Come and be part of an amazing choral workshop and concert!

Course: Sat 25th & Sun 26th January 2025
NTU Clifton NG11 8NS

Concert: Saturday 1st February 2025
Albert Hall, Nottingham NG1 5AA

Come and sing Mozart’s greatest musical present to his wife, the C Minor Mass, a beautiful solemn mass which featured solos just for her, as well as an assortment of music inspired by love from composers Weir, Durufle, Tallis and Ferrario.

Accompanied by a full professional orchestra kicking us off with DeliusWalk to the Paradise Garden, set your sights on romance and your ears on wedding bells for a weekend of blissful music making.

Music scores and rehearsal tracks will be sent out approximately 6 weeks before the course weekend. There are also optional sectional rehearsals in early January to help you learn the notes.


What is Nottingham Festival Chorus?

  • Mixed choir of 100+ voices, no auditions
  • Expertly led, highly enjoyable rehearsal weekends
  • Distance-learning packs
  • High quality concerts with orchestra and top soloists

What experience do singers need?

MfE events are open to all keen singers, you do not need to be a member to take part. (See details below if you would like to become a member). The ability to read music and some previous singing experience is needed for this course.


Schedule 

Sectional rehearsals (Optional)
NTU Clifton NG11 8NS

T + B: 8th January, 7.30pm – 9.30pm
S + A: 10th January, 7.30pm – 9.30pm

Sat 25th January 2025, NTU Clifton

Registration 9.30am
Rehearsals 10am – 5.30pm

Sunday 26th January, NTU Clifton

Rehearsals 2pm – 5.30pm

Saturday 1st February
Concert: Albert Hall, Nottingham NG1 5AA

Rehearsals 2.30pm – 5pm
Concert 7.30pm – 9.30pm

Schedule times subject to change

We are aware that the “Come and Sing with John Rutter” event at the concert hall clashes with our rehearsal on Sunday 26 January. We are fortunate to live in such a culturally vibrant city, and it’s not always easy to avoid these scheduling overlaps! If you are attending the John Rutter event, we would be more than happy for you to still join our January NFC course and skip the rehearsal on the 26th. With the rehearsal aids we provide, sectional rehearsals, and additional rehearsals on 25 January and the concert day, you will still have plenty of time to feel fully prepared for the performance.


Booking

Members of Music for Everyone      £50

Non Members                                  £60

Benefit Claimants/Students             £25

Alternatively call the office on 0115 9589312.

Orchestral Playing Day: 9.30am – 5.30pm
Albert Hall, North Circus St,
Nottingham NG1 5AA

Blow the Dust off your Instrument – Orchestral Playing Day

Did you learn to play an instrument at school but haven’t got it out of the case for a long while? Have you taken up playing an instrument in adult life just for fun? Do you like playing orchestral music?

If the answer is YES to any of these questions then come to Blow the Dust off your Instrument January 2025.

 

Music for Everyone invites you to a friendly, relaxed playing day at Nottingham’s Albert Hall.

Conducted by Alex Robinson (orchestra and strings) and Claire Franklin (wind band), this playing day will give you the chance to renew old skills or put new-found ones into practice in a friendly, relaxed and supportive environment

   

The music has been chosen for players of all abilities

Parts are be sent out in advance to give you time to get to grips with the notes ahead of the day itself.


Workshop Day Timetable 

9.30 am          Registration opens

10.00 am       Morning rehearsals (to include coffee break)

12.30 pm       Meal break

1.30 pm          Afternoon rehearsals for all players (to include tea break)

4.15 pm          Break

4.30pm           Informal performance for friends and family

5.30pm           End of course

Informal Performance This performance is designed to be part of the workshop experience for participants to enjoy. Friends and family will be welcome to attend. There will be no tickets but voluntary contributions in support of MfE will be much appreciated via a retiring collection.

Workshop Day Fee

The fee includes all music, the workshop experience and coffee or tea at the morning and afternoon breaks.

Orchestra players

Members of Music for Everyone      £40

Non Members                                  £50

Benefit Claimants/Students             £25

How to Enrol

Online – pay by card here:

Or download this form and post to the MfE Office, 10 Goose Gate, Hockley, Nottingham NG1 1FF

For any further information, email admin@music-for-everyone.org or telephone 0115 958 9312 (Monday – Friday, 9am – 5pm)

Nottingham Community Voices

A traditional afternoon Christmas concert for all ages, with well known carols and seasonal songs PLUS a special appearance from Father Christmas!

  • Nottingham Community Voices
  • Vocals Youth Choir
  • Nottingham Chamber Singers
  • Nottingham Concert Orchestra

Tickets

Full £15, £12, £10; Conc. £14, £11, £9; Child/Student £5

Tickets are available to buy online, or by calling the office on 01159589312. Tickets will also be available to buy on the door.

 

Nottingham Community Music Singing rehearsals and concert

On Sunday 15 December, Music for Everyone are giving a Christmas concert at the Albert Hall in Nottingham. We would very much like members of Daytime Voices to join with the other MfE choirs, both adult and youth, in presenting this popular, traditional afternoon concert for all the family.

Daytime Voices rehearsal details:

John Godber Centre, Hucknall: Monday 2 December & 9 December, 10.15am – 12.15pm
Southwell Methodist Church: Monday 2 December & 9 December, 2 – 4pm
West Bridgford Baptist Church: Tuesday 3 December & 11 December, 2 – 4pm
St Leonards Community Centre, Wollaton: 4 December & 11 December, 2.15 – 4.15pm
Sherwood Methodist Church: Thursday 5 December & 12 December, 2 – 4pm

Singers are welcome to attend any of the sessions listed above, full details, including times and locations will be sent out by email and music can be collected at the first rehearsal.

Concert Day – Albert Hall, Nottingham

Sunday 15 December:

11am – 6pm

Enrolment Fee
£30 – all singers. Rehearsal sessions and music is all included in the enrolment fee.

Online – pay by card:

Click the button above and fill in your details: Payment can be made via debit/credit card (no additional fees)

By post – pay by cheque/

For any further information, email admin@music-for-everyone.org or telephone 0115 9589312

 

Fun singing afternoon and festive concert for children aged 5 – 14.

Take a break and let your kids enjoy a fun-filled workshop on a Saturday afternoon, followed by a concert on Sunday for the whole family at the iconic Albert Hall in Nottingham. Get into the panto spirit with songs from Roald Dahl’s musical rendition of Snow White and the Seven Dwarves, and hits from the film Polar Express. You’ll also be joining in with lots of well-known Christmas songs alongside other members of the MfE ‘singing’ family too!

Singers will be divided into two age-group choirs:

Vocals 1 (school yrs 1-3)
Vocals 2 (school yrs 4-8)

 

Cost: All Groups – £20 per child, 10% family discount if two or more children from the same family enrol.

We don’t want anyone to be excluded from MfE activities because of their financial circumstances and there is a subsidised scheme available for any who needs it. Please contact kirstie@music-for-everyone.org if this is the case.

Music packs, including lyrics and audio tracks, will be sent out approximately one month before the event, giving everyone the chance to learn the songs as best they can before the singing afternoon.

You can book online via the form below or phone the office on 0115 9589312 to book your child’s place. Alternatively, you can download a flyer here and post to the address at the bottom of the enrolment form.

 

TIMETABLE

Saturday 14 December – Singing Afternoon
Nottingham Trent University, Clifton, Nottingham NG11 8NS
All Groups: 2.00pm – 5.00pm

Sunday 15 December – Concert
Albert Hall, Nottingham
Rehearsal: 12.30 – 2.45pm
Concert: 3.30pm – 5.30pm

 


3.30pm, St Mary Magdalene Church, Market Place, Hucknall, Sunday 8th December 2024

Nottingham Chamber Singers present:

Stories of Christmas

An entertaining afternoon Christmas concert with songs, stories and carols for all to enjoy.

Featuring Benjamin Britten’s magical Ceremony of Carols and John Rutter’s delightful fable, Brother Heinrich’s Christmas, for choir, instruments and narrator.

 

Angela Kay, Rachel Parkes conductors

 

Click here to download our 40th Anniversary brochure.

Tickets

Full £12, Concession £11, Child/Student £5

Tickets are available to buy online, or by calling the office on 01159589312. Tickets will also be available to buy on the door.


East Midlands Youth String Orchestra
East Midlands Youth Band
Nottingham Youth Band
Nottingham Strictly Strings

Matt Appleyard, Mat Davis, Tamaki Higashi conductors

Saturday 7th December, 3pm
Kingswood Methodist Church, Lambourne Drive, Wollaton, Nottingham NG8 1GR

 

Music for Everyone’s Strictly Strings, Youth String Orchestra & Youth Bands perform a concert of wind band and string music, with a festive twist!

Available from the MfE Box Office at 0115 9589312, online via the form below, or on the door, subject to availability.

Tickets: Adult £7, Child/Student £4


Book tickets online here


Workshop and performance day open to all young players aged 8 – 21

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

Workshop: Sunday 10th November 2024 – South Nottinghamshire Academy, Radcliffe on Trent

Concert: Sunday 17th November – Albert Hall, Nottingham

 

Come to Stringwise 2024 – an instrumental workshop day and concert for all young violin, viola, cello and double bass players from beginners to grade 5+. (For wind, brass and percussion players – check out BANDWISE!)

Rehearsals are led by experienced conductors and a team of specialist instrumentalists on the workshop day. Family and friends are invited to watch the informal concert the following weekend at Nottingham’s Albert Hall!

There will be three groups

  • Stringwise 1 (grade 0 – 1)
  • Stringwise 2 (grade 2 – 4)
  • Stringwise 3 (grade 5+)

A music pack, including rehearsal tracks, will be sent out approximately 4 weeks before the course. These tracks take you through the music and the workshop day rehearsals carry on from where they leave off.


Timetable

Sunday 10 November 2024 – Workshop Day
South Nottinghamshire Academy, Radcliffe on Trent

Stringwise 3: 10.00am – 5.30pm
Stringwise 2: 12.45pm – 5.30pm
Stringwise 1: 1.00pm – 5.30pm

Sunday 17 November – Concert Day
Albert Hall, Nottingham

Stringwise 3: 11.00am – 3.00pm
Stringwise 1 & 2: 12.30pm – 3.00pm
Concert: 3.30pm – 5.30pm
NB Children will be supervised in between the rehearsal and concert.


How to sign up

The cost for the course is £20 for Stringwise 1 & 2, £24 for Stringwise 3. MfE runs a subsidised scheme for all courses. Telephone the MfE office for more details 0115 9589312.

  • 10% FAMILY DISCOUNT AVAILABLE! If 2 or more players from the same family are signing up, use code 10BYME24 to receive 10% off.

We don’t want anyone to be excluded from MfE activities because of their financial circumstances and there is a subsidised scheme available for any who needs it. Please contact kirstie@music-for-everyone.org if this is the case.”

You can sign up online via PayPal, debit or credit card (no additional fees) via the form below


By cheque – download and complete this form and post to the MfE office at 10 Goose Gate, Hockley, Nottingham NG1 1FF. Or you can phone 0115 9589312 and enrol over the phone.

Workshop and performance day open to all young players aged 8 – 21

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

Workshop: Saturday 9th November 2024 – South Nottinghamshire Academy, Radcliffe on Trent

Concert: Sunday 17th November – Albert Hall, Nottingham

 

Come to BANDWISE 2024 – an instrumental workshop day & informal concert for all young woodwind, brass and percussion players of grade 2 standard and above. (For string players – check out STRINGWISE!)

Rehearsals are led by experienced conductors and a team of specialist instrumentalists on the workshop day. Family and friends are invited to watch the informal concert the following weekend at Nottingham’s Albert Hall!

There will be two bands:

  • Bandwise 1: grade 2-4
  • Bandwise 2: grade 5+

A music pack (including rehearsal tracks which are accessible via digital download or a CD) will be sent out approximately 4 weeks before the course. These tracks take you through the music and the workshop day rehearsals carry on from where they leave off.


Timetable

Saturday 9 November 2024 – Workshop Day
South Nottinghamshire Academy, Radcliffe on Trent

Bandwise 2: 10.00am – 5.30pm
Bandwise 1: 1.00pm – 5.30pm

Sunday 17 November 2024 – Concert Day
Albert Hall, Nottingham

Bandwise 2: 11.00am – 3.00pm
Bandwise 1: 12.15pm – 3.00pm
Concert: 3.30pm – 5.30pm
NB Children will be supervised in between the rehearsal and concert.


How to sign up

The cost for the course is £20 for Bandwise 1, £24 for Bandwise 2. MfE runs a subsidised scheme for all courses. Telephone the MfE office for more details 0115 9589312.

  • 10% FAMILY DISCOUNT AVAILABLE! If 2 or more players from the same family are signing up, use code 10BYME24 to receive 10% off.

We don’t want anyone to be excluded from MfE activities because of their financial circumstances and there is a subsidised scheme available for any who needs it. Please contact kirstie@music-for-everyone.org if this is the case.

You can sign up online via PayPal, debit or credit card (no additional fees) via the form below

NB Percussion places for both Bandwise 1 and Bandwise 2 are now full. Interested players can be added to a waiting list in case of cancellations.


By cheque – download and complete this form and post to the MfE office at 10 Goose Gate, Hockley, Nottingham NG1 1FF. Or you can phone 0115 9589312 and enrol over the phone.

7.30pm, St John’s Church, Carrington, Saturday 12th October 2024

Nottingham Chamber Singers present:

Come, Comfort of the World: Songs of Hope and Consolation

A concert bringing the vitality and expressive detailing of a chamber choir performance to the presentation of works of hope and consolation.

Bach’s intimate Komm, Jesu, Komm takes us from earthly despair to comfort in the hope of heaven. Reger’s beautiful motet, with its rich, subtly shifting harmonies, evokes the restfulness of night and soothes away worldly cares. Brahms’ well-loved Requiem, both dramatic and comforting, appears in a fresh light in this chamber music version, with piano duet, the rarely-heard format which Brahms designed for the first London performance in 1871.

Performers

Formerly known as the East of England Singers, the Nottingham Chamber Singers have a busy concert schedule performing works across the full choral range, from William Byrd to Judith Weir. The choir’s refreshingly dynamic and committed performances continue to receive critical and public acclaim, led by Assistant conductor and Music for Everyone’s Assistant Artistic Director, Rachel Parkes.

Alison Rose, soprano

Alison is the winner of the 2015 Maggie Teyte Prize and a 2017 Leonard Ingrams Award. She is a graduate of the Guildhall School of Music and Drama and the National Opera Studio, and is an Associate of the Royal Academy of Music.

Operatic roles include; Papagena, Die Zauberflöte (Glyndebourne Festival Opera); Barbarina, Le nozze di Figaro (Garsington Festival Opera & English National Opera); Governess,The Turn of the Screw (Bury Court Opera); Vixen, The Cunning Little Vixen (Grimeborn Festival / Arcola Theatre); Lady in Waiting, Gloriana (St Endellion Festival with Martyn Brabbins); Miranda, Arnold’s The Dancing Master (GSMD); Bětuška, Dvořák’s The Cunning Peasant (GSMD); Servilia, La Clemenza di Tito (RNCM).

Concert highlights include Vaughan Williams’ Serenade to Music at the BBC Last Night of the Proms, Handel’s Messiah at the Royal Albert Hall, Britten’s Les Illuminations at the Southwell Music Festival and solo recitals at the Oxford Lieder Festival and the Royal Opera House Crush Room. Recent highlights include her debut with Glyndebourne Festival Opera as Papagena in Mozart’s Die Zauberflöte, Mahler’s Symphony no.4 at the Southwell Music Festival and Britten’s Les Illuminations with Sian Edwards for the Lewes Festival of Song. Further performances include her debut with Opera North on their Whistle Stop Opera tour, and a return to ENO for a Studio Live production of Judith Weir’s Blonde Eckbert.

Alison continues her studies in London with Gary Coward.

William Burn, baritone

Baritone William Burn enjoys a busy career as a performer of oratorio and consort music from the Middle Ages to contemporary music. A native of Oxfordshire, he trained as a choral scholar at King’s College, London, then moving to live in Nuremberg, Germany, and finally settling in the East Midlands.

William has performed many oratorio roles, including the Bach Passions, Messiah, Judas Maccabeus, The Creation (including under the baton of Sir Nicholas McGegan at Nottingham Royal Concert Hall), Elijah, Vaughan Williams Five Mystical Songs, Dvorak Stabat Mater, Elgar The Dream of Gerontius, Rossini Petite Messe Solennelle and Stabat Mater and the requiems by Verdi, Mozart, Faure and Duruflé. Staged opera performances include Dido and Aeneas, Acis and Galatea, Mozart’s Bastien und Bastienne, and Lampe’s The Dragon of Wantley as part of the Ross­on­Wye International Festival.

A particular area of interest for song and Lieder, with recent programmes including Winterreise, Schumann’s Dichterliebe and Opus 24 and 39 cycles, Richard Rodney Bennett’s Songs Before Sleep, Wolf’s Michaelangelolieder and Quilter’s Seven Elizabethan Lyrics, along with Butterworth’s A Shropshire Lad at Southwell Minster and Dichterliebe in Derby Cathedral. William is the artistic director of The Nottingham Baroque Soloists, whose repertoire includes cantatas by Bach, Buxtehude’s Membra Jesu Nostri and Rossini’s Petite Messe Solennelle. He studies with Rachel Nicholls.

William also works as a translator and subtitler from German, specialising in academia and the social sciences. His recent work includes reports to the United Nations Human Rights Council and reports on human rights issues in Germany. He also provides English-language translations for the German Federal Government Press Agency. As a subtitler he specialises in documentaries for Arte, including work on arts, culture and human rights.

Conductor

Rachel Parkes was born and raised in Northamptonshire. She received her early musical education through the Royal School of Church Music and Northamptonshire County Performing Arts Service, and went on to gain a first class Honours degree in Music, and later a Masters in Music an

d Performance, from Royal Holloway, University of London. During her studies Rachel studied singing with Margaret Cable and Jessica Cash, she now receives coaching from Lynne Wayman.

Click here to download our 40th Anniversary brochure.

Tickets

Click here to find out about the NCS 40th Anniversary Ticket Discount Scheme (NB This link will take you to the Nottingham Chamber Singers website)

Full £14, Concession £13, Child/Student £5

Online Booking is now closed. Tickets will be available to buy on the door.