News from our corporate members

We welcome your brief news (max. 150 words for platinum and gold members, max. 100 words for silver members) and good high-res images. Please email mj@ism.org. The next deadline is 1 April for the May/June 2021 issue.

Stainer & Bell

Stainer & Bell has acquired the English Philharmonia Catalogue of choral music from its founders Graham and Anna Wili. In a decade of successful choral music publishing they curated a unique list of works, for ensembles ranging from community choirs to professional choruses, by outstanding composers including Paul Ayres, Andrew Cottee, Jenny Gould, Brian Knowles, Sebastian Weiss and Chris Williams.

‘The last ten years have been wonderful, working with such talented names to publish new music that both delights audiences and is rewarding for all singers,’ says Graham Wili. ‘With Stainer & Bell’s great energy and vision under the leadership of Managing Director Antony Kearns and newly appointed Choral Ambassador Angus Smith, I have no doubt this music will go on to have a very bright future.’ Antony Kearns comments: ‘We are absolutely delighted to welcome English Philharmonia’s composers to our unrivalled collection of British music, and we look forward to introducing these works to choirs and audiences throughout the world.’ stainer.co.uk

Right Photo: Simon Jones

Below: NYJOTL Awardee David Ijishakin Photo: Tane Stappard and Theo Geraghaty Trinity Laban

Trinity Laban conservatoire and the National Youth Jazz Orchestra (NYJO) have pledged to support each other to ensure diversity, inclusivity and accessibility within jazz education. The initiative includes the new annual NYJO-Trinity Laban Award. Funded by NYJO, it helps support a talented young musician to study on the conservatoire’s Jazz degree programme. The inaugural recipient is first-year singer-songwriter and multiinstrumentalist David Ijishakin, aka Akin Soul, who comments: ‘I’m excited for what is to come within these next few years of growth as a musician and an individual.’

Trinity Laban Principal Anthony Bowne comments – ‘We are excited to build on our reputation as a future-focused and socially engaged conservatoire and explore the ways in which our newly formed strategic relationship will continue to promote jazz.’ trinitylaban.ac.uk

Guildhall School of Music & Drama

In 2020, Guildhall School installed ground-breaking low latency technology. The new network, connecting 22 rooms across Guildhall’s buildings, allows musicians in different spaces within the School to play with virtually no delay in audio and video. It is believed that Guildhall School is the first institution to use this technology for the rehearsal and performance of a full orchestra. Guildhall welcomed soprano Julia Bullock as Artist in Residence. During her residency, Bullock will draw on her depth of experience, working with students in masterclasses and performance projects, and guiding them in development of their own creative processes. Guildhall was also the top-ranked conservatoire for Music in the 2021 Guardian University Guide. gsmd.ac.uk

Middlesex University

Middlesex University has recently undertaken a comprehensive review of its music offering. The result is a new BA (Hons) Music programme, led by Dr Brian Inglis, with dedicated pathways in Performance/ Composition, Jazz, Popular Music and Production, commended for its ‘authentic and innovative assessment tasks’ and the way the pathways ‘prepare students for working in a rapidly changing industry’. The new programme builds on a well-founded diversity and specialist expertise in classical, jazz and popular musics, while using a growing strength and investment in music production to add as a specialist pathway. A new state-of-the-art recording studio at its Hendon campus has proved a useful addition to the university’s facilities.

While COVID-19 continues to impact students’ learning, Middlesex University has done whatever possible to allow students to continue making music at home, offering remote software licenses and distributing packs of technical equipment. mdx.ac.uk/courses/ performing-arts

Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama

Despite the unprecedented challenges during last term, the RWCMD Strings department actually managed to

Right: Sir Andrew Parmley increase the number of performance opportunities for its students. The department worked alongside a number of visiting professional musicians, including a series of masterclasses with performers such as Philip Higham, Carmine Lauri and Rachel Podger. Students have also enjoyed chamber coaching from the Albion Quartet and workshops with RWMCD Strings staff including David Adams and Lesley Hatfield. ‘The essence of our programme has always been to integrate as much performance as possible by working with professional musicians and learning through participation,’ said head of department Simon Jones. rwcmd.ac.uk

Royal College of Organists

Chief executive Sir Andrew Parmley writes: Pandemic restrictions mean the RCO will be presenting interNational Organ Day 2021 as an entirely online event. But far from reducing the scope of the celebrations, this has given us the opportunity to extend interNational Organ Day into a week-long digital festival.

Running from 18-24 April, the festival will be streamed as a series of daily one-hour broadcasts including interviews, features, chat and guests. We will be joining colleagues around the world to explore themes including choral music, the parish organist, cinema and theatre organ, and young organists. The aim of the event remains to celebrate the organ, organ music and organists, and to inspire a new generation of musicians and enthusiasts. Organists everywhere are encouraged to join us online, celebrate #internationalorganday on social media, and share the links to give their congregations, choirs, colleagues and family an insight into the intricacies and wonder of their chosen instrument. rco.org.uk/events/ international-organ-day-2021

Practising the Piano

Practising the Piano’s collection of resources and online workshops for the new ABRSM Piano Syllabus now features almost 100 videos covering pieces from the Initial Grade through to Grade 8. As a complement to these resources, we’ve also created a programme of online workshops in which Graham Fitch provides insights on how to learn, practise and interpret selected repertoire, in addition to offering tips on other elements such as scales, sight-reading, preparation and performing. More information on our resources for piano examinations is available here: mailchi.mp/informance/ piano-examination-resources ISM members are entitled to 30% discounts on online workshops and annual subscriptions (please visit mailchi.mp/informance/ismmember-offers for more information on ISM member discounts).

Association of Teachers of Singing

SOVT ‘Singposium’ 11 April, 2-5pm, online AOTOS provides a rich programme of online events for the wider public and members. Next up, open to ALL, is our SOVT ‘Singposium’ conference. SOVT (Semi Occluded Vocal Tract) exercises – where the mouth is partially closed – have been an essential part of vocal training and rehabilitation for some years. We are thrilled to have secured the expertise of three international specialists on the subject for this event. Oren Boder (UK), on his innovative straw technology; Filipa La (Spain) on attaining feedback on airflow in phonation and Ilter Denizoglu (Turkey) on keeping the voice exercised in this non-singing pandemic period.

Do join us. You can book directly via this link bit.ly/3cl4X3f Price: £15 (AOTOS members), £20 (non-members) aotos.org.uk

British Voice Association

The British Voice Association (BVA) is pleased to announce new dates for our international, multi-disciplinary conference, ‘Choice for Voice’, postponed from last year. Choice for Voice will now be a fully online event on 3-5 September 2021. Further details will be announced nearer the time and all confirmed programme information will be published on our website: britishvoiceassociation. org.uk/events.htm. In the meantime, our exciting programme of online training continues with events planned for Spoken Voice (April) and Speech and Language Therapy (June) – please see the website for the latest on these.

Our website contains a wealth of information and advice about all things voice including resources for the annual World Voice Day (16 April). BVA members can also enjoy the most recent episode of our ‘Keynote Conversations’ series, featuring acclaimed mezzo-soprano Dame Sarah Connolly in discussion with her friend and colleague, the celebrated tenor Richard Edgar-Wilson.

Awards for Young Musicians holds online Awards Day

Each year, Awards for Young Musicians brings together young people from across the country for a day of exceptional music making, as part of the charity’s annual Awards Day. The event had to be held online this year, and saw 193 young musicians invited to take part in a series of online sessions and workshops. Leading industry figures and members of the BBC Symphony Orchestra explored a variety of topics, such as composition, careers beyond the stage, songwriting, higher education in music, and much more. The event culminated in a virtual awards ceremony to welcome the new Award winners, each of whom will receive a means tested grant to support their musical journeys. a-y-m.org.uk

Naxos Music Box

Naxos Music Box, the newest education resource from the recording giant, has been shortlisted in the Music and Drama Education Awards’ ‘Outstanding Music Education Resource’ category. Naxos’ Julian Edwards said: ‘We’re delighted that MusicBox has caught the attention of music educators with this prestigious nomination and has been recognised as a valuable resource at KS2 and KS3’.

MusicBox is a comprehensive introduction to the world of classical music, providing much-needed support for teachers in the way of guidance notes, extended tasks, and clear pathways through the childfriendly material. More information and free trial of the education version is only available from Julian jedwards@naxosmusic. co.uk 07768 448381

BAM! Baird Artists Management Consulting

BAM! Baird Artists Management Consulting, is pleased to offer free consultation to any ISM member on the current state of affairs in regard to touring the United States or Canada. Current travel restrictions in both countries affect the entry of artists who are looking to tour North America in 2021. With vaccinations currently under way in both countries, the possibilities for performances and touring are optimistically being planned for the fall of 2021 and it is recommended that O and P visa applications be started as soon as possible. With two U.S. offices, BAM! Baird Artists Management Consulting acts as petitioner for any artist or performing groups applying for O and P visas and can advise on the newest requirements. Contact Robert Baird, an acknowledged expert on North American touring, at 01-416-887-2151, Skype: robert.baird7132 or robert@ bairdartists.com. BAM! Baird Artists Management has a 100% success rate in obtaining O and P visas. bairdartists.com

Music Education Solutions

Music Education Solutions® is pleased to announce a new partnership with psychologist Dannielle Haig. The Palladium resilience programme is a support programme specifically for students who are training for professional careers in the performing arts, and the lecturers and student services staff who support them. The programme will help students both during and beyond their studies, supporting their transition into the working world, and building the self-sufficiency and resilience that is important for success. Further information can be found on the Music Education Solutions website: musiceducationsolutions.co.uk/ mental-health

Friends of the Musicians’ Chapel

The Friends of the Musicians’ Chapel hold annual services commemorating the lives of musicians in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, Holborn Viaduct in the City of London. Sadly, we had to abandon our 2020 Service

Left: AYM award winners work with BBC Musicians at a past AYM Awards Day Photo: Edward Webb

Left: Robert Baird

Right: St Sepulchre’s Church, home to the Musicians’ Chapel

Right: Beth Macdonald

of Thanksgiving and we have now decided to postpone this year’s service which was scheduled for Tuesday 27 April 2021. We will be investigating the possibility of a service at St Sepulchre’s in September, when names of the musicians newly inscribed in the Book of Remembrance in 2019-2020 will be read aloud. As soon as we are able to reach a decision the date will be advertised on our website and in the music press. We also plan to hold our Requiem Service on 2 November. musicianschapel.org.uk

MTB Exams

MTB Exams – who now have over 1,000 exam centres in 40 countries – are delighted to announce the launch of our new Performance Grades on 3 February 2021, running alongside our existing practical grades. Our established Practical Grades, which include technical and musicianship elements, differ from our new Performance Grades, which are designed to develop candidates’ experience of the creative process in both planning and performing recital programmes. MTB’s Performance Grades comprise a videoed recital of four or five pieces, with a target duration for each of the grades. At grades 1-5, we provide a target duration, whereas for grades 6-8 we provide a minimum and maximum time for your programme, as learning to manage recital duration is a key skill to develop for realworld performances. With MTB’s Free Choice option, you can assemble a programme comprising the music you really want to perform. MTB – exams to smile about!

mtbexams.com

Impulse Music

Showcasing your work on social media

The 20s in this century are not so much ‘roaring’ as exploding, particularly across social media platforms! Musicians need to ride this wave and turn it to advantage. All well and good, but for many, if not most, that means getting a handle on how everything works and even investing in quality hardware and software to achieve the best results. At Impulse, we have the skills to save musicians that time and trouble, which is why we are developing ways of helping musicians develop their digital output. We can certainly provide advice, but better than that, we can now provide the production facilities to help you create short videos to showcase your talent. The Impulse ‘Creative You’ brand has been designed especially to help musicians promote themselves through Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube channels. You provide the inspiration and we use our expertise to produce the videos. Find out more at impulse-music.co.uk or call 01760 441448.

Trinity College London

Sir James MacMillan, composer of global acclaim, has launched a major initiative in partnership with Trinity College London, aimed at putting Scotland and particularly his home town of Cumnock, Ayrshire, at the centre stage of world composition. Cumnock will become a new centre of excellence in the learning and teaching of composition, not limited to Scotland but for teachers and composers across the world, from those at the beginning of their careers to those teaching composition in schools, composers studying within higher education and young composers still at school. Trinity College London has also commissioned a new book for music teachers and young composers from James MacMillan and Jennifer Martin to illustrate the compositional process and to support those teaching and learning composition in the upper years of secondary school. This book incorporates much of the teaching processes used in The Cumnock

Tryst’s composition projects for schools and will be launched at The Cumnock Tryst Festival in October 2021. Read more at: bit.ly/3pDyRU1

Steinberg

Stuck at home? Create beautiful sheet music with Steinberg’s free music notation software: Dorico SE

If you haven’t tried Dorico SE yet you should definitely check it out! Dorico SE is the latest addition to the Dorico product family. Not only is it completely free to download and use forever, it also includes many of the advanced features in Dorico Pro, used by professionals in the fields of film and TV, video games, concert music, jazz, music publishing, and teaching. Projects you create in Dorico SE are fully compatible with all other versions of Dorico, so you can easily share projects with other Dorico users – ideal for homework if students and their teachers have Dorico at school. You can even open full orchestra projects from Dorico Pro in Dorico SE to print them and play them back. To download Dorico SE visit: new. steinberg.net/dorico/se

The National Schools Symphony Orchestra

The NSSO was finalist in the 2020 Music & Drama Education Awards and our Digital Celebration films can be found on YouTube. This year, 8-18 July, brings an exciting return to live musicmaking. Malvern College, home of NSSO, has highly regarded COVID-19 protocols in place, and with fewer people on campus, shorter residential courses, boarding at only 50% of capacity and concerts live-streamed, we are sure that we will deliver safe courses. Applications are now open with auditions online. Full details of the three NSSO orchestras (differentiated by age and ability), Conducting Course, and the new Big Band can be found at nsso.org Collins Music news

OUT NOW! More Ukulele Magic Tutor Book 2 Continue your musical journey on the ukulele!

Fully supported with audio performances and backings, this second book builds on the learning in Book 1 with new chords, scales, finger-picking patterns as well as opportunities for composing, improvising and ensemble playing. The teacher’s edition includes a downloadable whiteboard e-book with embedded audio and video demos, making it ideal for whole-class teaching. OUT NOW! Get Set! Piano and My First Piano Get Set! Piano for beginner students My First Piano Book introduces young children to the piano and musicmaking through fun activities, rhymes, songs and pieces. My First Piano Pieces, Puzzles & Activities includes traditional and new pieces, plus lots of additional activities to consolidate learning and offer an extra layer of fun. Stay tuned … Sign up to our newsletter at collins.co.uk/music and follow us on Twitter @CollinsMusicEd.

Left: Dorico software in use

Join the ISM Members’ Community on Facebook

Stay connected to your fellow ISM members by joining over 1,500 other music professionals in our exclusive Facebook group. A space to share stories and ideas, ask questions and discuss hot topics, the group offers you a chance to network and feel supported by your peers. Access the group at facebook.com/groups/myismis