We are delighted to let you know that Summer School 2025 is now open for booking!
4th– 6th 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 29th 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