MfE Summer School 2024 Day 3 – GO!

7th August 2024 Music for Everyone

The finish line was in sight as we entered the third and final day of the Paris-Olympic themed Summer School… Coffee was consumed (any guesses for how many cups of tea and coffee were made over the 3 days…?) and rehearsals began to put the finishing touches to the pieces chosen to perform in the Showcase concert.

The orchestra had a change of venue to the Obolensky building, where the instrumental concert and buffet would take place later on.

Participants were invited to have their lunch in the Chapel, as Summer School accompanist and wonderful pianist Richard Cox played a relaxing programme of piano classics that brought a calm moment in an otherwise busy, busy day.

The concert began in the Chapel for the first half to hear the singers perform a wide range of repertoire from Lili Boulanger to Marvin Gaye. Then it was over to the Obolensky, with a special performance by the double basses as people entered, to hear the orchestra, wind band, saxophone ensemble and string orchestra, finishing with a grand finale of full choir and orchestra for Zadok the Priest.

THANK YOUS
The biggest THANK YOU and WELL DONE to all the singers and instrumentalists who took part and worked so hard over the 3 days, your performances were incredible and it’s so wonderful for us to see the ones that return year after year and also the many new faces that appear! To the artistic team, Alex, Hilary, Keiron, Rachel and Richard (currently all sharing a bottle of wine with 5 straws…) thank you for all you do to lead and encourage the music-making; the tutors in each section that support the players – you’re amazing.

To the youth volunteers for helping and joining in in so many ways THANK YOU and of course, ‘Anne’s Dad’ (aka Geoff) for making sure the tea and coffee urns were always full! The MfE team who did a fantastic job throughout the 3 days, a special mention to Anne for all she does in organising, planning and running Summer School!

And that’s Summer School for another year! See you all very soon for more music-making!

Summer School Day 2: A Capella is the game, Papagena is the name

8th August 2023 Music for Everyone

An incredible second day of Summer School on a (mostly) sunny Tuesday at Trent College.

Rehearsals for choir, orchestra, sax ensemble, string orchestra and wind band (busy, busy!) continued throughout the morning (fuelled by regular top ups of tea, coffee and biscuits of course!).

Today’s guests, all-female a capella quintet Papagena blew the roof off the chapel and received a standing ovation at the end of their lunchtime recital for Summer School participants. Their programme, aptly named ‘Nuns and Roses’ featured hauntingly beautiful melodies of traditional Ukrainian lullabies and Georgian hymns all the way through to ‘hard rock’ Guns ‘n’ Roses Sweet Child o’ mine and finishing with The woman’s ‘If’ – a work commissioned for Papagena and based on Caitlin Moran’s female perspective to Rudyard Kipling’s If. Many of the pieces in the programme were also arranged by members of the group. Simply amazing.

Papagena then led the choir in a workshop, teaching them one of the pieces from their recital and working on some of the repertoire chosen by Hilary for this year’s course.

Further rehearsals in the afternoon led to Tuesday’s ‘sharing concert’ – where the singers perform the players and the players perform to the singers. A short session to share items that won’t feature in the final Showcase Concert – from the choir with Hilary (with Richard’s debut performance on the drums…), the sax ensemble with Keiron, the string orchestra with Rob and the wind band, again with Keiron performing A Single Step of his own composition.

That wraps up another busy Summer School day, bring on the finale!

#SummerSchool2023

Summer School Day 2 in under 20 seconds!

Summer School 2022 – Day 1: Trumpets, Teas and Twiddly Notes

8th August 2022 Music for Everyone

It doesn’t feel like a year since we were last here, writing about Summer School – but how great it is to be back!

We are once again using the beautiful setting of Trent College in Long Eaton, with many familiar and new faces taking part in this years course. The welcome ‘drink and pastry’ at registration gave everyone a chance to catch up with friends with Robin and Angela kicking things off with an introduction to the 3 days.

The orchestra, conducted by Rob Hodge, got underway with a warm-up involving a lot of standing up and sitting down to get the hearts pumping, then it was into the rousing 633 Squadron for the first rehearsal of the day.

The choir, delighted for Hilary Campbell’s return, enjoyed their morning sessions in the chapel, accompanied by the wonderful Richard Cox with some familiar MfE faces joining the choir this year.

Break time and it’s tea, coffee and biscuits outside in the sunshine, with a browse of the Bookwise stalls. With the help of our lovely volunteers and Chair of Trustees John Hess, teas and coffees were served, with John learning the secret to how many tea bags make a great pot of tea!

The first guest of Summer School 2022 is Anthony Thompson, making Monday the day of the brass instrument with a splendid lunchtime recital on trumpet and flugelhorn. Accompanied by Graziana Presicce on piano, they performed a beautiful and varied programme from Elgar and Vaughan Williams to pieces composed especially for this duo – including the first live performance of Anthony Hedge’s Sonata for Trumpet and Piano – what a treat!

The brass players then got a chance to get really stuck into technique and more in their brass workshop with Anthony during the afternoon… For those who ever wondered what the secret to good note production and articulation is – it’s all down to keeping your ears clean… who knew!

We are beyond thrilled that Gill is back at Summer School to take the wind band, rehearsals and sectionals were sounding great with lots of twiddly notes and scale runs to keep all on their toes!

The orchestra were also joined by an extra, unannounced guest (a remnant of a party over the weekend before we arrived) keeping Rachel company in the horn section, credit to Anthony Thompson for the ‘Tyrana-HORN-us Rex’ pun… wonder if he’ll stay with us the whole 3 days…

Looking forward to Day 2 tomorrow, with more sunshine and hot weather on the way, it promises to be a scorcher!

Big Youth Music Experience

The Big Youth Music Experience is for all young instrumentalists, with a weekend split into a wind band workshop day and a string orchestra workshop day, followed by a joint concert the following Sunday at the Albert Hall, Nottingham!

For Wind Band – Saturday 6th November and Sunday 14th November 2021

Come and experience wind band playing at the Big Youth Music Experience for young woodwind, brass and percussion players. Two windbands for players of all abilities (grade 2 – 8+) conducted by MfE’s Instrumental Animateur Josh Goodman and youth band director Claire Franklin.

Music booklets and rehearsal track links will be sent out approximately 5-6 weeks before the course, to give you a chance to get to grips with the music.

For Strings – Sunday 7th November and Sunday 14th November 2021

Come and experience string playing for young violinists, violists, cellists and bassists. Three string orchestras for players of all abilities (beginners to grade 8+). The beginners orchestra is for players of grade 0 – 1 standard and will be lead by string conductor Helen Maddison. The Junior orchestra for players grade 2 – 4 standard, conducted by MfE’s Instrumental Animateur Josh Goodman, will enjoy a range of music that will introduce young instrumentalists to playing in an ensemble. The Senior orchestra, for players grade 5+ standard, will be directed by Richard Howarth, conductor of MfE’s East Midlands Youth String Orchestra.

Music booklets and rehearsal track links will be sent out approximately 5-6 weeks before the course, to give you a chance to get to grips with the music.

(NB All covid regulations in place at the time will be adhered to)

Provisional Timetable – Workshops 6th & 7th November
Bluecoat Academy, Wollaton NG8 1EA

10am – 10.30am Arrive and Registration – Senior Groups

10.30am – 12.30pm Morning Rehearsals, including breaks (Seniors only)

12.30pm – 1.30pm Lunch Break

1pm – 1.30pm Arrival and Registration – Junior & Beginner Groups

1.30pm – 5.30pm Afternoon Rehearsals, including breaks (All groups)

Concert 14th November – All groups
Albert Hall, Nottingham NG1 5AA

11am – 11.30am Arrive and Registration – Senior Groups

11.30am – 1pm Rehearsals (Senior groups)

1pm – 1.30pm Arrive and Registration – Junior & Beginner Groups

1.30pm – 3pm Rehearsals

3.30pm – 5.30pm Concert performance to family and friends

How to Book

The prices for the course are:

Senior Band and Senior Strings – £15
Junior Band and Junior/Beginner Strings – £10

Online – pay through PayPal or by card: Just click the button below and fill in your details. Payment can be made via PayPal or debit/credit card.

Booking for this event is now closed. For details on future events, please visit the Courses & Workshops page of our website.

By post – pay by cheque: Please download and complete this pdf form and post it, together with your enrolment cheque (made payable to Music for Everyone) to Music for Everyone, 10 Goose Gate, Hockley, Nottingham NG1 1FF

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

Nottingham Youth Band

Two youth wind bands for young wind, brass and percussion players of grade 2 – 5 standard, no auditions!

Nottingham Youth Band West Bridgford – Term start date 7th September
Tuesdays, 5.30pm – 7pm at Rushcliffe School
Conductor: Claire Franklin

Nottingham Youth Band Beeston – Term start date 9th September
Thursdays, 5pm – 6.30pm at Beeston Methodist Church
Conductor: Josh Goodman

Current members should have now received an email with information on how to sign up for new term. If you think you haven’t received this, please email Kirstie on kirstie@music-for-everyone.org

If you are a new player and would like to join one of our exciting youth bands, why not try one of our FREE taster sessions?

FREE TASTER SESSIONS FOR NEW PLAYERS
West Bridgford – Tuesday 14th September, 5.30pm – 7pm at Rushcliffe School

Beeston – Thursday 16th September, 5pm – 6.30pm at Beeston Methodist Church

SIGN UP HERE!

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