It’s easy for conductors starting their careers to regard amateur orchestras as a step en route to the inevitable glory of the Berlin Philharmonic. Some people probably don’t even consider conducting amateurs a possibility. But I cut my teeth with this early on and I started to realise that I enjoyed it more than conducting professionals.
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Post date: Wednesday, 18 November 2015 - 1:13pm
Post date: Monday, 9 November 2015 - 4:04pm
I’m really looking forward to working on this project. Last weekend, I was able to meet the Jan Modelski Community Orchestra, who I’m working with, and get to know them – I think I chatted to about half the members of the orchestra, and they’re all really interested and keen to get to work.
Today was just about getting ideas – up until now I’ve deliberately left my mind as a blank canvas where writing for JMCO is concerned, as I wanted to wait until I’d heard them play.
Post date: Friday, 30 October 2015 - 3:24pm
Always wanted to accompany a silent film? Show this restored documentary on the Battle of the Somme and provide a live soundtrack with the new score by Laura Rossi.
Post date: Friday, 30 October 2015 - 3:00pm
Charity Music for All has funding available for community music group projects and also organises the annual Learn to Play Day.
Post date: Friday, 30 October 2015 - 12:52pm
Want to sing the praises of YOUR music library or music library staff, but don’t quite know how? Well, IAML (UK & Irland), the International Association of Music Libraries, may just have the answer for you.
Their 2016 Excellence Award for Music Libraries highlights and celebrates activity in music libraries showing sustained good work and good practice with the potential to be adopted and adapted by others. The Award is open to all music libraries in the UK and Ireland, no matter what their sector, size or type.
Post date: Friday, 30 October 2015 - 11:58am
After a first outing in 2015, BBC Music Day returns on Friday 3 June 2016 and they are looking to involve amateur music groups
Post date: Wednesday, 21 October 2015 - 5:51pm
On 26th September I drove to Lincoln to meet the whole of The Lincoln Ukulele Band in their usual rehearsal space and to see and hear them in action. I found the room just as Catherine had said, next to the fish monger section at the back of a large supermarket in a community room.
Post date: Friday, 16 October 2015 - 11:36am
It’s been a great summer for specialist Concert Tours Operator, Rayburn Tours, having helped heaps of choirs, youth ensembles, bands and orchestras travel to exciting destinations, perform in fantastic venues and create memorable tour experiences.
Post date: Tuesday, 13 October 2015 - 12:00am
It’s always positive when research for a piece leads down some rather unexpected roads. Before writing for the Thame Chamber Choir, and the associated children’s choir TCC2, I would have thought myself rather unlikely to be delving into 13th Century liturgical chant, or the pronunciation of Middle English. Yet, here I was, following the learned Dr James Cook of the University of Nottingham/Cambridge University round the library as he pulled hefty tomes from the shelves.
Post date: Friday, 25 September 2015 - 12:26pm
Adopt a Composer 2014, Michael Betteridge with the Cobweb Orchestra.
