Last weekend Music for Everyone celebrated two wonderful musical events.

DSC02171 copyThe first was over 100 Vocals! children singing their hearts out throughout their space themed concert in Nottingham’s Albert Hall, to the delight of the audience. The second, later in the day, was Sheku Kanneh-Mason winning BBC Young Musician of the Year, 2016. Sheku, aged about 6, along with other members of his family, played his cello in Music for Everyone’s Stringwise! Many congratulations, Sheku!

Music for Everyone wishes to recruit an energetic and enthusiastic Principal Youth Music Animateur. Details here. Although part-time, there is another part-time vacancy in the city’s music scene, and the two jobs could be combined.

Travelling to Bluecoat Academy for rehearsals today are two groups of musicians who illustrate the breadth and diversity of Music for Everyone’s commitment to music-making for all.

DSC01669In one building, there will be an intensive workshop for advanced string players. During the day, under the baton of Richard Howarth, a distinguished violinist and conductor, the orchestra will focus on Tchaikovsky’s hauntingly beautiful Serenade for Strings and other pieces. They will give a FREE concert in St Peter’s Church Ruddington, 4pm tomorrow, Sunday 8 May. Last year’s concert was wonderful, so this one is not to be missed.
bluerktIn another building, nearly 100 primary school children will be blasting off into space themed songs. Their Reach for the Stars concert will be a week tomorrow, Sunday 15 May at 3.30pm in the Albert Hall, complete with the experimental antics of Mad Science! Will there be stinks and bangs and smoke and goodness knows what?!

The children have been learning their words and listening to the songs at home (just as our adult singers do) and will be rehearsing with Alison Bennett (Vocals! conductor), Ray McLeod (Youth Animateur and vocal coach) Phil Smith (MfE’s new Youth Programme Co-ordinator, conductor of Sherwood Daytime Voices), Jane McDouall (conductor of Girls Voice and West Bridgford Daytime Voices). Not forgetting, of course, MfE’s admin staff and all the wonderful volunteers who give of their time to look after the children and make the weekend and concert run smoothly. Here’s a HUGE MfE THANK YOU to the volunteers.

dreamstime_l_27523004background removed copy1smallDo you know a child who loves to sing? Have they been following Tim Peake? Then Reach for the Stars – the theme of Vocals! this May – is something they won’t want to miss. Vocals! offers two weekends of space-themed musical fun for children of primary school age.

During the first weekend the children will learn songs such as Reach For The Stars, Space Oddity, Half The World Away, the space musical Blast Off, and more! The following Sunday, they will polish up the songs for a concert in Nottingham’s wonderful Albert Hall, where lighting and sound effects will add to the excitement. Mad_Science_Logo_3D_M

And if all that inter-galactic magnificence were not enough, there will also be a special appearance at the concert by the national science sensation MAD SCIENCE! What a star-spinning experience for youngsters and adults alike.

The rehearsal weekend will be Saturday 7th and Sunday 8th May, and the concert Sunday 15th May.

Click here for further details, or drop into Boookwise in Hockley and pick up a leaflet.