News
Ben See gives us an insight into the thoughts and processes of composing for two Stoneleigh Youth Orchestras (SYO). In the first of a two-part blog, he sets out to find the words for one of the compositions and discovers a shared love of biscuits and desire to be heard.
It’s estimated that the number of choirs in the UK alone has risen to over 40,000 in recent years. A large proportion of those have been formed purely to share the enjoyment of singing – and perhaps performing – music within a local community, workplace or other environment.
One of the challenges faced by the growing number of choirs is finding a good source of quality music to work with which is both accessible and enjoyable for everyone to sing.
The Stoneleigh Youth Orchestra are working alongside conductor Ben See as part of Adopt a Composer. In this blog one of the orchestra's conductors, Dan Shilladay, tries in vain to find out how the piece is coming along, but the composer keeps up a vanishing act.
I’m the conductor of Stoneleigh Youth Training Orchestra, but as most of our composer’s visits have been to sectional rehearsals, I’ve not yet seen or heard much of Ben’s new piece, or the sessions that have been its crucible.
Make Music Day UK took place on Thursday 21 June and generated over 500 free public music performances from the Isle of Wight to the Isle of Lewis, in every kind of location including train stations, shopping centres, pubs, libraries, music shops, hospitals, schools, park and dales. The UK joined over 120 countries worldwide for this free celebration of music.
Established in 1994 ACS is dedicated to safeguarding the hearing of musicians and music lovers.
Innovators in this field, ACS launched their own hearing conservation campaign in 2014 called Play Safe Now-Hear Tomorrow, working very closely with the MIA, British Tinnitus Association and Help Musicians UK. This together with some of the top names in music education to raise awareness of the importance of taking early action to protect hearing in musical environments.
Entries are now open for the 16th British Composer Awards. Anyone, including the composer, can enter eligible works, and entries across all twelve award categories are judged anonymously.
Singer and composer Ben See gives us an electric insight into his first meeting with Stoneleigh Youth Orchestra for Adopt a Composer.
I’m chuffed to have been ‘adopted’ by SYO (Stoneleigh Youth Orchestra). It is going to be a steep learning curve and a whole new experience.
Composer Edmund Hunt gives thought to his first few weeks as adopted composer to Newcastle choir, The Singers, and what it means to bring an audience into the process.
Just over three weeks ago, I joined The Singers (the choir who have adopted me) for their annual May concert in St Mary Magdalene Church, Longbenton. As this event marked the halfway point in my pairing with The Singers, it seemed an appropriate time to reflect on the project so far.
Calling all budding music photographers! Combine attending your next rehearsal with entering our photography competition.
