We are delighted to welcome on board our new Artistic Director, Alex Robinson who officially started on 1st September.

Many of you will have seen Alex back in July when Angela Kay handed over the baton as he conducted the final piece for MfE’s 40th Birthday Celebration weekend!

Alex is an experienced conductor and harpsichordist. He graduated from the University of Manchester with a first-class degree in Music and the Royal Northern College of Music with an MMus in Performance at Distinction level (Conducting).  He is the Music Director of the Lake District’s Furness Bach Choir, the Haffner Orchestra in Lancaster, the Amaretti Chamber Orchestra in Stockport and the Nottingham Youth Orchestra.

Alex says “Music for Everyone really does embrace a wide range of communities and musical repertoire. Over the summer I have been getting to know the groups, staff and volunteers and am excited to work with the team in the next phase of development.”

Our regular Groups are now open for online booking – CLICK HERE to book or for more information about each group click the relevant link below:

Daytime Voices

Daytime Orchestras

Lunchtime Voices

Sunday Afternoon Music – Big Band and Flute Choir

World Drumming


CLICK HERE TO VIEW OUR NEW SEASON BROCHURE!! Lots of exciting musical opportunities to enjoy:

Brochure – Sep23-Feb24 : simplebooklet.com

Brochure – Sep23-Feb24 : simplebooklet.com

simplebooklet.com


As young people nationwide prepare for the start of another school year we thought it might be a good time to do some revision with the Young Persons Guide to the Orchestra. Click here for a refresher course on the sections of a symphony orchestra!

https://youtu.be/rbUbx9cJPX0


  • Last chance to apply if you know of any conductors who would like to take up the baton with our Daytime Orchestras – deadline for applications is 12 noon tomorrow!

Vacancies | Music for Everyone (music-for-everyone.org)

  • Also, Nottingham Chamber Wind Ensemble have a concert on Saturday 9th September at St Mary’s Parish Church, Wirksworth. Tickets available here:

Nottingham Chamber Wind Ensemble online ticket sales powered by TicketSource


Have a great week!

Your friends at MfE.

04/09/2023

admin@music-for-everyone.org

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

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#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.

MfE are hiring!

We are seeking an inspiring and charismatic conductor to lead our Daytime Orchestra programme on a freelance basis. The successful candidate will be an experienced symphony orchestra conductor, with a strong background as an adult educator, animateur and/or teacher.

Deadline for applications: 12 noon on 5th September

Find out more and please do pass this information on to anyone you think might be interested here: https://www.music-for-everyone.org/about-us/vacancies/

Recorder consort workshop day

Saturday 2nd September, Belton House, Grantham

Taking place in the historical setting of Belton House, enjoy a day of recorder playing followed by informal performances to members of the public visiting the house. The workshop day will be led by Chris McDouall.

Find out more and book here: https://www.music-for-everyone.org/event/recorder-consort-day/


August is turning a bit cold for our liking so here’s a summer holiday playlist to transport you to sunny beaches and proper summer weather: https://www.classical-music.com/features/articles/best-classical-music-summer/



Have a great week!

Your friends at MfE.

14/08/2023

admin@music-for-everyone.org

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

10 Goose Gate | Hockley | NG1 1FF

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#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.

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 19th and 20th 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!

Muppet Songs: Gonzo – Eine Kleine Nachtmusik – YouTube


Have a great week!

Your friends at MfE.

31/07/2023

admin@music-for-everyone.org

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

10 Goose Gate | Hockley | NG1 1FF

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#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.

Hello everyone,

I would just like to say a big ‘thank you’ to everyone who so generously donated to my 40th Anniversary Gift collection – over £2,250, what a wonderful amount. I can’t wait to look round for garden furniture to grace my patio!  Thank you also for all the lovely messages so many of you wrote in the ‘guest book’, such wonderful and touching comments and memories. 

Without you all – singing, playing and being involved in so many ways – I would never have been able to develop MfE into the charity it is today – my deepest thanks to all of you.

Have a good summer,

With love and best wishes 
Angela


This weekend has seen the release of 2 long-awaited very different, films, and whether you are a Barbie fan, or an Oppenheimer fan (or perhaps both or neither!) both feature some iconic music…

The ‘Barbie’ film’s opening scene features Richard Strauss’ Also Sprach Zarathustra, a very dramatic beginning to introduce an 11.5-inch doll! You might also recognise the tune from the ‘2001: A Space Odyssey’ film. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Szdziw4tI9o

Throughout the ‘Oppenheimer’ soundtrack, the sound of strings can be heard often, which was a request from the film director Christopher Nolan, who wanted the violin in particular to feature to fit with the high emotions of pain, grief and drama.

Listen out for these features if you’re going to see one!



Have a great week!

Your friends at MfE.

24/07/2023

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10 Goose Gate | Hockley | NG1 1FF

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Everyone at Music for Everyone is still on a high from this weekend’s magnificent 40th anniversary celebrations!

Nearly 1000 people descended on the Albert Hall to celebrate 40 years of music making, recounting many highs from the last four decades and looking forward to the next four.

On Saturday, we celebrated our youth programme, with hundreds of young people taking part in an impressive concert.

Earlier in the day, celebrated folk violinist and MfE alumnus Sam Sweeney led a workshop with our youth string players, the fruits of which raised the roof in the afternoon concert.

Also featured were our Youth Bands, Vocals choir, Strictly Strings training orchestra, and a wonderful line up of ‘big kids’ — alumni youth participants who returned as adult players to share in the day. 


On Sunday, members of our Daytime Voices choirs, the Nottingham Chamber Singers, Nottingham and Loughborough Daytime Orchestras, Nottingham Concert Orchestra, Big Band and Flute Choir, were amassed to give a triumphant concert featuring excerpts from favoured programmes from the last 40 years.

This included works by Brahms, Handel, Freddie Mercury and, excitingly, the world premiere of a new fanfare by composer Libby Croad.

Sunday’s concert was rounded off with a performance of the Hallelujah Chorus, conducted by our incoming artistic director Alex Robinson.

We proceeded to finish this fantastic weekend with celebratory tea and cake, after a special moment on stage with Angela Kay.


Thank you and well done to everyone who participated and made the weekend so extremely special!


  • Did you see our Exhibition this weekend? Showcasing Music for Everyone’s history over the past four decades, it was great to see so many wonderful memories.
  • Thank you to Minder and everyone who helped make such a special display.

Have a great week!

Your friends at MfE.

04/07/2023

admin@music-for-everyone.org

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

10 Goose Gate | Hockley | NG1 1FF

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Good morning!

Unless you’ve been up in space for the last 6 months, you’ll know that this week is a very big week for Music for Everyone with our celebration weekend now just 5 days away!

As a warmup to the weekend, all of this week you can catch our brilliant Daytime Voices Groups in action at their informal end of term concerts. This is a great chance to bring along family, friends or people who might be looking for a choir to join in September…

The dates, times and locations are as follows (tea and cake for 30mins, followed by short concert FREE, with donations for cakes). Please do come and support your local group:

Monday:

Hucknall DTV – 11.15 at the John Godber Centre Ogle Street

& Southwell DTV – 3pm at Southwell Methodist Church

Tuesday:

West Bridgford DTV – 3pm at West Bridgford Baptist Church

Wednesday:

Wollaton DTV – 3.15pm at St Leonard’s Community Centre, Wollaton

Thursday:

Sherwood DTV – 3pm at Sherwood Methodist Church

We can’t wait to see you on Saturday for ‘Spotlight on Youth’ where we will be showcasing the talent of our youth groups, along with our alumni and special star guest and folk fiddle player Sam Sweeney – book your tickets here to be part of this fun afternoon and to support the next generation of MfE.

Then on Sunday our adult choirs and orchestras will be coming together with over 300 performers to celebrate in style. We have a brand new 40th anniversary fanfare commissioned specially by MfE to Nottinghamshire composer Libby Croad, along with well-known favourites by Brahms, Orff, Rutter, Elgar, Rodgers and Hammerstein and even…Queen! The Sunday Jazz and flute groups will be warming us up before the concert and tickets are available here. It promises to be a fantastic weekend and will be a chance for us to formally thank Angela Kay for a spectacular 40 years, whilst welcoming Alex Robinson, who has recently been appointed as Music for Everyone’s Artistic Director, starting from 1st September. Alex is an experienced conductor and harpsichordist, and you can read more about him here https://alexrobinsonconductor.co.uk/biography


As the countdown to our Celebration Weekend continues MfE Founder, Angela Kay and MfE Chair, John Hess have been hitting the airways!.

When Angela went along to watch the Women’s Ashes match at Trent Bridge on Friday she didn’t expect to receive an invite to appear as the guest on the BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra Test Match Special afternoon ‘tea break’ spot. But word had got out to the TMS team that Angela was in the crowd, that she was a keen cricket fan and that the 40th Anniversary of the charity she founded in 1983 was coming up. They wanted to know more and so an interview was arranged with their top presenter, Alison Mitchell which proved to be both informative and entertaining.  It really is worth a listen, just click here.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jSz6vkyQ-6Q&list=PLQAO4RYdubNoXXOvRnTeoiZsBIimxhTaY&index=2

John Hess was also invited to go along to Notts TV to be interviewed in their Friday evening ‘Great Local’ spot.  Click here to go straight to the programme. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4qNDKQcTazk&list=PLQAO4RYdubNoXXOvRnTeoiZsBIimxhTaY&index=1

So if you haven’t bought your tickets yet do come along and be part of the action!


  • Next week a bumper edition of MfEMondays will be appearing in your email box a little later than usual. This is to give everyone time to prepare a special Bumper Edition with lots of pictures and reports on our Celebration weekend.

Have a great week!

Your friends at MfE.

26/06/2023

admin@music-for-everyone.org

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

10 Goose Gate | Hockley | NG1 1FF

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#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.

What a lovely day of music making we had on Saturday at the June ‘Blow the Dust off your Instrument’ day! 120 players took cover from the heat in Nottingham’s Albert Hall for a fabulous day of Elgar, Leroy Anderson and Queen!

12 DAYS TO GO!

The countdown has begun to the big BIRTHDAY WEEKEND! We’re so excited to welcome so many singers and players (over 400 performers!) to the 2 days to help us celebrate.

As well as the 2 concerts (Spotlight on Youth on Saturday 1st July and A Musical Celebration on Sunday 2nd July) here is what else will be on offer…

  • Video messages from Sheku Kanneh-Mason, Brian Kay, John Rutter and more!
  • MfE’s new world drumming ensemble will be playing in the Osborne Suite before the concert on 1st July and Sunday Afternoon Big Band and Flute Choir will be playing in the Osborne Suite before the concert on 2nd July.
  • There will be an exhibition taking you back through the decades, including photos, letters and the famous MfE pencil!

We’d love to see as many as possible in the audience, so do encourage family and friends to come along to watch and support on both days, details below.

Saturday 1st July, 3.30pm ‘Spotlight on Youth’

Ticket prices: £10 for adults, £5 for children/students

Link to book tickets: https://www.music-for-everyone.org/event/a-musical-celebration-spotlight-on-youth/

We are beyond excited to be welcoming one of Britain’s finest folk-fiddle players of the moment, and MfE youth alumnus Sam Sweeney to headline this concert.

Sam will be performing one of his own numbers from his recent album ‘Escape this’ as well as joining the combined strings and voices of MfE’s youth ensembles for a special arrangement and world premiere of a local Nottinghamshire folk-song about… watercress!!!

The event will also feature music from our talented bands, strings and singers and there will be something for everyone to inspire the next generation of Nottingham born and bred music-makers.

Sunday 2nd July, 3.30pm ‘A Musical Celebration’

Ticket prices: £15 for adults, £7.50 for children/students, includes souvenir programme and birthday cake!

Link to book tickets: https://www.music-for-everyone.org/event/a-musical-celebration-concert/

Bringing together over 300 performers from Daytime Voices, Orchestras, the Nottingham Festival Chorus, Chamber Singers and Concert Orchestra and opening with a brand new fanfare commission by Libby Croad ‘Hail, Bright Cecilia!’ the concert also includes ‘O Fortuna’ from Orff’s Carmina Burana, ‘Hallelujah Chorus’ from Handel’s Messiah and more!


Other things that are turning 40 this year!


  • The Sunday Afternoon Big Band, Flute Choir and members of the youth bands enjoyed a jazz workshop with celebrated jazz musician Tony Kofi yesterday – learning new techniques and getting to grips with improv! Well done all who took part!

   


Have a great week!

Your friends at MfE.

19/06/2023

admin@music-for-everyone.org

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

10 Goose Gate | Hockley | NG1 1FF

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#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.

Yesterday, singers young and ‘less young’ gathered at The Grange, Radcliffe for our Family Sing day. 

On a hot, sunny day, the singers were able to cool off with songs from Kool and the Gang (see what we did there?!) and dip their toes in the water with Under the Sea from the Little Mermaid. 

They were transported to the Caribbean with a special performance from our new Steel Pan group supported by Music Leader Nicola Coker and her band Pure Steel, and were even able to have a go themselves!

It’s not too late to book for Blow the Dust this coming Sunday.  We are particularly keen to hear from violas, bassoons and brass.  Music can be emailed to you in advance, so don’t miss out on your opportunity to take part in this fun and relaxed playing day. To book, click here.

Here’s our latest brochure with details of everything happening from April – August. Click on the picture below to read through the brochure.

Please also share this link far and wide!


You know by now how much we love a playlist in the MfE office, so now that the Summer has finally arrived, here are 15 pieces of summery classical music to enjoy in the garden with a G&T.


  • Fun Fact: The oldest instrument is 50,000 years old.  The earliest indications of humans wearing underwear date from 20,000 years ago.  So, for approximately 40,000 we had music but no pants!

Read the full story here.


Have a great week!

Your friends at MfE.

12/06/2023

admin@music-for-everyone.org

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

10 Goose Gate | Hockley | NG1 1FF

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We hope you have been enjoying the sunshine recently! It is a busy time for us all at MfE, as we gear up for an exciting summer of concerts, courses and workshops.

Don’t forget to book for the FAMILY SING, which is happening this Sunday 11 June from 2.00pm to 5.00pm at The Grange in Radcliffe on Trent.  The whole family is invited to take part. It promises to be an uplifting experience, open to all keen singers aged 5+ (children must be accompanied by an adult). You will be singing favourites like ‘Celebration’ by Kool and the Gang and ‘Under the Sea’ from the Little Mermaid.

Special guests Pure Steel and our new Steel Pan ensemble will also be performing on the day. There will be an opportunity to ‘have a go’ at playing steel pan.

Full details and booking link here: https://www.music-for-everyone.org/event/family-sing-workshop/  


NEW PROJECT CO-ORDINATOR – We are pleased to announce the appointment of Minder Kaur Athwal as our new Project Co-ordinator, supporting the 40th Anniversary season.  Minder is helping the team to deliver the 1st and 2nd July celebration events, as well as collating the exhibition for the Albert Hall.  We would like to thank Arts Council England for enabling this appointment and we welcome Minder on board.

BLOW THE DUST OFF YOUR INSTRUMENT is on Saturday 17 June – places are still available and we particularly welcome applications from bassoon, viola and brass players.  Items include Edward Elgar’s rousing Imperial March Op.32 and Queen’s iconic rock anthem We are the Champions. Find out full details and book online here: https://www.music-for-everyone.org/event/blow-the-dust-off-your-instrument-3/ or contact the office on 0115 9589312.

TONY KOFI will be leading a special workshop with the Sunday Afternoon Music group, for those who wish to attend.  Tony is a jazz multi-instrumentalist born of Ghanaian parents, player of Alto, Baritone, Soprano, Tenor saxophones and flute. This closed workshop has been made possible through Arts Council England’s National Lottery Project Grants.

SUMMER SCHOOL – Monday 7th to Wednesday 9th August at Trent College, Long Eaton. Three days of shared music making with workshops for intermediate and advanced musicians aged 16+.


A MUSICAL CELEBRATION – 40th Anniversary Weekend 1 – 2 July 2023. Come and be part of Music for Everyone’s 40th birthday celebrations. Youth groups and invited alumni will perform on 1st July at 3.30pm. The combined Daytime Voices, Daytime Orchestras, Festival Chorus and Concert Orchestra will perform on Sunday 2nd July at 3.30pm at the Albert Hall

Book tickets for the concert now!

1st July: Spotlight on Youth https://www.music-for-everyone.org/event/a-musical-celebration-spotlight-on-youth/

2nd July: Musical Celebration https://www.music-for-everyone.org/event/a-musical-celebration-concert/


Have a great week!

Your friends at MfE.

05/06/2023

admin@music-for-everyone.org

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

10 Goose Gate | Hockley | NG1 1FF

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Thanks to the Nottingham Chamber Singers for an exquisite concert on Saturday evening.

They were joined by strings from the Nottingham Classical Players in a programme of great contrast and beauty under the baton of Angela Kay. There were moments of great intensity, inventiveness, contemplation, and lyricism. Congratulations to all involved!


We are getting excited about the Family Sing afternoon on 11th June (2-5pm) – a brilliant opportunity for families to enjoy making music together!  Taking place at The Grange in Radcliffe-on-Trent this event is for children age 5+ with their mums, dads, grandparents, carers, aunts and uncles and friends too. No preparation is needed, just bring along your best singing voices!

What are you waiting for?? Click here to book.


Places are still available for all instruments on our Blow the Dust off you Instrument Day at the Albert Hall on 17 June.  We particularly welcome applications from bassoon, brass and viola players.

For more information, click here.

To enrol for Blow the Dust, click here.


Do you know a young person looking for their own cornet?

We have a lovely instrument that has been donated and we would love to find a home for it.

Please get in touch if you can help.

Email: admin@music-for-everyone.org or call 0115 958 9312.


Have a great week!

Your friends at MfE.

22/05/2023

admin@music-for-everyone.org

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

10 Goose Gate | Hockley | NG1 1FF

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#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.