News

Post date: Thursday, 31 May 2018 - 4:25pm

It's just a few weeks until the premiere performance of Step Up, the collaborative piece for Adopt a Composer by Gaynor Barradell and the Edinburgh Concert Band. Mike Knox, Trombone & ECB Librarian reflects on their recent rehearsal. 

Post date: Thursday, 31 May 2018 - 4:03pm

Entertainment Nation is a leading UK entertainment agency based in the leafy outskirts of Stratford-upon-Avon. Established over five years ago, the agency is trusted by thousands of clients to supply top-class musical entertainment for weddings, charity events, parties and corporate functions all over the UK and internationally.

Post date: Wednesday, 30 May 2018 - 2:13pm

The fabulous composer, Gaynor Barradell, talks to us about the inspiration for her piece for the Edinburgh Concert Band, Step Up.

Post date: Friday, 25 May 2018 - 12:41pm

Director Rebecca Hanbury and composer Alex Groves, commissioned by Sky Arts and funded by Arts Council England, are looking for choirs to co-create a British Songbook that celebrates what it means to be British through the power of song.

They are conducting a nationwide listening project to collect stories about British life in 2018 and want to hear from a huge array of people and communities to take a snapshot of different lives across the UK - exploring our commonalities and celebrating our differences.

Post date: Friday, 25 May 2018 - 11:52am

Sound Connections works on behalf of children and young people to strengthen the music sector, bridge gaps in provision and deliver landmark music programmes to this age group. It has recently published the findings of a consultation with 2,200 children and young people about music and the arts.

Post date: Thursday, 24 May 2018 - 10:14am

Judy usually plays Bb Clarinet with the Edinburgh Concert Band, but when the chance to try her hand as a percussionist arose as part of their collaboration for Adopt a Composer, she didn't know quite what she was letting herself in for.

"We need a volunteer for percussion - anyone up for stepping up for Gaynor’s ‘Step Up!'...?"

Post date: Wednesday, 23 May 2018 - 2:58pm

At Rockschool, our ethos has always been to empower musicians and help them achieve their aims, whether they’re applying for university, passing on their expertise and advice, or simply just having some fun with the music they love.

Nothing to fear

Learning via a graded exam system is often seen as something for younger learners and may seem daunting to adult learners. However, after talking to many Rockschool teachers up and down the country, we have learned that their adult students find doing grades to be fun and fulfilling.

Post date: Tuesday, 22 May 2018 - 12:44pm

Peter Yarde Martin reflects on his involvement on the Adopt a Composer scheme, and looks forward to what comes next.

With the first performance of my new piece ‘Starsong and Nocturne’ on 12th May, my Adopt-a-Composer project with Bellfolk Handbell Ringers reached its culmination. It was wonderful to hear my piece take shape over the course of the collaboration, and I was thrilled with how they performed it in concert!

In beautiful setting of St. George’s Colegate, the spatial effects and ethereal harmonies were positively spine-tingling.

Post date: Thursday, 17 May 2018 - 4:55pm

Many of our member groups perform concerts several times a year. Some of these groups have dedicated and enthusiastic writers who spend their time researching the music and penning interesting articles to go into a programme, to help the audience understand and appreciate the performance even more.