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.
Following on from composer Max Charles Davies last blog post, he and musical director of Côr Crymych a'r Cylch, Angharad, prepared detailed briefs for the head teachers and poets in the choir, which were sent out in mid-February.
I knew that my composing time was going to slightly suffer due to teaching and conducting commitments until about May-time, but this was timed purposely in terms of the project as it would take that long to assemble all of the texts.
Composer Max Charles Davies finds a minute to look back to 16 January, his inaugral Adopt a Composer session with Côr Crymych a'r Cylch.
These last months have seemed to go by in a frenzied blur, but I’m very grateful for this opportunity to reflect on the first workshop.
Suzanne Griffiths-Rees of Côr Crymych a'r Cylch tells of the incredible events exchange between them and composer Max Charles Davies that have come about as part of Adopt a Composer Choir.
We were told of the importance of building a relationship with our composer during the induction to the Adopt a Composer scheme and we took this advice to heart!
For all our updates and opportunities
