#MfEMondays

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

10 Goose Gate | Hockley | NG1 1FF

#MfEMonday – 31st March 2025

31st March 2025 Music for Everyone

Nottingham Chamber Singers and Players gave a stunning performance of their ‘Easter Images’ concert to a packed church in Ruddington on Saturday evening. Conducted by Angela Kay and Rachel Parkes and using different parts of the building to enhance the story, the concert included music by Bach, Handel, Rachmaninov and Poulenc interspersed with reading by Robin Reece-Crawford and Robert Carlin. A particular highlight was the beautiful performance by Rachel Parkes (voice) and Helen Tonge (violin) of ‘Erbarme dich, mein Gott’ from Bach’s St Matthew Passion.

A concert which will long remain in the memories of both performers and audience alike.

Lunchtime Voices invite you to join their OPEN SING this Thursday 3^rd April as part of the Theatre Royal and Concert Hall’s Soundstage festival. No booking necessary, open to all seasoned and new singers, just turn up and join Rachel and the gang for a musical lunchtime! Thursday 3^rd April, 12.30pm – 1.30pm in the Level 4 Foyer of the Royal Concert Hall.

See the full list of concerts and events forming the Soundstage festival here: https://trch.co.uk/soundstage/

We have another exciting concert coming up this weekend, from the MfE youth groups! Come and support them on Saturday 5^th April, 3pm at Sherwood Methodist Church as they celebrate the arrival of spring in their end of term concert. Tickets are available here in advance: https://www.music-for-everyone.org/event/yth-concert/ and will also be available on the door.

We were recently pointed to a series of programmes on Radio 3 with Jenni Murray, as she investigates and celebrates female composers – with the added bonus of an excellent playlist to go with it!

This particular episode focuses on those women who were forced to publish ‘undercover’ using pseudonyms to avoid prejudice, some of whom are still a mystery to this day. Did you realise these pieces were composed by women?

Listen to Jenni’s programme here on BBC Sounds: Music Matters – Jenni Murray’s Women Composers – Undercover – BBC Sounds

An upcoming concert that may interest you: Heart and Soul | National Youth Choir Concert – Friday 18^th April 2025, 5pm – Albert Hall Nottingham. National Youth Choir (15-18 Years) put their heart and soul into this rich and varied Bank Holiday concert,where they explore themes of life, friendship, courage and love through the voices of different composers from a mix of cultures, places and eras. See attached flier for more details.

The concert features the national choir of teenage singers aged 15 -18 plus a pre-concert singing session for all ages to join in (4pm). This will be conducted by the fantastic Neil Ferris, who is also leading our Singing Workshop on 28^th June.

Have a great week!

Your friends at MfE

31/03/2025

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

10 Goose Gate | Hockley | NG1 1FF

The best classical music for studying and helping you focus

#MfEMonday – 24th March 2025

24th March 2025 Music for Everyone

The Big Give:

We asked, and wow did you deliver! Thanks to your incredible generosity, we smashed our target of £2,500 within the first 24 hours! The Daytime Voices cake sales alone raised over £1000 and still counting! With match funding from the Big Give, our total now stands at £5,809 and we still have 24 hours to go! All of the money raised will go towards supporting our wonderful Open Voices groups. Donations can still be made here.

If you were thinking of donating, but didn’t get round to it, you could always donate to our Supporters’ Scheme and become part of our musical family! Supporter perks include :

Have your name listed in our concert programmes (optional)

Be invited to special annual concert event for Supporters
Receive a termly e-newsletter about our latest charitable adult and youth initiatives

Click here for more information or to join.

Upcoming concerts:

Nottingham Chamber Singers, Easter Images – Saturday 29 March, St Peters Ruddington, 7:30pm

MfE’s Nottingham Chamber Singers and Players warmly invite you to join them this coming Saturday, 29 March, at 7.30pm in St Peter’s Church, Ruddington, for their special ‘Easter Images’ concert.

Conducted by Angela Kay and Rachel Parkes, the programme showcases outstanding choral and instrumental pieces associated with the story of Easter. It includes excerpts from Handel’s Messiah, Bach’s St John and St Matthew Passions and Rachmaninov’s Vespers, with exquisite interludes by Brahms and Purcell. Poems and Gospel readings link with the music to tell a reflective and joyful story.

St Peter’s church is warm and comfortable and refreshments will be served by the choir. Tickets (£13 full, £12 conc., £5 child/student) are available online by clicking here and on the door. We would love to see you there.

MfE Youth Groups, The Spirit of Spring – Saturday 5th April, Sherwood Methodist Church, 3pm
Music for Everyone’s Strictly Strings, Youth String Orchestra, and Youth Bands bring you a joyful springtime concert bursting with youthful energy and talent. Tickets available here or on the door.

Got a young person cramming for exams? If so, help them hit peak focus with 15 of the best pieces of classical music to aid mental focus and concentration!

Helpers needed for Vocals! Our next singing workshop and concert for young children (school years 1 – 8) is coming up soon on 26^th & 27^th April and we would love for some enthusiastic adults to join the support team!

General duties would be helping with registration and supervision throughout the day, joining in the magical singing with Rachel Parkes, Sara King and Helen Maddison and manning the all-important tuck shop! If you are interested, please email kirstie@music-for-everyone.org

Have a great week!

Your friends at MfE

24/03/2025

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

10 Goose Gate | Hockley | NG1 1FF

#MfEMonday – 17th March 2025

17th March 202518th March 2025 Music for Everyone

March is off to a very musical start! One hundred singers came together for our West End to Broadway event on Saturday led by the inspirational Rachel Parkes and gave a fantastic performance of hits from the shows including Les Misérables, Wicked and Fiddler on the Roof. They were joined by members of Open Voices with hits from Mary Poppins and fantastic solos from The Greatest Showman and Les Miserables.

Sunday saw our Bandwise and Stringwise musicians taking part in the Big Youth Music Experience concert at the Albert Hall. Over 130 young people performed a wide variety of music from Handel’s Concerto Grosso to the theme from Wallace and Grommit!

All finishing with combined bands and strings with a rousing rendition of the Toreadors Song from ‘Carmen’.

Well done to everyone involved!

Exciting news! Big Give week is here!!

Music for Everyone has been accepted to Big Give’s ‘Arts for Impact’ Week starting tomorrow (Tuesday 18th March) for one week only and we need your help!

The Big Give is a fantastic match-funding platform that will double every pound we raise (up to £2,500). That means your donation goes twice as far in supporting our much-loved Open Voices groups. These sessions bring joy, music, and connection to so many, and with your help, we can continue the great work. See the attached flyer for more information.

For donations to be doubled, they must be made through our Arts for Impact campaign page using a valid debit or credit card from midday Tuesday 18th March to midday Tuesday 25th March. Look out for our messages from tomorrow with the link to donate!

Job vacancy! We are looking for maternity cover for the post of Youth Programme Co-ordinator, Marketing and Finance Officer. Please follow the link or see the attached advert for further details and forward on to anyone who might be interested. The closing date for applications is Friday 11^th April.

Have a great week!

Your friends at MfE

17/03/2025

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

10 Goose Gate | Hockley | NG1 1FF

#MfEMonday – 10th March 2025

10th March 2025 Music for Everyone

This weekend has seen over 130 young instrumentalists attend the twice-annual Bandwise and Stringwise workshop days at South Nottinghamshire Academy. Lots of music-making and fun was had, we can’t wait to hear all the groups in their concert at the Albert Hall next Sunday!

Places are now full for the From West End to Broadway workshop day this coming Saturday 15^th March, but why not come and support the choir in their early evening concert!

Tickets available to buy in advance here: https://www.music-for-everyone.org/event/from-west-end-to-broadway/ or buy on the door, subject to availability.

The bar will be open from 4.30pm to grab a drink before the concert at 5pm.

It was International Women’s Day on Saturday 8^th March, so we’d like to take a moment to recognise all the incredible women in music, from composers, performers and conductors taking over the world, to the strong women of MfE!

One woman who has recently gained attention is the first full-time female musician in the New York Philharmonic, Orin O’Brien. A double bass player, she was hired under the baton of Leonard Bernstein and a documentary telling her story won an Oscar for Best Documentary Short Film at the recent 2025 Awards. ‘The Only Girl in the Orchestra’ is available to watch on Netflix and you can read more of her story here: https://www.classicfm.com/artists/new-york-philharmonic/orin-obrien-first-woman-orchestra-interview/

The Nottingham University and Chamber Choirs invite MfE members to their next concert on Saturday 22^nd March 7.30pm in the Great Hall, Trent Building. Featuring Will Todd’s Mass in Blue with singer Lorna James and guest jazz trio Sharp Little Bones. The programme is a gorgeous mix of French, jazz-inspired and Lenten music. Both choirs are conducted by MfE’s wonderful Rachel Parkes – come and support the next choral generation! Tickets and more information can be found here: https://www.lakesidearts.org.uk/event/university-choir-chamber-choir-2/
Teak 1970s piano is available, in great condition – pictures below. If you, or anyone you know, community groups or individuals, are interested, please email us and we will put you in touch with the owner.
PIANO STOOL WITH MUSIC COMPARTMENT. If you need a stool to go with the piano, we also have one of those on offer too! Contact the office for more details.

Have a great week!

Your friends at MfE

10/03/2025

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

10 Goose Gate | Hockley | NG1 1FF

#MfEMonday – 3rd March 2025

3rd March 2025 Music for Everyone

The new MfE brochure has landed!

Chock-full of exciting music-making opportunities and wonderful concerts to attend from March to August. Click this link to view, and look out for it at your next rehearsal.

Upcoming Events:

From West End to Broadway concert – 15 March, John Godber Centre, Hucknall.

Come and enjoy an enchanting cabaret performance featuring songs from Wicked, Les Misérables and Fiddler on the Roof, with guest appearances from acclaimed baritone, Simon Theobald, and our joyful Open Voices choir. Unwind with a drink from the bar as you soak in the magic of a live performance. Tickets cost just £8 and can be purchased online here or by calling the office on 0115 958 9312.

Singing workshop with Neil Ferris – 28 June, St Martin’s Church, Sherwood.

Places are still available for this workshop. Please note, the workshop will take place at St Martin’s Church, Sherwood and not Nottingham Trent University. Click here to book or call us at 0115 958 9312.

Did you know that more than 1,000 musicians have recorded a silent album to protest plans to let AI use their music. The album titled Is This What We Want? has 12 tracks of ‘almost silence’ from over 1000 artists including Hans Zimmer and John Rutter. Follow this link to the full article to find out more: More than 1,000 musicians record ‘silent album’ to protest plans to let AI use… – Classic FM

Three upcoming community events which may interest you:

Brass through the ages Concert – 7^th March, 7.30pm, University Hall NTU – showcasing the historical development of brass instruments and classical music from Renaissance to the contempory of today! Tickets now available and can be purchased here: Brass Through The Ages Tickets. See attached flyer for further details.
Carlton Male Voice Choir Concert – 8^th March, 7pm The Boat and Horses, 137 Trent Road, Beeston NG9 1LP – A concert supporting Forces in the Community – a local chariable organisation dedicated to help the ex-military community. Tickets are available here for £5 plus booking fee. See attached flyer for further details.
Let’s Make a Soundtrack Youth Event – 22^nd-23^rd March – an incredible opportunity for musicians of any age and ability to join players from the BBC Concert Orchestra and create a brand-new soundtrack to a BBC video clip. Follow this link for further details: Theatre Royal & Royal Concert Hall

Have a great week!

Your friends at MfE

03/03/2025

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#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!

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

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

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#MfEMonday – 10th February 2025

10th February 2025 Music for Everyone

We’re having a quieter February at MfE so here’s a reminder of what’s coming up in March – it’s going to be a busy one!

Bandwise & Stringwise is still open for bookings. If you know a young musician, please encourage them to sign up to receive their music pack! Workshops take place over the weekend 8^th & 9^th March, followed by a joint concert on Sunday 16^th March at Nottingham’s Albert Hall!

To sign up for Bandwise, click here: BYME – Bandwise 2025

To sign up for Stringwise, click here: BYME – Stringwise 2025

From West End to Broadway – Musicals workshop day on Saturday 15^th March.

At the John Godber Centre in Hucknall, the day is lead by Rachel Parkes with guest compere Simon Theobald. With songs from Wicked, Les Miserables and Fiddler on the Roof.

Easter Images – a concert by the Nottingham Chamber Singers on Saturday 29^th March, 7.30pm.

St Peter’s Church, Ruddington.

A rich sequence of outstanding choral and instrumental pieces, linked by readings will take you on a reflective yet joyful Easter journey.

Book tickets here: NCS concert: Easter Images

We have recently started to create some short videos about the many wonderful music opportunities we have at Music for Everyone, here’s our first 2 videos (created and edited by Nathan Duffy) featuring West Bridgford Daytime Voices: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=snN1lXlHzCI and West Bridgford Open Voices: https://youtu.be/M3e_t5IgGXU

Please share far and wide, more videos coming soon!

Hearing Words in a sea of noise

Student Akshaya Jeyasri from NTU is recruiting individuals aged above 18 years, who learn/practice MUSIC: singing (with less than 2 years of formal music training) for a research study as part of her PhD, which investigates how people understand speech in noisy situations and if practising a skill for 2 hrs a week benefit this.

Why is this study important?

Hearing in noisy situations is a skill which is found impaired in people even with normal hearing and it also declines with age. Engaging ourselves in learning a skill can help us manage with the decline. This study will help us to find out the factors which affects the normal processing and see how the short course could benefit this.

What does the study involve?

You will attend 2 lab visits at NTU City Campus

Visit 1 (~3 hours) Could be split between 2 sessions if required. Each visit involves completing several tasks, including one that measures your brain activity.

Visit 2 (~3 hours): after 8 weeks/sessions of your course. In which you will complete similar tasks as the first visit.

Interested or have questions? Follow this link https://forms.office.com/e/xm1RXzsmic to participate and gain a chance to win £50 prize voucher.

Please reach out for more information. Email: akshaya.kannan2023@my.ntu.ac.uk

Have a great week!

Your friends at MfE

10/02/2025

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 – 27th January 2025

27th January 2025 Music for Everyone

NFC had a great rehearsal weekend with Rachel and Alex, they all invite you to book tickets to listen to their performance NEXT SATURDAY 1st February at Nottingham’s Albert Hall!

Book tickets here: https://www.music-for-everyone.org/event/the-singing-bride-concert/

Here’s a sneak peek and a message from Alex of what’s to come – https://youtu.be/IRb9tv2iRD4

The Daytime Voices and Orchestras all started their spring term last week, but the Nottingham orchestra strings couldn’t wait for last week! They had a get together earlier in January for a catch up, biscuits and a play through of some music. They are also looking forward to planning another theatre trip outing later this year! We love that playing in the Daytime Orchestra has brought these players together and look forward to seeing what other trips and excursions they get up to in the future!

You’ve heard of sight-seeing but what about sound-hearing? It’s so important to listen to the world around us and so many places sound even better than they look. Here are 14 of the most incredible sound destinations on earth, featuring some weird and wonderful acoustics: https://www.classical-music.com/features/science-of-music/weird-acoustics?utm_campaign=Classical%20Music_newsletter_21.01&utm_content=Astonishing%20acoustics&utm_term=&utm_medium=email&utm_source=Adestra

The Choir of St Peter’s Church, Nottingham are trialling a new routine and are looking for new members! If you are interested in joining the choir, see the attached flyer for more details.

Have a great week!

Your friends at MfE

27/01/2025

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

10 Goose Gate | Hockley | NG1 1FF