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#MfEMonday – 3rd February 2025

3rd February 2025 Music for Everyone

The Nottingham Festival Chorus and Chamber Singers were in fine voice this weekend for ‘The Singing Bride’ concert at the Albert Hall. They were joined by the Nottingham Concert Orchestra who opened the concert with a sumptuous performance of Delius Walk to the Paradise Garden. We were treated to choral gems by composers Judith Weir, William Walton, Maurice Duruflé and Thomas Tallis before the jewel in the crown, Mozart’s Mass in C minor with some stunning soloists! Well done to everyone involved.

Calling all Musicals fans! Booking is open for our ‘West End to Broadway’ singing workshop day on Saturday 15^th March with the fabulous Rachel Parkes. We will be joined by special guest Simon Theobald as baritone and compere. Click here to sign up or call the office on 0115 958 9312.

The MfE team are really pleased to introduce Ella who recently joined us as an Administrator. She will be sharing the role with Laura so that between them they cover every morning. Ella is a keen singer and has also played trumpet in our Bandwise events. Welcome to the team!

We all know how amazing music can make us feel, but why?! Neuroscientist Daniel Levitin has recently published a fascinating book called “Music as Medicine”. In it he explores the healing power of music, and the cutting-edge research which examines how sound affects the brain.

Below is a link to a review in the Guardian: https://www.theguardian.com/books/2025/jan/14/music-as-medicine-by-daniel-levitin-review-musician-heal-thyself

Also featured on BBC Radio 4 programme ‘Start the Week’. Click the link to have a listen:

All the more reason to keep enjoying the music!

Trumpet looking for a new home. One of our members has donated a trumpet. If anyone is interested please contact the office for further details: admin@music-for-everyone.org / 0115 958 9312
Nottingham Bach Choir is running a Singing Bursary Competition this year for local singers aged 16-26. The prize is £2,000. The closing date is 7th March 2025. A link to the website giving further details and an application form follows: https://nottinghambachchoir.org.uk/liz-chant-bursary/If you have any questions then please do not hesitate to contact bursary@nottinghambachchoir.co.uk

The Cranmer Singers are organising a “Fun and Sing” on Saturday 1st March. All comers welcome. See attached flyer for details.

Have a great week!

Your friends at MfE

03/02/2025

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#MfEMonday – 13th January 2025

13th January 2025 Music for Everyone

We are still buzzing from a truly epic ‘Blow the Dust off Your Instrument’ orchestral playing day on Saturday. Over 180 ‘dusty’ instrumentalists squeezed into the Albert Hall for a fun, relaxed day of music making with our expert tutors and conductors. We were particularly delighted to welcome so many new people, including cricketing commentator, Jonathan Agnew, who has recently returned to playing the Euphonium after a break of nearly 40 years!

Those of you who listen to TMS might recall that during the summer of 2023, MfE Founder, Artistic Adviser and cricket fan, Angela Kay was the guest interviewee during the afternoon tea break of the Trent Bridge Test. During that interview, and much to the delight of the TMS commentary team, she revealed that Aggers was, in his youth, a very fine tuba player. Did that revelation rekindle a desire in Aggers to play once more, or was it hearing the Melton Mowbray Brass Band performing at a concert? Either way, Aggers has taken up playing a brass instrument again, and is now an enthusiastic player of the euphonium as was ably demonstrated on Saturday.

According to his wife, Emma, who went on social media after the concert, ‘John had the BEST day! What a fabulous experience’. Perhaps we might see Aggers at future MfE events.

Also ‘Blowing the Dust’ was Angela who joined the brass section playing tenor horn, an instrument she played at college, and hasn’t touched for 50 years! Many thanks to Windblowers for loaning an instrument to Angela.

A huge congratulations to all who took part. You really were amazing! We’re looking forward to seeing you all at the next Blow the Dust on 14 June.

As the Nottingham Festival Chorus big concert at Nottingham’s Albert Hall approaches, ‘The Singing Bride’, (have you got your tickets yet? Book here! https://www.music-for-everyone.org/event/the-singing-bride-concert/) it’s got us thinking about other musical, romantic (and occasionally tragic) stories – let us know who your favourites are, if not listed here!

Beethoven & Countess Josephine von Brunsvik

Though Beethoven never married, he was desperately in love with Countess Josephine von Brunsvik for much of his life. They met in 1799 when Beethoven began working as Josephine’s piano tutor. Despite some affection on Josephine’s side, her family quickly married her off to the far more eligible (and much older) Joseph Count Deym.

Wagner & Cosima Liszt

Cosima, daughter of the Hungarian composer and pianist Franz Liszt, first met Wagner while on honeymoon with her first husband, Hans von Bülow. It was while sharing conducting duties with von Bülow at a concert in Leipzig that Wagner was ‘utterly transported by the sight of Cosima’. Though they were both still married, they began a relationship, and Cosima gave birth to two daughters that Bülow accepted as his own.

Brahms & Clara Schumann

Brahms introduced himself to the Schumanns in 1853, aged 20, and became a fast family friend. Brahms was deeply in love with Clara. In 1855, while Robert Schumann was in an asylum following a suicide attempt, Brahms wrote to her a passionate plea: ‘I can do nothing but think of you… What have you done to me? Can’t you remove the spell you have cast over me?’ After Robert’s death the couple almost married, but Brahms seems to have abandoned her.

BOOKWISE NEWARK are looking for new volunteers to join the team! If anyone in Newark or the surrounding area would consider volunteering in our Newark Bookwise shop, please contact Hilary Newton 60hilnewt@gmail.com Shifts are 10am – 1pm and 1pm – 4pm (4.30pm in summer months) Mondays – Saturdays.
Vacancy: Musical Director of Wind Orchestra. Freelance position. Loughborough.

Charnwood Symphonic Wind Orchestra is a 35-piece wind orchestra based in Loughborough. We rehearse on Sunday evenings in term time and perform at 5-7concerts per year. The position of Musical Director will be vacant from Spring 2025. We are seeking an MD to bring out the best of the band in a friendly, informal atmosphere. This will be a freelance paid position. For more information about the band please see www.charnwoodconcertbands.co.uk

Please write with an expression of interest and details of your relevant experience to Christine.Cassell@gmail.com

Closing date 17th January 2025.

Have a great week!

Your friends at MfE

13/01/2025

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

10 Goose Gate | Hockley | NG1 1FF

#MfEMonday – 16th December 2024

16th December 2024 Music for Everyone

It was “All Aboard” the Polar Express and other festive favourites in yesterdays annual MfE Christmas is Coming concert! With over 200 performers and a full house in the audience, it was a joyous occasion – a huge WELL DONE to our youth Vocals choir, the Nottingham Community Voices and Nottingham Chamber Singers for all their hard work.

Congratulations to the Nottingham Daytime Orchestra for their end of term concert last Thursday, a great way to finish a busy term!

MfE do Carol singing at the Test Match Pub in West Bridgford on Wednesday 18th December from 6pm – come and join us! All welcome, carol books are provided.

The office will be closed from Monday 23^rd December – Thursday 2^nd January, reopening on Friday 3^rd Jan. Bookwise is still open (normal opening times) apart from bank holiday days. For details of MfE events and groups in 2025, check the website: https://www.music-for-everyone.org/

In a letter from Buckingham Palace, King Charles has conveyed “his warmest good wishes” to Music for Everyone and his “sincere thanks” for our invitation to His Majesty to attend our “In the King’s Company” concert in October. The King says he is most grateful for thinking of him, but was unable to accept our offer to attend due to the volume of requests he receives.

In the letter to our chair of trustees John Hess, the King says he was “most interested to learn a bit about Music for Everyone and our work in Nottingham.”

Devised by our artistic director Alex Robinson, “In the King’s Company” was a celebration of the baroque music and song from the royal courts of England and France.

King Charles also says he hopes the occasion was “enjoyable for all involved”, and thanks us for our “thoughtful “letter and “truly generous “invitation.

As this is our final MfEMonday of 2024, we’d like to take this opportunity to look back on a year of music-making and wish you and your families a very Merry Christmas and a joyful New Year – here’s to an even more musical 2025!

One of our members, David, has been getting creative to raise funds for Open Voices. He has turned one of his paintings into a Christmas card which has been purchased by singers at Beeston, Wollaton, and West Bridgford Daytime Voices and raised £150. Thank you so much David!

An uplifting video sent in by one of our members, OrchLab take on a Space Adventure with a project inspired by The Planets by Gustav Holst: https://orchlab.org/orchlab-film-2024-a-space-adventure/

Have a great week!

Your friends at MfE

16/12/2024

Nottingham Chamber Singers “Stories of Christmas”

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10 Goose Gate | Hockley | NG1 1FF

#MfEMonday – 2nd December 2024

2nd December 2024 Music for Everyone

Special message from John Hess, Chair of Trustees, Music for Everyone

It’s with great sadness I report that, after a short illness, MfE trustee Janet Wootton died last Monday. This news will come as a considerable shock to so many of you in the MfE “family” who knew and sang with Janet over many years.

I saw her husband Jeffrey to pass on our condolences on behalf of the trustees, staff and MfE members. If you would like to send a letter of condolence, please send it to the MfE office and we will pass it on to Janet’s family.

Janet joined the board several years ago and brought considerable experience and enthusiasm to her role as a trustee, having worked in the creative industries, journalism, TV regulation and public relations.

She first started singing with us in the late 1980s and also sang with the NTU (Nottingham Trent University) Choir, the Nottingham Operatic Society and with her local church choir in Wollaton. Janet was also an accomplished artist and her paintings were exhibited at an annual exhibition of the Nottingham Arts Society. Janet will be missed.

Events this week:

Carol singing inside the Victoria Centre on Thursday lunchtime at 1pm (near the entrance to John Lewis and Boots) members of the Lunchtime Voices and Open Voices will be serenading the Christmas shoppers. Do come and join us to sing or have a listen.

Sunday 8th December at 3.30pm – St Mary Magdalene Church, Market Place, Hucknall.

A magical afternoon of stories and carols for all to enjoy featuring Roisin Hickey on harp. Tickets available to book online or call 0115 958 9312.

Daytime Orchestra Loughborough end of term performance tomorrow at Emmanuel Church – All welcome, 11 for an 11.15am start.

Yesterday began the Christian season of Advent – a season of expectation and preparation for celebrating Christ’s coming (adventus) into this world. The four weeks that lead up Christmas are marked with beautiful and poignant music in anticipation and preparation of the son of God’s birth.

Follow this link to explore some favourite advent pieces: https://www.classicfm.com/discover-music/occasions/christmas/advent-carols-hymns/

Check out this advent calendar app from Naxos. A different piece of classical music is hidden behind each door which you can unlock every day, from well known classics like ‘Sleigh Ride’ to lesser known gems waiting to be discovered!

https://www.naxos.com/FeaturePages/Details/?id=The_Musical_Advent_Calendar_App__Free_App_Free_Music

MfE has a tree in the Christmas Tree Festival at All Saints Church in Loughborough. Entry is free and there are gift stalls, crafts, a tombola and festive refreshments. The Festival is open every Thursday and Saturday until 21 December from 10am to 4pm and all funds raised go towards the South Roof Appeal.

Have a great week!

Your friends at MfE

02/12/2024

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 – 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

https://www.classicfm.com/discover-music/classical-music-inspired-by-birdsong/

#MfEMonday – 10th June 2024

10th June 202410th June 2024 Music for Everyone

What a fun-packed musical weekend!

On Saturday evening the Nottingham Chamber Singers and Angela Kay brought a floral bouquet of music to St Mary’s Church in Bunny with their entertaining programme of evocative part songs, colourful folk-songs and foot tapping swing numbers. Accompanied by the wonderful Angela Foan and joined by violinists Isobel Bounford, Sarah Trevers and flautist Dave Hatherly it was perfect for a sunny summer’s evening.

There was a great buzz in Beeston on Sunday at our first Family Festival. Lots of you got involved with so much going on including drumming workshops, lullaby bank, Open Voices and Family Sing sessions. The sun made an appearance and the beautiful garden at Middle Street Resource Centre was filled with a great variety of stalls and performances from folk bands to ‘a cappella’ group the Ooh La La’s. A special thanks to our Youth Bands, Daytime Voices and the many volunteers who made the day such a success. For those of you who missed it, here are a few photos to give you a flavour!

Following on from so much birdsong in the concert on Saturday and in the garden at our Family Festival yesterday it got us thinking about music inspired by our feathered friends.

We bet you can think of lots of suggestions but follow the link below if you’re stuck for ideas!

What is your favourite birdsong? Perhaps a blackbird, song thrush, nightingale even?! If you’re a fan of Springwatch you might have seen the presenters get very excited the moment a nightjar interrupted the live broadcast: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p0j0xyrj

Or maybe you prefer this lockdown version of blackbird from our very own Rachel Parkes: https://youtu.be/FQpcXqzic6I?si=ScDAPRwC-aU8j04Z

Have a great week!

Your friends at MfE

10/06/2024

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

10 Goose Gate | Hockley | NG1 1FF

Making a connection through music – Mansfield Open Voices

17th May 2024 Music for Everyone

A recent article from Chad online about our Open Voices Mansfield group:

A MANSFIELD-BASED group making a difference to people’s lives through the creativity and enjoyment of music is celebrating its first birthday.

Open Voices, whose weekly music sessions are particularly suitable for adults with learning disabilities, allows people to connect through singing or simply listening.

Singer and pianist Cliff McArdle, who leads the sociable sessions said: “It’s such a privilege to lead everyone in singing fun songs and occasionally watching someone visibly blossom as a massive smile crosses their face. You just know you’re seeing them achieve something new. It’s lovely to see them enjoying themselves”

Mansfield Open Voices is one of four groups across Nottinghamshire run by the charity Music for Everyone as part of its health and wellbeing programme.

Open to all, the group meets at Portland College on Fridays from 1.45pm to 3.15pm.

It would welcome more members, including volunteers. Volunteer helper Rosanne Richardson said: “I wasn’t at all sure what to expect at Mansfield Open Voices when I was first going to help out, but it didn’t take many minutes to realise what a happy fun group it is. Songs with actions are particularly popular.”

Among the guests at the first birthday celebrations were Mansfield mayor Andy Abrahams and trustees of Music for Everyone.

John Hess, chairman of the trustees, said: “It is quite astonishing what has and is still being achieved. Our numbers of participants and different groups are growing as people recognise the joy of music in their lives. We believe music participation should be on socail prescription.!

For more information about Mansfield Open Voices, email Andy at newstart@portland.ac.uk or call 01623 499111 or visit www.music-for-everyone.org

#MfEMonday – 22nd April 2024

22nd April 202422nd April 2024 Music for Everyone

We are back! The MfE Summer Term has now started with our weekly groups restarting this week.

Bandwise and Stringwise

We had a fantastic 2 days of music with Bandwise and Stringwise at South Nottinghamshire Academy this weekend! Over 160 young musicians came together for the bands on Saturday and strings on Sunday to prepare for their concert next weekend at Nottingham’s Albert Hall – looking forward to hearing their performances!

Did you see any of the London Marathon yesterday? With the incredible sporting achievements of the runners and just under 100 days until the Paris Olympics, we’ve got sports on the brain! With our Summer School theme as Olympics this year, we can’t wait to continue ….. To find out more about our Summer School and to book, click here.

Open Voices Beeston are looking for people to help with their refreshment breaks. If you have a free hour on a Tuesday morning to help serve drinks, please get in touch with the office at admin@music-for-everyone.org

Have a great week!

Your friends at MfE

22/04/2024

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

10 Goose Gate | Hockley | NG1 1FF

#MfEMonday – 12th February 2024

12th February 2024 Music for Everyone

Aaaaaahhhhhnd…. Relax! We made it to half-term everyone, and the days are already getting longer. We hope you all have a lovely week off whilst our regular groups take a break. It’s already been such a busy start to the year, and there is still so much more to come.

So – here’s a run-down of what bookings are open, and what is on the horizon, so that you can mark your calendars and reserve your place…

Spring Term:

March 9^th -10^th – Vocals at the movies – Drop the kids off for a fun filled weekend of singing and crafts, rounded off with a spectacular concert in the Albert Hall 122 kids and counting….There’s still room for more!

Sign-Up Here: https://www.music-for-everyone.org/event/vocals-mar-24/

March 16^th – Nottingham Chamber Singers Concert – Our programme of Angels, Dreams and Flying Machines got a mention on BBC Radio 3 last week, the concert is 7.30pm at St Mary’s Clifton, book early to avoid missing out.

Book Here: https://www.music-for-everyone.org/event/ncs-concert

March 23^rd – NCM Musicals course and cabaret with guest performances by Simon Theobald and Open Voices – Bookings open to anyone, bring a friend who loves a good showtune, informal performance with wine open to friends and family.

Sign-Up Here: https://www.music-for-everyone.org/event/ncm-come-and-sing/

Summer Term:

April 20^th & 28^th – Bandwise

Come and experience the joy of wind band playing at the Big Youth Music Experience for young woodwind, brass and percussion players.

Sign-Up Here: https://www.music-for-everyone.org/event/byme-bandwise-apr24/

April 21^st & 28^th – Stringwise

Come and experience the joy of string playing at the Big Youth Music Experience for young violin, viola, cello and double bass players.

Sign- Up Here: https://www.music-for-everyone.org/event/byme-stringwise-apr24/

June 8^th – Nottingham Chamber Singers Concert – Bunny Church 7.30pm

Booking Available Soon

June 9^th – Family fun festival day – Join in a Family Sing, performances from SAM and youth groups, face-painting, cake-sale workshops and more – details to come!

Booking Available Soon

June 15^th – Blow the Dust

Sign-~Up Here: https://www.music-for-everyone.org/event/blow-the-dust-off-your-instrument-jan/

July 6^th – NFC Come and Sing Josef Haydn’s Harmoniemesse – MfE Artistic Director Alex Robinson will lead a come and sing day with full concert on Saturday 6^th July, with a rehearsal the night before. Venue and further details to come.

Booking Available Soon

August 5^th-7^th – MfE Summer School

Sign-Up Here: https://www.music-for-everyone.org/event/summer-school-2024/

Have you been celebrating Chinese New Year over the weekend?

This year is the year of the Dragon, so here is a round-up of some musical dragons you may or may not have come across…

1. Wagner’s Siegfried

Though he’s actually a giant rather than a fire-breathing serpent, Fafner only appears in his scales in Siegfried the third opera of Wagner’s Ring cycle. Since the last time he appeared on stage in Das Rheingold, the power-hungry character has transformed himself, with the help of the magical tarnhelm. Unfortunately, the titular hero proves to be a superior fighter to Fafner, even in his reptilian form. Siegfried slays Fafner, collects his magical ring and the ability to understand woodland creatures through tasting Fafner’s blood.

2. Mozart’s The Magic Flute

As Mozart’s The Magic Flute opens, Prince Tamino is being chased a fearsome fire-breathing serpent. Perhaps this prince isn’t the bravest, since he faints and three harmonious ladies kill the dragon instead.

3. Tan Dun’s score for Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon

Composer Tan Dun’s Oscar-winning score to Ang Lee’s kung fu ballet Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon, is a metaphorical expression of the Asian dragon, which is mentioned in the heroine’s name. Tan Dun later adapted the music into a 45 minute solo piece for cello. Lee later set a visual montage from the movie.

4. Goldenthal and Taymor’s Grendel

Composer Elliot Goldenthal Julie Taymor and J.D. McClatchy set out to tell the monster’s side of the Beowolf story in the opera Grendel, based on John Gardner’s 1971 novel. The opera premiered in 2006 at the L.A. Opera with Eric Owens in the title role and Denyce Graves as the sage Dragon, from whom Grendel seeks advice on, of course, being a more fearsome monster.

5. Puff the Magic Dragon

Of course we couldn’t leave out “Puff, the Magic Dragon” (or just “Puff”) is a song written by Peter Yarrow from a poem by Leonard Lipton. It was made popular by Peter, Paul and Mary in a 1962 recording released in January 1963. The lyrics tell a story of the ageless dragon and his playmate, Jackie Paper, a little boy who grows up and moves on from the imaginary adventures of childhood, leaving a disheartened Puff on his own. The song’s story takes place “by the sea” in the fictional land of “Honah Lee”.

· Bookwise need your help! They are planning some furniture moving around this week and would appreciate any help if anyone can come in any time this week to help. There will be heavy lifting involved so please bear this in mind! For more info, contact the MfE office and leave a message for Gary. Many thanks!

Have a great week!

Your friends at MfE.

19/02/2024

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

10 Goose Gate | Hockley | NG1 1FF