Making Music: North East - News

BE PART OF IT!

2008-08-24T12:05:00.001+01:00

The aim of the London 2012 Open Weekend, 26-28 September 2008, is to open up opportunities for people across the UK to visit places or to get involved in imaginative, thought-provoking, creative activities they may not have done before. Cultural, community and sports organisations and groups are being encouraged to do something unusual or open up different spaces. So whether you can offer free tickets, workshops, behind the scene tours, or open rehearsals, you could be part of the celebrations to launch the London 2012 Cultural Olympiad.

For full listings of all events included in the OPEN WEEKEND go to: www.london2012.com/get-involved/cultural-olympiad/find-an-event and for HANDOVER: www.london2012.com/get-involved/handover.

If you are interested in running your own musical event that weekend contact kirsty@makingmusic.org.uk.

On your marks for the greatest show on earth

2008-08-24T12:04:00.001+01:00

On the afternoon of 24th August in China's Birds Nest Stadium, the Mayor of Beijing will hand the Olympic flag to Boris Johnson, the Mayor of London, and the UK will officially become the host nation for the Olympic Games.
In the North East this moment will be marked by making two minutes noise (an antidote to the two minutes silence we often use to mark more solemn occasions). There will be diesel hooters in Shildon, Duck Races in Alnwick, singing across the Tees Valley, a reading picnic in Durham, the mela in Newcastle, steel bands in Woodhorn, jugglers in Middlesbrough and a Beijing din in Sunderland Museum and Winter Gardens. This will signal the beginning of the Cultural Olympiad, 4 years of cultural activity leading up to 2012.

YOUTH ARTS STARTER KIT

2008-08-24T12:00:00.001+01:00

Launched by Artsplan this time last year, the Youth Arts Starter Kit has proven so successful that Artsplan is pleased to continue the offer this year! It is the essential kit for anyone who is starting to work together with young people in the arts and would like a range of useful tools to support them in their work.

The Youth Arts Starter Kit has been produced by Artswork and is written by experienced youth arts specialists, currently involved in a variety of project work through the UK.

The kit contains a celebrated youth arts funding guide plus three sets of practical guidelines: 'Working Together: using the arts with young people', 'Creating Respect: using youth arts to develop an understanding of cultural diversity', 'Access all Areas: disability and youth arts'.

Artsplan is pleased to offer the Youth Arts Starter Kit at a special price of £30 (incl P&P), a good reduction off the normal cost of each publication! A FREE 441 page Youth Arts Directory (05/06) will also be included in the items dispatched!

For further details, or if you would like to purchase a Youth Arts Starter Kit please contact the Artsplan Development Manager on t: 023 8063 0960 e: artsplan@artswork.org.uk

New closing date for Youth Music Open Programmes

2008-08-20T19:33:00.000+01:00

The closing date for applications to Youth Music's Open Programmes has been revised. The current Open Programmes - First Steps (Creative music-making for children aged 0-5), Make It Sound (Music-making for 5-18 year olds who otherwise lack the chance to take part), and Vocalise! (For programmes where the voice is the main instrument), will now close on 15 December 2008.

More: www.youthmusic.org.uk/looking_for_funding.jsp

Alterations to the Licensing Act

2008-08-20T19:31:00.000+01:00

Licensing Minister Gerry Sutcliffe has announced a draft Order to decrease the cost and difficulty of making small adjustments to premises licences in the UK. The Order would make it possible to carry out small-scale licence or certificate alterations through a new 'minor variation' applications process.

One of the areas encompassed by the new application process would be the addition of licensable activities to a venue's remit, including certain kinds of live or recorded music. It would be decided whether changes were 'minor' based on factors like the volume of a performance and the proximity of residential areas. Licensing officers would need to respond to minor variation proposals within ten working days, and the proposed fee for applications is £73.

Under the current scope of the Act, all amendments to premises licences are required to go through a full and costly licence variation application process.

www.culture.gov.uk

The Mozart Singing Competition 2009

2008-08-20T19:28:00.001+01:00

Deadline: 8 December 2008

The Mozart Singing Competition 2009 for singers under 35 is now open to entrants. With a prize fund of £6000 including at least £1500 reserved for singers under 25 and including special prizes for Sacred song or aria/19th century opera aria/19th-20th century art song, you can audition by CD until 8th December 2008.

For more details go to www.nationalmozart.com

Our Creative Talent: the voluntary and amateur arts in England

2008-08-06T14:06:00.001+01:00

A study commissioned by DCMS and Arts Council England has contributed to the knowledge base on the voluntary and amateur arts sector in England. The study considers two key aspects of the sector: voluntary and amateur arts groups; informal adult learning in the arts.

The research has revealed that there are nearly 50,000 groups across the country with a total of 5.9 million members. An additional 3.5 million people volunteer as extras or helpers - a total of 9.4 million people taking part. The sector accounts for almost one fifth of all arts participation in England and has an income of £543m a year.

For a copy of the report visit http://www.culture.gov.uk/images/publications/VoluntaryArtsreport.pdf

Children's Choir Make First Album

2008-07-28T11:47:00.001+01:00

The Scratchetts Children's Choir, a branch of the Durham Scratch Choir, have just finished recording their first CD, an eclectic mixture of musical styles, including gospel, world and traditional folk.

The 20+ strong group, who formed in September, showed great initiative when they raised the funds to make the recording independently through sponsored Christmas carolling in Durham Millburngate Centre last December.

Members Angel and Amber Kotwall say of the choir, "Every week at the Scratchetts we learn new things. Being involved in the choir is an amazing opportunity."

The choir's next project is a singing summer school that takes place annually at Durham Cathedral. The project is open to anyone aged 8 - 16 years and involves daily workshops from 10.00 to 12.00 the week of August 18th to 22nd. It ends in an exciting performance in the Cathedral alongside the Cobweb Orchestra and Durham Scratch Choir.

The Scratchetts always welcome new members, so for information on how to get involved in the choir and the Cathedral Summer Project please go to www.durhamscratchchoir.moonfruit.com or contact Sheila Adamson on 0191 3844495 or Bridie Jackson at bridiet@hotmail.co.uk

Grassroots Grants

2008-07-28T11:45:00.001+01:00

A new grant-making initiative has been launched to provide greater opportunities for small voluntary and community organisations develop projects that help build stronger communities and higher levels of social capital. Grassroots Grants is a £130 million scheme which aims to provide much needed access to small grants for local community groups. Community Foundations across the region have been chosen to manage the scheme in the North East, on behalf of the Office of the Third Sector.

Community Foundation serving Tyne & Wear and Northumberland: www.communityfoundation.org.uk
County Durham Foundation: www.countydurhamfoundation.co.uk/grassroots.htm
Tees Valley Community Foundation: www.teesvalleyfoundation.org

Win a Premier League football player

2008-07-28T11:44:00.000+01:00

Barclays Premier League is offering to donate a player from each of their twenty football clubs to a local community group. Between September and November, twenty community groups will win a Premier League Player to help raise awareness of their cause and a £4,000 donation. In addition the Premier League will also award individual £4,000 donations to a further 100 community projects, charities or schools.

Deadline: Friday 1 August 2008

For more information visit www.vonne.org.uk/news/news_article.php?id=292.

Young Conductors' Course: ABCD 23rd Convention, Lincoln University

2008-07-28T11:41:00.002+01:00

Lincoln University, 22-24 August

Young Conductors' Course in parallel with ABCD 23rd Convention, led by Amy Bebbington.

With the needs of less experienced young conductors in mind, this 3 day residential course is open to all aged 17-22 who do not currently earn their living from conducting and concentrates on the practical aspects of choir training, conducting and rehearsal technique.

Bursaries are available for up to 10 young conductors to benefit from subsidized Convention places at £150 each. Full price £335.

For more information contact ABCD, the Association of British Choral Directors, www.abcd.org.uk.

2012: Call for submissions: Middlesbrough Live Site

2008-07-28T11:39:00.000+01:00

As part of the Cultural Olympiad of the London 2012 Games, a network of Live Sites: large outdoor video screens with linked performance spaces are being developed throughout the UK. The first of these sites in the North East will be in Middlesbrough. Each site will have its own BBC Screen Manager, who will be responsible for developing, approving and editing content for the screen.

As part of this, they are now looking for content for these screens, to be shown from 25 August onwards. Film submitted will be selected by the BBC, LOCOG, Northern Film & Media and Middlesbrough Council and you will be notified by 22nd August on the outcome of your submission.

If you would like any further information contact Roxy Bramley on roxy@northernmedia.org or tel 0191 2699208.

Entries need to be submitted by 31st July.

Clustering close in Alnwick

2008-07-28T11:14:00.001+01:00

Building on the success of cluster groups in Newcastle and Durham, Making Music is now setting up a cluster of music groups in Alnwick and the surrounding area, together with the Bailiffgate Singers.

The group will decide its aims together but these might include:

pooling publicity ideas and establishing where opportunities exist to work together to attract a wider audience
anti-clash diary to avoid clashes of concert dates or repertoire
collective bookings of soloists to reduce fees

An initial meeting will be held in Alnwick on an evening/weekend in either week commencing 18th August or week commencing 15th September to suit all interested parties. At that meeting groups will discuss what the purpose of the cluster should be, how often it will meet and so on.

At this stage we would encourage society chairs plus one other (possibly a committee member responsible for publicity, venues or dates) to attend, although you are welcome to bring more people if you wish.

If you are interested in coming along to the first cluster meeting or would like more information please get in touch (kirsty@makingmusic.org.uk, 07855 642308) or visit www.makingmusic-northeast.co.uk/cluster.

Last Choir Standing

2008-07-13T20:13:00.000+01:00

BBC One has embarked on a brand new weekend entertainment show as choirs from all walks of life go up against each other to find out who has the passion, power and performance necessary to be declared Last Choir Standing.

Singing in choirs is one of the nation's favourite pastimes with over 25,000 registered choirs and at least half a million members. Following a callout to choirs across the country some of the UK's best will be going head to head in this exciting new talent search.

Presenters Nick Knowles and Myleene Klass will follow the choirs as they progress through the contest. Joining them and putting the choirs through their paces will be a panel of music experts - opera superstar Russell Watson, actress, singer and West End star Sharon D. Clarke and choral conductor and director Suzi Digby OBE.

www.bbc.co.uk/lastchoirstanding

Our Creative Talent: the voluntary and amateur arts in England

2008-07-13T20:11:00.001+01:00

Treading the boards, crafting a short story or performing a show-stopping tune are just some of the ways that nearly 6 million English people participate in the arts, according to a new study.

The results from 'Our Creative Talent: the voluntary and amateur arts in England' show music is one of people's biggest passions with more than 11,220 groups across England, followed by theatre with 5,380 groups and dance with 3,040 groups.

The report says:

there are 49,140 groups across the country - ranging from orchestras and book clubs to lace-making and dance - with a total of 5.9 million members
an additional 3.5 million people volunteer as extras or helpers - for example raising funds or rigging lighting - bringing the total involvement to 9.4 million people
voluntary arts generated a total income of £543 million in 2006/07.

You can download 'Our Creative Talent: the voluntary and amateur arts in England' at www.vaengland.org.uk/uploaded/map7402.pdf.

Marketing the Cultural Olympiad weekend

2008-07-05T17:44:00.001+01:00

As part of the marketing campaign for the Cultural Olympiad launch weekend 26 - 28 September, London 2012 requires an update on any projects you may be considering for inclusion.

Projects chosen as part of the Cultural Olympiad weekend will be marketed through a Visual Tool Kit consisting of digital and printed formats. Visit Britain will also be including all projects and events as part of their web based marketing. It is hoped that a North East guide will be published and distributed widely across the region to promote the projects and events which are taking part in the Cultural Olympiad weekend.

If you are interested in putting forward a project for 26 - 28 September, please contact Lorna Fulton, 2012 Creative Programmer on 0191 202 3785 or lorna.fulton@gone.gsi.gov.uk.

Northern Rock Foundation Culture programme reopens

2008-07-05T17:42:00.001+01:00

The Northern Rock Foundation has reopened its grants programme for high-quality and high-profile culture and heritage projects in North East England and Cumbria. The programme will be worth £2 million in 2008. Northern Rock Foundation is now seeking applications to support performing arts, contemporary craft, design and new media, museum and heritage exhibitions, festivals and collaborations as well as professional training for people working in these areas.

The Foundation plans to invest in a wide range of imaginative and ambitious work, and to support the region's creative talent. Alongside Culture and Heritage, the Foundation's priorities for grants in 2008 are: services for people with mental health problems, people with learning disabilities, older people and carers; one-to-one help for young people at risk, homeless people, substance misusers and groups that face prejudice and discrimination; reducing the incidence and impact of domestic and sexual violence, abuse and hate crimes.

For more information please visit: www.nr-foundation.org.uk

Largest Ever Steelband to Play in North East

2008-07-01T18:19:00.003+01:00

Over 90 young musicians from nine steelbands in the region will play together this Friday 4th July as the largest steelband ever to perform in the region.

The event is the 2nd annual North Tyneside Festival of Steelbands, held this year as part of the Wallsend Festival, at Wallsend Memorial Hall, Station Road, Wallsend from 10am to 3pm.

Nine steelbands from Bishop Auckland, Hartlepool, Middlesbrough and Gatehead as well as North Tyneside, mostly from schools will be drumming up a storm. North Tyneside will be represented by North Tyneside Steelband training and intermediate bands based at the Langdale Cetre Howdon, and by Pink Panthers and Twisters Steelbands from Monkseaton Middle School.

During the day, each band will play two short sets on their own before joining together to play prepared pieces. They will also have the chance to work with a different tutor for a short workshop.

At the same venue from 7.30-11pm the NTSB Performance band will be launching their new CD '...bring a smile to your ears' with bar, refreshments and quiz; entrance is free, but please book a ticket on 0775 360 4281 or dave@steelbandsborth.org.uk

Newcastle College student volunteers in search of community/voluntary organisations

2008-07-01T18:17:00.001+01:00

Newcastle College, the largest Further Education in the country, runs many successful internal volunteer projects and has links with many external volunteer organisations too.

The volunteer ethos within the college is building, and more students than ever before are volunteering in a wide variety of roles.

We would like to offer our students the chance to volunteer for local volunteering groups and would be interested in hearing from any voluntary/community organisations that would benefit from working with a group of keen student volunteers.

A recent survey conducted at Newcastle College showed that students were most interested in volunteering in the following areas:

Animals
Art and Culture
Children
Environment

However, we would be interested to hear from any organisation in need of volunteers.
If you would be interested in supporting student volunteers to benefit your organisation, please contact Emily Moran at emily.moran@ncl-coll.ac.uk or phone 0191 2004526.

Workshop for young violinists

2008-06-30T22:11:00.001+01:00

Following the successful workshop for cellists in March, as part of the Making Music Sound Project, the Tyneside Chamber Orchestra is holding a further workshop for young musicians, again featuring the soloist in our current concert. Edward Cross will work with young violinists of grade 6 standard (or good grade 5) on a piece of their choosing.

Saturday 19 July; 10.30 to 12.30.
St. Hilda's Church Hall, Thornleigh Road, Jesmond, Newcastle.
Full details here.

Gamelan in Newcastle

2008-06-19T18:34:00.002+01:00

Gamelan is an orchestra of gongs, found all over South East Asia but especially on the Indonesian islands of Java and Bali.

From 13th to 26th June, a Gamelan usually based in Durham will be housed at Chillingham Road Primary School in Heaton for two weeks.

There will be several open workshops available to individuals or small groups and also family workshops. If you play in a Western music group or a drumming group, here is a
chance for your group to do something together which I guarantee you will find adds to your ensemble and performance skills. If you have not played music before this could be your chance to give it a try.

Gamelan is also well suited to schools workshops, for pupils of any age, and workshops can be arranged.

You can download further details here [Adobe PDF format] or email paul@musicalmetal.com.

Community music groups pledge to help young people

2008-06-19T18:23:00.003+01:00

Making Music and two of its amateur music groups in the North East are encouraging young people to get involved in their local music community. Volunteers at the Tyneside Chamber Orchestra and Durham Scratch Choir (formerly Durham People's Opera Group) have developed projects to offer young people music-making opportunities throughout 2008.

Durham Scratch Choir will be running singing workshops for young people in Durham Cathedral for one week in August. The Tyneside Chamber Orchestra are giving young instrumentalists the opportunity to work with professional soloists via the schools music services.

You can download the full press release here [MS Word].

The Guardian Charity Awards 2008

2008-06-09T20:22:00.001+01:00

Deadline: Friday 1 August 2008

The Guardian Charity Awards set out to showcase best practice among small and medium-sized charities and help them win the profile and funding they need to move forward.

The awards are aimed at charities delivering practical solutions to present-day problems. So long as the objective of your charity is improving social wellbeing in its broadest sense, and provided other entry criteria are met, nothing is ruled out. The five winning charities will each be awarded:

£6,000 prize money;
A brand new PC, donated by Trams;
A half-day consultancy session plus follow-up support for up to six months on strategy, impact, governance, leadership, campaigning or collaboration, courtesy of NCVO's new consultancy service;
A tailored package of media services from Media Trust (comprising a session with a top media or communications professional through Media Matching service; and places at Speedmatching events with volunteers and a Media Trust training event).

Download an application form from http://society.guardian.co.uk/voluntarysectorawards

New child protection laws for 2009

2008-06-09T20:20:00.000+01:00

The creation of the Independent Safeguarding Authority (ISA) is part of the biggest overhaul of vetting and barring arrangements ever undertaken in this country. It will cover 11.3 million people wishing to seek work or volunteer with children or vulnerable adults.

From 12 Oct 2009, anyone employed or volunteering to work with children or vulnerable people must apply to be registered with the ISA, in addition to the existing CRB checks. After this date it will be a criminal offence to employ anyone to work with children or vulnerable adults who is not registered. Applicants (apart from volunteers) must pay a one-off fee of £64 to register (£28 for registration with ISA and £36 for an enhanced CRB check).

Amazing victory for young north east panner

2008-06-04T20:18:00.001+01:00

Jenny Gilberg, aged 21, entered this summer's national Pan Explosion Steelpan competition for the first time... and won the solo section outright! Not only did she win, but she won by the highest margin in the history of the competition, over 60 points out of a possible 300!

Jenny represented North Tyneside Steelband at the event organised by the British Association of Steelbands and held this year at the Fairfield Halls Croydon on May 31. The competition celebrates the achievement of steelpan players aged 30 or under, and kickstarts the summer season for the UK's steelpan players. In the whole nine year history of Pan Explosion, winners have always been from in or around London.

For more information about steel panning visit www.northtynesidesteelband.org.uk.