About 6 months ago, MfE was contacted by the Nottingham Young Musician of the Year Competition chair to see if we would be willing to give a performance opportunity to the winner of the competition’s voice class. We are always delighted to be able to support young musicians and so we obviously said ‘yes’!
Benjamin Staniforth, an 18yr old baritone from Nottingham, was the winner of the class and on Sunday 21 November, Angela Kay and Rachel Parkes went along to the Djanogly Recital Hall to listen to the Grand Final concert where the winners of each individual class (piano, voice, strings, woodwind and brass) performed to see, after adjudication, who would be crowned the Nottingham Young Musician of the Year 2021. We were delighted when Benjamin was announced as that winner!
Benjamin is delighted to be paired with MfE and we are very much looking forward to him singing at one of our forthcoming concerts.
As we enter the season of advent, we thought we should let you know what festive musical treats MFE has on offer over the coming weeks.
Countdown to Christmas – December 5th, Kingswood Methodist Church, Wollaton NG8 1GR
Our youth groups hold their annual Christmas concert at 3:30pm. Lots of festive music complete with mince pies!
Vocals – December 11th, 1:30pm Nottingham Trent University, Clifton NG11 8NS
A fun Saturday afternoon workshop for primary aged children singing Christmas songs and fun seasonal music including hits from the well-known film, A Muppets Christmas Carol and Roald Dahl’s entertaining version of Cinderella!
Christmas is Coming! – December 12th, 3:30pm Albert Hall, North Circus St, Nottingham NG1 5AA
A traditional afternoon Christmas concert for all the family, with well-known carols and seasonal songs featuring the Nottingham Chamber Singers, Nottingham Community Voices, Vocals Youth Choir & New Classical Players.
A Mystical Christmas – December 18th, 7:30pm St Mary the Virgin Church, Bunny NG11 6QT
Nottingham Chamber Singers present a programme of atmospheric choral music and exquisite projected images.
Tickets for all events can be booked via our website – www.music-for-everyone.org We hope to see you at one of our Christmas events over the next few weeks.
The Advent season focuses on expectation and is an anticipation of Christ’s birth in the season leading up to Christmas. Many people celebrate the season of advent with a wreath.
The Advent wreath first appeared in Germany in 1839. A Lutheran minister working at a mission for children created a wreath out of the wheel of a cart. He placed twenty small red candles and four large white candles inside the ring. The red candles were lit on weekdays and the four white candles were lit on Sundays.
The most common Advent candle tradition, however, involves four candles. A new candle is lit on each of the four Sundays before Christmas. Each candle represents something different, although traditions vary. The four candles traditionally represent hope, faith, joy, and peace.
Perhaps you might like to have a go at making your own advent wreath this Christmas? Here’s a simple how to guide –
What you’ll need
- 12’’ wire wreath frame
- Soft greenery garland
- Purple poinsettia flower
- Advent candle set
- 4 candle holders
- White Christmas ribbon
- Greenery ties
- Glue gun
First, take your garland and wrap it around your wire wreath until it is completely covered. Use your hot glue to hold it in place.
Next, you’ll take your white ribbon and wrap it around until you’ve found your desired placement. Secure it with a small dab of hot glue.
Using a little bit of floral wire or greenery ties, space out the candle holders as evenly in place as possible and secure in place.
Fill in empty areas of your wreath with your purple poinsettia flowers and use a little bit of hot glue to hold them in place.
Add your candles and voila, you’ve made a super simple advent wreath. we all have and to receive a thank you card from our members.
- And finally, if you’re still not sure what advent means, watch this two-minute explanation – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eC0FGQLBp7w
Have a good week!
Your friends at MfE.
29/11/2021
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 motivational moments for your Mondays! We are aiming to send out something new each week.