Children's Choir Make First Album

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

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

2012: Call for submissions: Middlesbrough Live Site

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

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.

Northern Rock Foundation Culture programme reopens

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

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

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.

Gamelan in Newcastle

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

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].

Amazing victory for young north east panner

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.

London 2012 Inspire Mark Briefing

Wednesday 11 June 10.30 - 1.00, Tyneside Cinema, Newcastle upon Tyne

Would you like to know more about the opportunities around the Cultural Olympiad? Come to this special Arts & Business briefing with representatives of London 2012 to hear about the Inspire mark - and how to connect with this exciting UK-wide cultural programme celebrating the Olympic spirit.

This event is part of a UK-wide programme hosted on behalf of Arts & Business, to help communicate what's possible (and what's not) around the Inspire mark to A&B's cultural and commercial network. You will hear directly from Lorna Fulton our local Creative Programmers and Francesca Canty - UK Cultural Programme Advisor of the Culture Team at London 2012. Jonathan Tuchner from Arts & Business will also be attending.

Wednesday 11 June
10.30 for a 11.00 start
1.00pm prompt finish
The Electra
Tyneside Cinema
Newcastle upon Tyne

Due to restricted numbers, we ask that you send only one person from your organisation to this event.

You can read the current information on the Inspire mark on the London 2012 website here: http://www.london2012.com/plans/culture/now-to-2012/getting-involved.php

Please RSVP to Heidi Ralston on hr@communityfoundation.org.uk or 0191 222 0945.

Summer Music Gathering

Music groups invited to celebrate another year of music making in style!

Making Music has teamed up with Platform to provide a flexible mix of workshops, discussion groups, performances and networking to voluntary music groups in the North East.

Held at the Georgian Theatre, Stockton, on Thursday 17th July, the format of the event will be informal and flexible. With drop-in workshops and discussion groups from 2pm to 8pm, music groups and musicians can simply come to the sessions they want to, when they want to.

Everyone is invited to come along, and thanks to funding from Making Music and Stockton Borough Council the whole event is entirely free, including drinks and nibbles.

Further information including workshop listings is available here.

Join the Making Music committee

Several long-standing members of the Making Music committee will be coming to the end of their terms of office this year. Nominations are now open for chair, treasurer, newsletter editor and tours organiser.

Being on the committee is an opportunity to meet other musicians, have a say in the direction Making Music takes, and help voluntary music making in the region. It can also be a useful way to gather skills and experience to use with you own music group, or in your professional life.

Support will be provided to help those who haven't volunteered on a committee before settle in, and of course old hands are always welcome too!

New committee members will be elected at the AGM on 1st November 2008. For an informal chat or a nomination form contact David Crookes (davidcrookes@talktalk.net), Chairman of the North East committee, 0191 384 5515. You can read more about the current committee at www.makingmusic-northeast.co.uk/contacts.

Making Music and the BBC

The BBC has organised a series of free singing events as part of its accompaniment to its programme I'd Do Anything. The events will take place in Cardiff, Gateshead, Glasgow and London at the end of May (26th - 29th) and are aimed at singers of all ages and abilities.

The events in the North East are being held on Tuesday 27th May at The Sage Gateshead between 10am - 1pm and between 3pm - 6pm.

These events will give participants the chance to sing as part of a group with the BBC Singers and musicians from the BBC Orchestras, as well as some familiar faces. Adults and children over the age of 8 are welcome to attend these fun and friendly sessions, with all level of ability catered for - from keen amateurs to absolute beginners who have never dared sing in public before.

The BBC will be encouraging participants to contact Making Music if they would like to find a singing group in their local area.

For more information and an application form go to www.bbc.co.uk/oliver/events.

Anyone can join in the music

Spend a day (or as much of it as you want) with the Cobweb Orchestra at Middlesbrough Town Hall on Saturday 10th May, from 10am to 5.30pm.

Funded by Platform and in partnership with Middlesbrough Town Hall, the orchestra is running a Community Music Day. They will start by presenting a Beginners Session which will be open to anyone who has an orchestral instrument and can play half a dozen notes on it. Rusty players who have not played for a while will be made welcome too, and it's always good to have a few more experienced players who feel like brushing up on some of the basics.

Then there will be a free Lunchtime Symphony Concert of short, unrehearsed pieces open to anyone who wants to play, or to wander in off the streets and listen.

In the afternoon, the Instrument Making Workshop will give people of all ages the chance to make and play simple instruments which will be used later in the Family Concert which concludes the day's activities.

All the events are either very reasonably priced or free.

You can also join in with The Cobweb Orchestra when they perform the closing concert for the Hartlepool Maritime Festival on 6th July.

For further details and enrolment forms, contact the Cobweb Orchestra Administrator, Liz Carlile on 01642 873973 or e-mail liz.carlile@ntlworld.com.

Free learn to sing course - Tees Valley Barbershop Harmony Club

5 weeks, starting Tuesday 23rd September 2008
7.00pm to 9.00pm, University of Teesside, Middlesbrough

Supported by a national musical educational charity and organised by the Tees Valley Barbershop Harmony Club, this course is aimed at men aged 16 and over. It is designed for both newcomers to singing and those who have not sung for a while.

You can get an idea of the course by visiting www.learntosingharmony.com.

For more information and to book a place, contact:
Dave Tyson, Tel: 01429 263943, email: david.tyson2@ntlworld.com
or Les McGhee, Tel: 01642 554405, email: darlington5@btconnect.com, Tees Valley Barbershop Harmony Club.

Grant funding in the Tees Valley

Platform aims to sustain the long-term development of classical music in the Tees Valley. It will soon be opening another round of the Development Grants for Music Organisations in the Tees Valley. Email john_joan.carter9@ntlworld.com for more information or visit www.platformteesvalley.org.uk.

Full-time administrator wanted

Platform is looking for a coordinator to work at their office in Middlesbrough. The post would suit someone looking to further their career working in Music Events, Marketing and Administration. This is being offered as a full-time fixed term contract for 6 months with a potential extension dependant on funding. Contact mail@platformteesvalley.org.uk for more information.

ICT & the Arts: presentations, resources and audio interview available now

If you were unable to attend Voluntary Arts England's recent ICT & the Arts regional training events/national conference but would still like to find out how your art or craft group could benefit from information and communication technologies (ICT) then visit the previous events section of their website.

In addition to being able to download presentations, handouts and resources, you can also listen to an audio interview with Voluntary Arts England Coordinator Reemer J Bailey, recorded at the conference, looking at how the work of Voluntary Arts England has been enhanced by the use of ICT and how a new 'participation portal' will be of benefit to voluntary/amateur arts and crafts groups

www.vaengland.org.uk

A Touch of TLC: Chorus director wanted

Ladies close harmony chorus, A Touch of TLC, requires a dynamic and enthusiastic musician to direct their established group.

The chorus of 50 members meets weekly at West Moor Community Centre, North Tyneside.

For further information contact 0191 2362825 or visit www.atouchoftlc.org.uk.

Choral premiere for the North East

The Sage Gateshead, Saturday 26th April 2008, 7.30pm

Mahler: Symphony No. 8 in E flat major

Newcastle Bach Choir with Newcastle University Orchestra & Choir plus Soloists from the Royal Northern College of Music & the Royal College of Music, conducted by Eric Cross.

Mahler's massive Eighth Symphony is one of the iconic works of the symphonic and choral repertoires. Written almost exactly 100 years ago (it was completed in 1907), it was dubbed the 'Symphony of a Thousand' by the promoter at its premiere in 1910, where the composer conducted a choir of 850 and an orchestra of 171. Although this performance will have more modest forces to allow for some audience in the hall, the massive orchestra, which includes harps, piano, harmonium, celesta and mandolin, is joined by several choirs, including a children's choir, a separate brass band, and eight soloists.

The first movement sets the Latin hymn 'Veni, creator spiritus', while the atmospheric second movement, based on the closing text from Goethe's Faust, ends with the vision of the Eternal Feminine. The effect was summed up by Mahler as: 'Try to imagine the whole universe beginning to ring and resound.'

This performance will be given by the Newcastle Bach Choir and Newcastle University's Choir and Orchestra, augmented by students from other regional universities through the Centre for Excellence in Teaching and Learning, and other choristers from the region who have joined the 'Mahler Extra Choir'. The children's choir is from the King's School, Tynemouth.

The soloists include several of the leading young singers at the Royal Northern College of Music and the Royal College of Music.

As far as we know this will be the symphony's first ever performance in NewcastleGateshead.

There is also a free pre-concert talk.

Tickets: £22/17/12/8 from The Sage Gateshead (0191 443 4661)

Saturday Singing Classes in Middlesbrough

Middlesbrough Town Hall, 10.00am - 12.30pm

From 8 March 2008 Platform are holding singing classes for adults and children with an option to work on Vocal Technique or Just Sing for Fun. Open to all levels of vocal ability with tutors from a range of backgrounds including trained Opera Singers and Community Musicians. Classes will run every Saturday morning from March 8th. Whatever type of music you are into, come along and sing!

Sing for Fun classes are FREE
Vocal technique classes are £4 adult, £2 children
For more information visit www.platformteesvalley.org.uk or contact mail@platformteesvalley.org.uk.

Free ICT training events from Voluntary Arts England

Newcastle, 26 February 2008

Workshop One: Is your art or craft group missing out?
More and more art and craft groups are using the web and computers to help their group and promote themselves - is your group missing out? This introductory workshop will guide you through the opportunities available to your group.

Workshop Two: Developing IT within your art and craft group
Masterclass exploring topics e.g. Web 2.0 and specialist software packages guiding you through the opportunities available to develop your IT capabilities.

Who can attend?
The events are primarily aimed at voluntary arts groups but are relevant to anyone involved in voluntary arts provision (national umbrella bodies, voluntary arts organisations, local authority arts officers, Arts Council staff, policy makers, consultants etc).

How to book
For more information and to book download the flyer and booking form from www.vaengland.org.uk or phone 0191 230 4464.

The Sage Gateshead's Early Years Network comes to Middlesbrough

Platform is bringing the successful Early Years Network for Music to Middlesbrough Town Hall on Saturday 29th March, 10am - 4pm.

Join The Sage Gateshead's Early Years Team, Tees Valley Music Service and Platform for a day of workshops, networking, talks and consultation. Meet other musicians, early years practitioners, music teachers, organisations and employers.

Take part in participative music-making workshops and have the opportunity to raise some of the issues that affect you in your practice.

Price: £20 including lunch

Contact Rebecca Pedlow, Platform Programme Manager on 01642 384687 or email mail@platformteesvally.org.uk for a booking form.

Primary Music Squad comes to Middlesbrough

Platform is bringing the successful Primary Music Squad, established by MusicLeader North East and designed by The Sage Gateshead, to Middlesbrough Town Hall on 25th February 2008.

Whole Class Singing, Information about the National Sing Up Campaign, Singing for Boys, Developing Music Policies, Good Partnership Practice, networking, learn new repertoire, develop new skills and all in one day of FREE training.

Tees Valley Music Service are running a session in the morning and The Sage Gateshead in the afternoon.

This day is open to anyone who works in Primary Schools, including teachers, musicians, parents who'd like to help with music in schools, teaching assistants, cleaners and so on.

The workshop is open to people from all levels of musical ability, from beginners to advanced, and will run from 10am until 3.30pm.

Contact Rebecca Pedlow, Platform Programme Manager on 01642 384687 or email mail@platformteesvally.org.uk for a booking form.

Opportunity to sing Mahler Symphony No. 8

Newcastle upon Tyne Bach Choir, in association with Newcastle University and the Centre for Excellence in Teaching and Learning in Music and Inclusivity, is offering an opportunity for experienced choral singers to join them for a performance of Mahler's 'Symphony of a Thousand', conducted by Eric Cross, on April 26th 2008 in The Sage Gateshead.

As far as we know, this is a North East premiere!

Rehearsals begin on January 28th in King's Hall, 7-9 pm and run until March 10th , resuming on April 14th until the performance.

Singers will need to attend most of the rehearsals.

All voices are welcome.

The joining fee is £25, including music hire.

Singers from choirs holding Making Music membership will not be required to audition.

To discuss joining the Mahler Extra Choir, please contact:
Rose Haslam (0191 285 3975, email: vrhaslam@btinternet.com)

Grainger Town named best urban neighbourhood

The historic Grainger Town area of Newcastle has won the Academy of Urbanism's 'Great Neighbourhood' Award 2008 at a ceremony on 9 November.

The Georgian quarter of Newcastle city centre beat competition from London's Soho and Dublin's Temple Bar. The NewcastleGateshead Quayside was also named as a finalist in the 'Great Place' category. The streets around Grainger Town were named some of the greatest in England by the Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment in May. Grey Street, headed by Grey's Monument, has also been named 'Best Street in Britain' by BBC Radio Four listeners.

NewcastleGateshead Initiative, Newcastle City Council and Gateshead Council representatives were at the ceremony in London where the winners of the Urbanism Awards 2008 were announced.

Perform at The Sage Gateshead

Folkworks are in the process of arranging short performance spots by local choirs/groups on the concourse in December to add to the Christmas atmosphere here at The Sage Gateshead. These spots would be prior to events in the main halls.

The following groups have already confirmed: Newcastle Shape Note Choir, Silver Threads, The Merse Singers, The Caprians, Seaton Singers, The Sage Gateshead Adult Chamber Choir, The Argus Singers.

If you would like to know more please contact Pam Hobson on 0191 443 4560 or email pam.hobson@thesagegateshead.org.

Support announced for brass bands

Making Music, Durham County Council and the Durham County Brass Band Association (DCBBA) this moneth announced a new partnership to enable Brass Bands in County Durham and beyond to access additional support and nationwide resources.

The new deal allows members of DCBBA to join Making Music, the largest umbrella organisation of its kind in the UK, for less than half price for the first year. Membership of Making Music gives bands access to a wide range of support, training, information sheets, unbeatable insurance deals, individual advice and guidance and more. All bands and events are listed free on the Making Music North East website at www.makingmusic-northeast.org.uk and in the quarterly concert diary.

Michele Hodgson, Cabinet Member for Corporate Services, Libraries and Culture said, "Our brass bands have been central to our communities for many years, working across generations, becoming integral to our heritage and future and a strong source of local pride. Durham County Council is delighted to be able to support the brass band movement through this partnership with Making Music."

More information about Making Music and how to join can be found on the Making Music website at www.makingmusic.org.uk, or by contacting the North East Development Officer, kirsty@makingmusic.org.uk, 07855 642308.

Free consultancy available for IT projects

If you have projects that would benefit your department or business, but can't find the time to start them, then help might be at hand.

The Business Information Systems subject area from the School of Computing, Engineering and Information Sciences, Northumbria University, is looking for projects for its BSc (Hons) undergraduates studying programmes which focus on identifying, planning and developing IT systems for businesses, including voluntary and third sector organisations.

Over the past ten years or more, students have worked with a variety of organisations, large and small, to help resolve issues related to business and technology. Students have dealt with issues including researching market needs and producing business plans and promotional materials as well as web and database development with relevant documentation and training provided.

For more information visit www.communitycampus.org.uk/mod/forum/discuss.php?d=9

North East England - a 'must see' destination

North East England has been named as one of the must-see destinations for the coming year in the new edition of Lonely Planet Bluelist 2008. The region is one of only 30 places around the world to make it into the 'Go-List' section - a chapter dedicated to highlighting the up-and-coming destinations in the influential guide.

The book praises North East England, describing it as 'the most exciting, beautiful and friendly region in the whole of England', with the region's rejuvenated cities, fascinating history as well as the dramatic Northumberland wilderness identified among the region's biggest draws.

The guide goes on to say: 'If your image of North East England is of coal mines and bad weather then it's time you forgot your preconceived ideas and discovered the most exciting and friendly region in the whole of England.'