Boost for music education in Norfolk schools

The following was posted on the Norfolk County Council website on 04 May 2012, see http://www.norfolk.gov.uk/News/NCC105250 for full announcement.

Norfolk County Council has been granted £2.3m from the Arts Council to develop a Music Education Hub, which will bring together orchestras, choirs, schools, teachers and performers to boost music learning in all Norfolk schools.

The County Council’s music service already works closely with a range of partners, such as the Britten Sinfonia, Sing Up and the Voices Foundation. Its Youth Orchestra also holds regular concerts and, over the last year the county has joined up with young musicians in Serbia and Germany to develop an international Triorca orchestra.

The latest funding will mean the service can develop even further, with the aim of reaching every child in the county. It is one of 122 hubs to receive funding nationwide.

The funding will cover four key areas:

* The weekly learning of instruments through whole class ensembles, for the minimum of a term, for every child aged five to 18.

* Regular singing opportunities including choirs and vocal ensembles for every pupil as a result of a singing strategy.

* More opportunities for children to play in ensembles.

* Clear progression routes which are available and affordable to all young people.

Norfolk County Council’s Music Service will be leading the development of the hub working with schools; district arts officers; Norfolk and Norwich Festival Bridge Organisation; The Garage; Community Music East; Springwood Academy; Britten Sinfonia; Aldeburgh Young Musicians;Access to Music and Norfolk and Norwich Community Arts (NORCA).

Folkeast

Somerleyton Hall Estate is hosting “three days of folk, roots, acoustic  and world music from traditional to contemporary, in many forms.”  The festival will take place over the bank holiday weekend, 24th, 25th and 26th August, 2012.  As well as all the brilliant music, there will be camping, workshops, dance, circus and street entertainment, food stalls (locally sourced where possible), craft stalls, real ales from local micro breweries, and lots more.  For more information go to www.folkeast.co.uk, where you can also book online.

More Events at St. Nicholas

 www.sncpt.co.uk

Sunday 10th June, 3.00 pm
Afternoon Tea with Music,  with Great Yarmouth Gilbert and Sullivan Society, tickets £7.50

Satruday 23rd June, 7.30 pm
Jazz with Dixiemix, bar and dancing, tickets £8

Sunday 22nd July, 3.00 pm
Afernoon Tea with Music featuring Hannah Long (soprano) and John Farmer (piano) – light classical music and music from shows, tickets £7.50

In aid of the fabric and organ n the Minster Church of St. Nicholas. All events are in the church.  Tickets from Paul Davies, 01493 843647 or from Brahams, Market Row, Great Yarmouth.

Funding

Women Make Music Opens for Applications ( UK )

The Performing Right Society (PRS) has announced that its Women Make Music grant scheme is now open for applications. The second year of Women Make Music comes after a successful pilot programme in 2011. Through the programme, financial support of up to £5000 is available to women musicians; and new music in any genre is welcome, from classical, jazz and experimental, to urban, electronica and pop.

The aims of Women Make Music are:
•Break down assumptions and stereotypes within the music industry by encouraging role models for future generations
•Raise awareness of the gender gap and to ensure that women are aware that support for new music is available to them
•Increase the profile of women who are creating new music in the UK
•Stimulate new collaborations between organisations and female music creators

Through the scheme support is available to both individuals and organisations/groups including:
•solo performer
•solo songwriter or composer
•promoter or event producer
•band/ensemble/orchestra
•collective
•charity
•community interest company
•company limited by guarantee
•local authority
•school, college or university
•festival/promoter

There are two funding rounds in 2012 and the application deadlines are the 17th May 2012 and the 10th October 2012. For information visit: http://tinyurl.com/dyqwcgm

Rigajigjig at St. Nicholas

A fund-raising evening has been organised, in aid of the restoration of the organ, by the St. Nicholas Minster Preservation Trust (www.sncpt.co.uk) on Saturday 26th May 2012 at 7.30 pm.

Rigajigjig, are a band of Norfolk musicians who play traditional music and country dance tunes. The repertoire consists of jigs, hornpipes, polkas, schottishes and waltzes played on fiddle, banjo, mouth organs, melodeon and banjo. There will be dancing with a caller.

Tickets are £5 and are available from Paul Davies (01493 843647) or Brahams in Market Row or on the door. Cheques made payable to: SNCPT. A bar will be available.

Folk Music at Shrublands Community Centre

Folk sessions are held every Tuesday evening at Shrublands Community Centre on the Magdalene Estate.  They are organised by Roger Secker.  Folk music at Shrublands includes blues, jazz, rock and pop music as well as traditional songs and sea shanties.  Some excellent musicians from the area perform at these  sessions, which are going from strength to strength.

Britten Sinfonia Academy is recruiting now!

This new ensemble is an exciting opportunity for talented young musicians from the East of England.  We are currently recruiting and are looking for talented and committed musicians of secondary school age. We will be auditioning throughout April.

Britten Sinfonia Academy is a new chamber orchestra that will meet for intensive weekend courses focusing on the thinks that make Britten Sinfonia unique:

– playing without a conductor
– mixing up genres and playing in different styles
– performing in small chamber groups
–working with inspiring special guest artists
– improvising, composing, exploring new music

To find out more, watch the intro video, or to apply for an audition please visit: www.brittensinfonia.com/academy  or to have a chat with us call Isobel Timms on 01223 341019 or email Isobel.timms@brittensinfonia.com

Britten Sinfonia are also advertising for three job vacancies - Creative Learning Assistant, Development Assistant, Marketing Assistant. Deadline for applications is 23rd April 2012.  Job descriptions and an application form can be found on the website http://www.brittensinfonia.com/about-us/vacancies/

Fisher Theatre, Bungay

Just to let you know about a few exciting shows we have coming to the Fisher Theatre during next month.
We begin with The Story of Ellen Terry, which is a brand new play by Cambridge Devised Theatre which chronicles the extraordinary life of the Victorian actress Ellen Terry on Monday 2ndApril at 7.30pm. That Saturday we have the ever popular band X-Men coming back to perform on the 7th April. The following Wednesday 11th April we have another lunchtime concert where HarmonieMusik will be performing music for piano and winds to present an entertaining programme. On Monday 16th April the theatre is showing the ‘heart-breaking, explosive, top-notch’ film Oranges & Sunshine at 7.30pm. Two days later the art exhibition launch of Stuart Green who will be exhibiting landscape paintings throughout the month of April. Very few places are left for our extremely popular Italian Evenings, with the next one not being until the end of August (!). Thursday 19th April (BOOKING ESSENTIAL). Friday 20th April, Mad Dogs & Englishmen come to present the Charles Dickens’ classic tale David Copperfield. Something for the children the next morning, Aesop’s Touring Theatre Company are presenting The Adventures of the Gingerbread Man, two shows 11am & 1.30pm on Saturday 21st April. The award winning all original Brotherhood of Man share their hilarious secrets and take you on a fun packed romp through the Seventies recalling the fabulous songs. Tickets are selling fast for this performance on Friday 27th April with our final band performing on the following night. Saturday 28th Aprilwe see (& hear!) Midnight Train who offer a selection superb musicians behind an exceptional vocalist. More information can be found online at www.fishertheatre.org about all forthcoming productions & performances.

The Fisher Theatre. 10 Broad Street, Bungay, NR35 1EE
Tel: 01986-895367 (Office)
Tel: 01986-897130 (Box Office)

Singing workshop for young tenors and basses

North Suffolk Youth Choir and Vetta Wise present  Group Harmoy #3, a pop-up day of vocal music, by special request!

*Use song and harmony to explore your voice
*Discover different styles of singing together
*Enjoy making music with others of similar age and voice

Friday 17th February 2012, 10.00 – 3.30  Cost: £15 Age range: 12 – 20
Saint Felix School, Southwold
With guests Alan Zipfel and Helen Pybus
Details and booking form:  01502 722906 or email to secretary@nsyc.org.uk

Supported by Suffolk County Council

Voice Workshop

Monday 30th Janury at 7.30pm is the first Voice Workshop of the year at Raveningham.

Bridget Cousins will be here to wake up those voices that have been in hibernation with her mix of traditional and contemporary songs. If you haven’t been before and fancy trying it or you have resolved to sing more this year come along,everyone is welcome at these informal but rewarding evenings. £10 per person for 2 hours tuition in a small group.

Date for your Diary….

Warming winter fare and Raveningham game casserole at our ‘Occassional Table’.
Join us for good company and a tasty lunch on Sunday 12th February.
Book your table early to avoid disapointment.
For more info or to book ring Liz or Mal on 01508 548406.
Or email us at mal@norfolkrugs.co.uk
All at the Ravenous Cafe, The Raveningham Centre, Beccles Road, Raveningham, Norfolk, NR14 6NU.