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.
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.
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.
Would you like to join a choir of 400 singers in a three-minute mass choral performance at the newly renovated London Bridge Station? Choirs and individual singers are invited to take part to mark the announcement of a new cultural strategy for the London Bridge area, and celebrate cultural collaboration between arts groups and local businesses and places.
Anna Appleby's new composition with the Merchant Sinfonia evokes images of wind, machinery, hillsides and a train journey.
Once again, I am on the train back from Scotland with hills and wind turbines cresting in and out of view. Last night was my first workshop with Merchant Sinfonia; having spent a couple of months getting to know the orchestra and thinking about their musical strengths, I had the chance to try out a first draft, a sketch, and some sounds for the new piece.
What a fantastic opportunity this is! I have been following Adopt a Composer over the years and seen it celebrate, season after season, the breadth of talent and music making among our leisure-time musicians, who I have often described to colleagues as ‘National Treasures’.
We’re pleased to welcome our latest corporate supporter; West Kensington Music Team (WKMT)
They were founded by Juan Rezzuto, an Argentina born composer and concert pianist, and offer music education, performance and production services in London.
Matching seven leisure-time music groups with emerging early-career composers for a collaboration could result in all sorts of complications.
But – touch wood – in 17 years of running the project it rarely has. This is because this unique project model comes with a lot of support, thanks to our funders, the PRS Foundation and latterly Creative Scotland and the Philip & Dorothy Green Music Trust, too.
Community music venues (and the groups that use them) recieved some much-needed good news on Thursday with the announcement that the government's Housing Secretary, Sajid Javid, has thrown his support behind adding a proposed 'Agent of Change' principle to planning law.
The 2018 Contemporary Music for All Festival is coming near you on 2-4 March. Sign up to take part.
Some Making Music member groups participated in the first Contemporary Music for All (CoMA) festival in 2016, playing in or attending workshops, rehearsals and performances.The festival is open to all and is a fantastic opportunity to delve into contemporary music.
For all our updates and opportunities
