News

Post date: Wednesday, 3 October 2018 - 5:00pm

Do you know a young person harbouring a passion for singing?

An audition with the National Youth Choirs of Great Britian (NYCGB) could be just the beginning of their musical journey.

NYCGB is made up of five choirs of 700 young people aged 9-25. It offers in depth residential courses and training programmes, performance opportunities and workshops, as well as outreach events all year round.

Who is it for?

Any young singer, whatever their musical background.

Post date: Thursday, 27 September 2018 - 4:12pm

Composer James Banner offers some initial thoughts following the announcement of his collaborative pairing with member group, Two Rivers Concert Band for Adopt a Composer.

Post date: Wednesday, 26 September 2018 - 3:17pm

You start playing football on a Saturday morning in your local park at the age of five, maybe because your dad did, or because that’s what your mates are doing, and you probably carry on until you leave school. By that time, maybe one of your friends has been picked for a local team or been talent-spotted by a scout.

But generally they won’t have been. All the same, you’ll probably mostly carry on with football: 5-a-side teams with work colleagues, adult village teams, pub or charity teams, helping out with the kids on a Saturday morning, attending matches. 

Post date: Monday, 24 September 2018 - 10:08am

Each year our Adopt a Composer project sets leisure-time choirs, orchestras and ensembles up with composers for a year to produce a new piece together. Meet this year's pairings.

Chloe Knibbs and Ex Urbe

Chloe is a Birmingham-based composer inspired by city life, folk tales and personal experiences. Included in the British Music Collection, Chloe is currently supported by the PRS Women Make Music Fund. 

Post date: Monday, 17 September 2018 - 2:40pm

Online music school, Your Space Music Lessons has launched a new drive to make music tuition easier for families to access. In a new partnership with ‘rent to buy’ instrument service Duet Shop, new orchestral instruments can be obtained from just £7.50 per month.

For families who find it hard to budget for instruments and have little time to access quality tuition, the hope is that this partnership will enable more children and adults to learn from a broad range of orchestral instruments in their own home.

Post date: Thursday, 13 September 2018 - 3:45pm

Composer Esmeralda Conde Ruiz on memory, archives and human nature as influences in her Adopt a Composer collaboration with The Fretful Federation Mandolin Orchestra.

It’s that awkward moment when you meet your neighbours for the first time on the staircase.You might smile, you might small talk, you might pretend not to see them. We all know how that feels like. But what if you ask a community orchestra to meet their neighbours?

Post date: Tuesday, 11 September 2018 - 5:00pm

Are you a music teacher or do you know a music teacher? Our corporate member Travelbound is a music tour specialist and can provide tailor-made trips, 24-hour-support during the tour, concert marketing and more. Here they explain more.

If you’re a music teacher you’ll know that a music tour can bring countless benefits to your students.

Post date: Thursday, 30 August 2018 - 5:10pm

We're delighted to report Make Music Day 2018 saw over 500 free performances to audiences reaching 50,000 people, and in locations as varied as markets to moors. 

This year's event was treble that of 2017 in both size and reach, a huge thanks to all who participated - bring on 2019!

Until then, here's a summary evaluation report of what was achieved and what this means for the future of Make Music Day.

Post date: Thursday, 30 August 2018 - 3:08pm

We're delighted to announce that composer Emily Crossland, herself an Adopt a Composer alumna, will be joining our three current mentors this year to mentor one of the seven pairings.

Post date: Thursday, 30 August 2018 - 2:35pm

Do you love to sing? Award-winning composer and conductor, Esmeralda Conde Ruiz is working with The Old Church in Stoke Newington, London to create a unique live performance.