News

Guest blog: A new dawn in music education as internet lessons fight back
Post date: Tuesday, 13 March 2018 - 6:52pm

For purist musicians, music technology can leave a bad taste in their mouth.  But what would it have been like if their own musical start in life was missed? If Mozart had not been taught, or Bach or Beethoven!

For people cut off from mainstream music education due to lack of local funding, medical conditions, geographical location or lack of time, a new digital dawn has arrived to make personal music lessons accessible to diverse groups of people who share the same passion and determination to learn. 

Calling all pipers and buglers: take part in a special tribute this Remembrance Day
Post date: Monday, 12 March 2018 - 7:00pm

Bell ringers, pipers and buglers/trumpeters are invited to join A Nation's Tribute on 11 November 1918 to mark the 100th anniversary of the ending of the First World War, along with paying tribute to the millions that lost their lives.

Finding the words
Post date: Thursday, 8 March 2018 - 11:18am

Three months into composer Edmund Hunt's Adopt a Composer collaboration with The Singers, he finds inspiration for the composition's text from a famous local figure.

The view from the back
Post date: Thursday, 8 March 2018 - 10:59am

Last rehearsal we were finally given the chance to see an early draft of the exciting, original composition Gaynor Barradell has been working on especially for teh Edinburgh Concert Band (ECB). The band seemed to be holding its breath as the music was handed out. I wasn't able to make it to the workshop in November and so I had no idea what to expect.

Sing the Pankhurst Anthem live on BBC Radio 3 this Friday at Sage Gateshead
Post date: Monday, 5 March 2018 - 11:09am

BBC Radio 3 and Sage Gateshead are inviting local singers and choirs to sing live on BBC Radio 3’s In Tune to mark an important anniversary for women’s suffrage. Radio 3's inspiring new commission, The Pankhurst Anthem, offers an opportunity for everyone to take part – so come along and join in!

On Friday 9 March 2018, Voices of Hope will perform The Pankhurst Anthem on Radio 3, live from Sage Gateshead. BBC Radio 3 are inviting singers from local choirs to come along and join in with the second section, Anthem. 

Surrey Performing Arts Library – update and how to support a solution
Post date: Friday, 23 February 2018 - 10:56am

The 8 February Surrey County Council (SCC) Communities Select Committee adopted some recommendations for the future of SPAL which will now be put – alongside recommendations from the council officers – to the full SCC Cabinet on 27 March.

Since the last meeting in November, four users and representatives of Making Music, FOSPAL (Friends of SPAL) and IAML (International Association of Music Librarians) have formed a new charity (NewSPAL) in a bid to take over the running of this music library.

Welcome to our new Corporate member - Travelbound
Post date: Friday, 9 February 2018 - 11:00am

Travelbound arranges music and performance tours to Europe and beyond. All our tours are tailor-made and offer each performer the opportunity to shine on an international stage, discover a new culture and develop as a performer and as an individual.

We cater for all types of music ensembles and have a wide range of performance venues to suit different standards and different types of repertoire. All performances are fully advertised to ensure the best possible audience numbers.

Read the results of a new study into the links between leisure time music groups and communities
Post date: Wednesday, 7 February 2018 - 1:08pm

Evidence of this impact is extremely useful when we are making the case for leisure-time musical activity, but we realised there was no research from the UK which examined the impacts of the groups’ existence on their local community, and how significant they may be.

That's why, in 2016, we approached Professor Stephanie Pitts and the Sheffield Performer and Audience Research Centre (SPARC) of the University of Sheffield, and began a joint investigation.

Choirs: celebrate the centenary of women winning the right to vote by performing a new BBC Radio 3 commission
Post date: Tuesday, 6 February 2018 - 5:19pm

Today is the 100th anniversary of the Representation of the People Act 1918, a piece of legislation that enabled all men and some women over the age of 30 to vote for the first time.

It would be another 10 years before UK women won the right to vote on the same terms as men. Still, 1918 was a seismic moment for the Women's Suffrage movement, which was led by tireless campaigners like Emmeline Pankhurst.

Parliament calls for 'case studies' on social impact of culture
Post date: Monday, 5 February 2018 - 4:43pm

In a new inquiry the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee is to investigate ways in which taking part in the arts, cultural activities and sport can have a positive impact on health, community and education.

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