strings

Summer School Day 2: Violas, Visuals and Very energetic dancing

Music for Everyone

Here we are again! They say a picture paints 1000 words, so here’s a whole bunch! (and some video clips… yes singers, we caught it all on camera…)

All these years of Summer School have taught us to give the people what they want, and what they want is coffee before they start the day! Fuelled and ready to go, the singers decided to take their warm-up outside, while the instrumentalists enjoyed some specialist sectionals followed by wind band and strings rehearsals with Gill and Rob respectively.

The viola was the star of the show today, with special guest artist Carmen Flores giving us a memorable recital accompanied by Paul Turner – a viola recital being a first for many! We were wowed by her beautiful playing, including the Viola Sonata by Rebecca Clarke (who used a composer pseudonym Anthony Trent back in 1919). After her amazing recital, Carmen worked with the strings on Telemann’s Viola Concerto to be performed to the other participants at the end of the day.

As we can’t fit all this years repertoire into tomorrow’s Showcase Concert, we finished with a ‘sharing performance’. The choir came to listen to the wind band perform the English Dances by Malcolm Arnold and the strings accompanied Carmen in the Telemann Viola Concerto.

Instrumentalists then went to listen to the choir in the chapel, where there was actual dancing in the aisles! Not sure if there was something in the air or perhaps the effects of the hot weather, but it was certainly a fun (and slightly energetic) end to the day!

Another glorious day of summer school comes to a close… hope everyone gets well-rested tonight for the ‘big one’ tomorrow – see you there!

Shout out to youth string players – EMYSO is auditioning!

Helena Durham

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EMYSO performing in Nottingham’s Albert Hall, 2016

Are you a string player, Yr 7 upwards, already have Associated Board Grade 5 or above? Would you like expert guidance in developing your ensemble and orchestral playing? Then come and audition for the East Midlands Youth String Orchestra and be part of this friendly and amazing group. Conducted by distinguished violinist and conductor, Richard Howarth, the orchestra performs a variety of music from the great string orchestra repertoire. Rehearsals are usually once a month on a Sunday afternoon.

Taking a bow after a great performance

Taking a bow after a great performance

EMYSO perform both in their own right and sometimes playing within one of Music for Everyone’s professional orchestral groups. This offers experience of a larger repertoire of both orchestral and accompanied choral works – a unique opportunity for young orchestral players.

Click here for details of the auditions on Saturday 16 July.

 

 

Busy weekend for MfE, and a free concert!

Helena Durham

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.