive tours.

So, the next time you sip your morning brew, remember you might just be fuelling your next great masterpiece (or at least preventing yourself from shrivelling up like a piece of roast goat!).

Bookwise Nottingham are looking for new volunteers. If you or someone you know is interested in joining this friendly team, please email info@bookwiseshops.co.uk
Charnwood Voices are giving their spring concert on 05 April at Holy Trinity Church in Barrow upon Soar. See attached leaflet for more information.

Have a great week!

Your friends at MfE

17/02/2025

<![if !vml]><![endif]>Like us on Facebook

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

10 Goose Gate | Hockley | NG1 1FF

<![if !vml]><![endif]>Follow us on Twitter

<![if !vml]><![endif]>Follow us on Instagram

<![if !vml]><![endif]>*Support us with easyfundraiser*

#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:

Recorder Workshop Day – 14^{th September}

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

MfE Summer School 2024 Day 3 – GO!

7th August 2024 Music for Everyone

The finish line was in sight as we entered the third and final day of the Paris-Olympic themed Summer School… Coffee was consumed (any guesses for how many cups of tea and coffee were made over the 3 days…?) and rehearsals began to put the finishing touches to the pieces chosen to perform in the Showcase concert.

The orchestra had a change of venue to the Obolensky building, where the instrumental concert and buffet would take place later on.

Participants were invited to have their lunch in the Chapel, as Summer School accompanist and wonderful pianist Richard Cox played a relaxing programme of piano classics that brought a calm moment in an otherwise busy, busy day.

The concert began in the Chapel for the first half to hear the singers perform a wide range of repertoire from Lili Boulanger to Marvin Gaye. Then it was over to the Obolensky, with a special performance by the double basses as people entered, to hear the orchestra, wind band, saxophone ensemble and string orchestra, finishing with a grand finale of full choir and orchestra for Zadok the Priest.

THANK YOUS
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 and it’s so wonderful for us to see the ones that return year after year and also the many new faces that appear! To the artistic team, Alex, Hilary, Keiron, Rachel and Richard (currently all sharing a bottle of wine with 5 straws…) thank you for all you do to lead and encourage the music-making; the tutors in each section that support the players – you’re amazing.

To the youth volunteers for helping and joining in in so many ways THANK YOU and of course, ‘Anne’s Dad’ (aka Geoff) for making sure the tea and coffee urns were always full! The MfE team who did a fantastic job throughout the 3 days, a special mention to Anne for all she does in organising, planning and running Summer School!

And that’s Summer School for another year! See you all very soon for more music-making!

MfE Summer School 2024 Day 2 – get set…

6th August 2024 Music for Everyone

Forget bronze, silver and gold, today was all about the brass at day 2 of Summer School 2024!

As has become tradition, the choir started their day outside with Hilary for some warm ups ahead of another full day of singing, exploring their wide repertoire from Zadok the Priest to Ain’t no mountain high enough…

Meanwhile, the wind band and string orchestra were hard at work with Alex and Keiron, from Firebird to Paris Sketches.

Breaktimes were also 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. We have also been joined on all 3 days by the MfE gift shop and Windblowers!

The guest artists for today were Heron Brass, a London-based quintet, treating us to another wonderful lunchtime recital in the Chapel before working with the brass players in a special workshop.

Which leads us to here, the end of Day 2 – ready to leap/climb/dive in to the 3rd and final day tomorrow…

Here’s our day 2 round-up, see if you can spot the special appearance by Alex and Rachel…

MfE Summer School 2024 Day 1 – On your marks…

5th August 2024 Music for Everyone

Fortunately for us, there was no rain and no upside down flag at the Opening Ceremony for MfE’s Olympic themed 2024 Summer School today. We have once again returned to the picturesque setting of Trent College in Long Eaton, beginning with the traditional tea, coffee and pastries with a welcome from Chair of Trustees John and Summer School coordinator Robin.

Then it was off to rehearsals, we’re delighted to welcome back Hilary Campbell to lead the choir and Keiron Anderson to direct the wind band and saxophone ensemble, with Artistic Director Alex Robinson taking the orchestra and strings.

The first guest artists of Summer School 2024 are folk-jazz fusion duo Katie Foster (violin) and Ben Sayah (guitar) who wowed us with their lunchtime recital, including improvisation, folk and bluegrass (with a bit of audience participation too of course!)

A workshop with Katie and Ben in the afternoon encouraged the string players to get creative with improvisation, amazing how inspired you can be looking at some dots and squiggles on a page!

Elsewhere the saxes have been working hard in their ensemble and in the wind band and the choir have been working in sectionals with Hilary and Rachel.

A wonderful first day all round which seemed to fly by, just remember, it’s a marathon, not the 100m hurdles…

#MfEMonday – 29th July 2024

29th July 2024 Music for Everyone

Summer School: Excitement is building at MfE as we approach our Summer School beginning on 5th August with music loosely based around the Paris Olympics!

Light the torch in the symphony orchestra with extracts from Stravinsky’s Firebird, explore the city streets in Ellerby’s Paris sketches for wind band and discover Hymne au soleil by Lili Boulanger with the chamber choir. The strings will leap into the athletic world of Vivaldi’s Overture to L’Olimpiade and the saxophones will take on a ‘jazzy’ challenge.

Unfortunately, the brass group Quartet Menine have had to cancel. However, we are delighted to announce that the brass quintet ‘Heron Brass’ will be attending to give a recital and brass workshop.

Formed while studying at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, Heron Brass have gained recognition as recent finalists in the Philip Jones International Brass Ensemble competition. They enjoy exploring new or lesser-performed works for brass and choral arrangements, without forgetting some of the established classics of the repertoire. We can’t wait to see them in action!

There are still places for brass, bassoon, viola, tenors and basses. If you are interested in joining us, please click here.

Bring your friends along to the Showcase Concert for a musical treat on Wednesday 7th August at 5.20pm, Trent College, Long Eaton. Tickets are £5 and include drinks and nibbles! Available here.

Have you been watching the Olympics this weekend? The Opening Ceremony took place in Paris on Friday evening, showcasing a variety of music.

For all the information on music from the ceremony, click here.

Bookwise in Nottingham has been having quite a makeover recently with new shutters, easier ramp access and a paint refresh! We are just waiting for the new signage on the shop front to finish the look. Watch this space…

Have a great week!

Your friends at MfE

29/07/2024

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

10 Goose Gate | Hockley | NG1 1FF

#MfEMonday – 22nd July 2024

22nd July 2024 Music for Everyone

Summer School 2024 – Calling trumpet and bassoon players! We still have a few places left for these instruments on this years Summer School, 5^th – 7^th August at Trent College, Long Eaton. Places for other instruments and singers are filling up fast, but do get in touch if you are interested to go on the waiting list in case of cancellations: https://www.music-for-everyone.org/event/summer-school-2024/

Events for our next season are open for booking! The next BANDWISE and STRINGWISE workshops are on 9^th & 10^th November, open to all young woodwind, brass, percussion and string players. The joint concert on 17^th November takes place at Nottingham’s Albert Hall. Find out more via the links below.

Bandwise: https://www.music-for-everyone.org/event/byme-bandwise-nov24/

Stringwise: https://www.music-for-everyone.org/event/byme-stringwise-nov24/

On Friday our Open Voices Sherwood singers treated a packed St Martin’s to a semi-staged performance of Oliver! With costumes, staging, drama and excellent singing, it was quite the spectacular.

Well done to Cliff, Vic, and all the volunteers, members and carers.

Did you catch the First Night of the Proms on Friday? You may have seen Director of BBC Symphony Chorus Neil Ferris take a bow as chorus master of the thrilling performance, including Handel’s Music for Royal Fireworks. If you missed it, you can catch up on all the proms through BBC iPlayer: https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m00216m5/bbc-proms-2024-first-night-of-the-proms

We are delighted to announce that Neil Ferris will be joining us for a choral workshop day at NTU Clifton on 28^th June 2025, a date for your diary – not to be missed!

Nottingham Lunchtime Voices dates for the Autumn term have now been published on our website and booking is open if you would like to reserve your place for the coming term. Find all the info here: https://www.music-for-everyone.org/whats-on/adult-music/workers-lunchtime-choir/

Have a great week!

Your friends at MfE

22/07/2024

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

10 Goose Gate | Hockley | NG1 1FF