Highnotes, Summer 2014 by Making Music

THE MAKING MUSIC MEMBERSHIP MAGAZINE | SUMMER ISSUE 2014

Best practice Tips for amateur musicians from Stephen Hough CBE • PAGE 8 SUMMER FÊTE

How your group can get involved in summer festivals • PAGE 10

SPACE TO PLAY Advice on finding the perfect rehearsal or performance space • PAGE 12

Wimbledon International Music Festival

Borodin Quartet ● Michael Collins ● Fibonacci Sequence ● London Winds ● Michael Collins ● ‘Jewel in London’s Cultural crown’ Denis Kozhukhin ● Players of the Globe ● The Jessica Duchen of The Independent SIXTEEN ● York2 ● Paris Washboard ● Lawrence Power ● Myrthen ● Joanne Lunn ● ‘... has established itself as a major player’ Academy Choir ● Harry Christophers ● Robin Barry Millington, Evening Standard O'Neill ● Yehudi Menuhin School ● The SIXTEEN ● York2 ● Paris Washboard ● ‘... an impressive array of artists’ ● Lawrence Power ● Myrthen ● Joanne Lunn The Strad ● ● Academy Choir Harry Christophers Robin

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CONTENTS & EDITORIAL

For 79 years Making Music has been supporting and championing amateur music groups.

CONTENTS NEWS

5 In brief 6 Around the UK FEATURES

8 Best practice 10 Summer fête 12 Space to play FROM OUR TEAM

Our latest survey reveals the might of the sector and tells us our 3,000+ groups represent around 170,000 individuals.

14 Membership and services 16 Opportunities 18 Volunteers MEMBERS

We asked ourselves how we could strengthen the voice of voluntary music and simultaneously offer services and a ‘home’ to amateur musicians as well as groups.

19 Corporate members 20 Blow your trumpet 22 Readers’ page If you have suggestions or would like to contribute to Highnotes, please contact the Commissioning Editor, Henry Bird, on 020 7422 8291 or editor@makingmusic.org.uk

Our answer was to launch a new individual membership scheme, open to anyone who engages in amateur musical activity, or who would like to support the voluntary music sector or Making Music, or who simply thinks – as we do – that encouraging more people to make and present music is a worthwhile goal to work towards.

The copy deadline for Highnotes Autumn 2014 (published on 1 September) is 1 July Any views or opinions expressed by external contributors may not necessarily represent those of Making Music

Individual membership is affordable and, among other benefits, gives access to our new and competitive musical instrument insurance scheme.

Highnotes is the official journal of Making Music, The National Federation of Music Societies, 2-4 Great Eastern Street, London EC2A 3NW 020 7422 8280 info@makingmusic.org.uk www.makingmusic.org.uk

To learn more about individual membership, turn to page 14. And do join us at the spring conference on 17 May to raise a glass to a future of a strong, joined up voluntary music scene.

A company limited by guarantee, registered in England and Wales no. 308632 Registered charity in England and Wales no. 249219 and in Scotland no. SC038849 If you need us to make any of this information more accessible, please call Making Music on 020 7422 8280 or email info@makingmusic.org.uk £6 where sold, annual subscription £15 (3 issues) Designed by Cog Design Printed by Gemini Press Advertising by Space Marketing: 01892 677740

Barbara Eifler EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, MAKING MUSIC Cover: Stephen Hough Photo: Sim Canetty-Clarke Right: Barbara Eifler Photo: Damien McFadden

Without help, I wouldn’t be able to afford to study to become a singer. Our work gives people like Soraya a chance to follow their dreams. Help us help musicians. helpmusicians.org.uk 020 7239 9100 Help Musicians UK is the new name for the Musicians Benevolent Fund. Registered charity 228089

The Tillett Trust is happy to present its YAP ARTISTS for 2013/2014

Keri Fuge soprano

Jean-Sélim Abdelmoula piano

Soh-Yon Kim violin

Andrey Lebedev guitar

Laura Snowden guitar

The Young Artists’ Platform scheme offers talented young musicians performing opportunities and promoters sponsorship towards their concert fees. More information from Katie Avey: 0845 070 4969 info@thetilletttrust.org.uk

www.thetilletttrust.org.uk

NEWS

IN BRIEF Left: The Aquarelle Guitar Quartet, which performed as part of Yorkshire Festival 2014 in April Photo: Daniel Killoran

Yorkshire Festival 2014 100 days of culture to welcome the Tour de France Cyclists will be taking on the beautiful yet gruelling slopes of the Yorkshire Dales for the opening stages of the Tour de France this year. While the race regularly begins outside of France, it will be the first time it has come to the north of England, and to mark the occasion there are 100 days of cultural activity taking place throughout the region under the banner of the Yorkshire Festival 2014. The festival started on 27 March, with activities ranging from the barmy to the beautiful (18 cyclists

pulling a piano – as it was being played – up Cragg Vale was a good example of the former). Many Making Music members have been taking part, including promoting group Sowerby Music, which hosted the Aquarelle Guitar Quartet at a concert in Sowerby’s St Oswald’s Church. Community choir Vivacity also took part in a massed choral performance celebrating Sheffield’s rich musical heritage. There’s still lots to see as the start of the race approaches. Learn more at festival.yorkshire.com.

A mixed bag for UK orchestras Professional orchestras have reported an 11% drop in box office receipts, despite a rise in audience numbers The figures have been published by the Association of British Orchestras (ABO), which surveyed 49 professional ensembles about their 2012/13 seasons. The responses showed a rise of 16% in attendance figures since 2010, with 4.5m people now watching professional orchestras play live in the UK every year. Despite this, takings at the box office are down by 11% in real terms over the same period – a fact that the ABO attributes to more people buying cheaper tickets following the economic downturn. The report also shows that orchestras are increasing their outreach activities, with 8,397 educational, participatory or training events reaching more than 335,000 people over a 12 month period. To see how the figures compare to those from Making Music member groups, take a look at the results of our treasurers’ survey on page 15.

“An amateur is not someone who is less good than a professional, but rather someone for whom love overcomes obstacles” Stephen Hough p8

50P FOR CULTURE

It’s no secret that public finances are being squeezed at the moment, with arts funding taking its share of the cuts. But a recent poll by Ipsos MORI, co-commissioned by the National Campaign for the Arts and My Theatre Matters!, found that even in these straitened times, 63% of people think at least 50p per person per week of local authority money should be spent on the arts, museums and heritage. The amount actually being spent is significantly less: the average budgeted net spend across England in 2013/14 is just 16p per person per week. To make the case for greater spending on the arts, the commissioners of the poll have teamed up with UK Theatre to launch 50p for Culture, a campaign supported by Making Music. The 50p for Culture website allows people in England to find out how much their local authorities plan to spend on culture in their area. You can also use the site to contact your local representatives to tell them your views on arts funding. www.50pforculture.org PANDEMONIUM DRUMMERS AND BABS WIN EPIC AWARDS

Congratulations to member group Pandemonium Drummers, which has won an Epic Award for its contribution to the UK’s voluntary arts scene. Affiliate member the British Association of Barbershop Singers also won the People’s Choice Award. www.epicawards.co.uk

Call the choral society Member choir the Maidstone Singers recently had a brush with fame when it appeared on BBC1’s Call the Midwife. The group performed in full 1950s gear for the finale of season 3. www.themaidstonesingers.org.uk

Summer 2014

HIGHNOTES

NEWS

AROUND THE UK NORTHERN IRELAND

SCOTLAND

All aboard! Glasgow Chamber Choir is marking the start of the Commonwealth Games with a choral marathon, including a performance on the River Clyde Athletes from around the globe will be descending on Glasgow this summer for the Commonwealth Games, and singers from one choir have decided that they want a slice of the action as well. Making Music member Glasgow Chamber Choir will be staging a Commonwealth Choral Marathon thanks to a £7,100 grant from the National Lottery Celebrate fund. Taking place over the weekend of 7–8 June 2014, the marathon will take in landmarks including The Tall Ship on the River Clyde, Glasgow International Airport and the Kibble Palace. British Composer Awardwinners Rory Boyle and Eddie McGuire are among a number of prominent Scottish composers 6

HIGHNOTES Summer 2014

creating new pieces for the event. The new works will draw inspiration from Glasgow’s history as a maritime hub, and will be published in a new Glasgow songbook. Boyle, who also has two Royal Philharmonic Society Music Awards to his name, will use his piece to reflect Glasgow’s ‘wonderful creative energy’. The marathon also marks the choir’s 20th anniversary. Musical Director Michael Bawtree commented: ‘I am delighted that some of Scotland’s most distinguished composers have agreed to write works for our Commonwealth Choral Marathon – a unique celebration of both our city and our choir.’ Learn more about the marathon at glasgowchamberchoir.org.uk.

Above: The Tall Ship, Glasgow Copyright: Culture & Sport Glasgow (Museums)

Ballymena has been chosen as an area of outstanding creativity as part of Voluntary Arts Ireland’s Creative Citizens scheme. There will be events involving hundreds of arts organisations, including a Music on the Map day on 4 May featuring performances in the borough’s more unusual locations. The scheme has got the attention of one of Ballymena’s more famous former residents. Liam Neeson OBE, who was born in the town, has said: ‘Ballymena and the borough have always had a deep creative pool in all the arts. It’s wonderful and, personally, exciting for me that this pool is being tapped into and explored by this wonderful creative alliance.’ Learn more by contacting Kevin Murphy: kevin@vaireland.org. SOUTH WEST

The South Bristol Wellbeing Choir is taking flight as an independent ensemble, having been set up by Making Music as part of Our Big Gig EXTRA. The choir aims to bring communities together and support the link between singing and wellbeing, with over 100 regular members. Project manager Hannah Currant says: ‘It has become much more than the music; it’s a family’. www.makingmusic.org.uk/ southwest YORKSHIRE AND THE NORTH OF ENGLAND

Newcastle Choral Society has secured £15,000 from Arts Council England’s Grants for the Arts fund. The grant will go towards the choir’s 60th anniversary concert, featuring a new commission from Will Todd. The concert takes place at the Sage Gateshead on 29 November 2014. newcastlechoralsociety.org.uk

NEWS

SOUTH EAST

A trio of West Sussex organisations teamed up to run a weekend jazz workshop in February. Jointly organised by the Steyning Music Society, Steyning Jazz Club and the Steyning Grammar School music department, the event was made possible thanks to support from the Arts Council’s Grants for the Arts scheme. The workshop coincided with Steyning Grammar’s 400th anniversary, and was led by tutors from Chichester College Jazz Faculty, who performed a concert for participants on the Saturday evening. A daytime workshop developing small ensemble and big band techniques culminated in an evening concert at popular concert venue The Steyning Centre, allowing workshop participants to showcase a hard but very fun weekend’s work. www.steyningmusicsociety.org

Did you know? Making Music has just published its annual report for 2013. Take a look at bit.ly/1n9iB9R

An Enigma variation Hertfordshire Chorus has premiered a new work celebrating the life of codebreaker Alan Turing Codebreaker was commissioned by the choir from British composer James McCarthy, who has previously written for another Making Music member, Crouch End Festival Chorus. With this new piece, McCarthy aims to make the listener ‘feel that they have been sitting across the table from Alan Turing and spoken about his hopes and his fears’. Turing was a computer scientist and mathematician whose codebreaking work during world war two is thought to have saved thousands of lives. He was convicted for homosexual activity in 1952, 15 years before it was decriminalised, and he died two years later from cyanide poisoning. The Codebreaker premiere took place at the Barbican on 26 April, just months after Turing was given a Royal Pardon by the Queen. Watch a video about the piece at bit.ly/NXKt1G. LONDON

Czech mate

WEST

We are continually creating opportunities for people to try making music, most recently with our ‘Play It Again’ workshops and member performances on BBC radio in Lancashire and Cumbria, in association with Up For Arts. We’re building on this activity elsewhere in the UK, including a collaboration with the Hallé on a new community choir in Manchester. www.makingmusic.org.uk/west

EAST

A new recording of an Adopt a Composer composition, Twisted Cityscapes, has been made featuring soloists from the Czech Philharmonic

Above right: Alan Turing Photo: Andy Potts

Wales This July, Music Forum Wales is inviting Welsh music groups to open their doors for Music Nation Wales, building on the success of the 2012 BBC Cultural Olympiad Project of the same name. We’ve just published a toolkit with guidance on things like advertising, fundraising and health and safety, making it easy for your group to host a ‘Come and Sing’ or ‘Come and Play’ event. Learn more at www.musicforumwales.org.uk.

In 2008, Bloomsbury Woodwind Ensemble ‘adopted’ Christopher Hussey through Making Music’s renowned artistic development scheme, Adopt a Composer. Six years later, that relationship is still going strong, and to date Hussey has worked with the group on several more arrangements and another original composition. Bloomsbury conductor Shea Lolin now plans to include a new recording of Hussey’s original Adopt a Composer work on an album devoted entirely to music for woodwind orchestra by contemporary British composers. Twisted Skyscape, named after Hussey’s Adopt a Composer piece,

was recorded with soloists from the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra in March 2014, following a successful crowdfunding campaign launched by Lolin and Hussey. Lolin commented: ‘The woodwind orchestra’s tonal palette is in turn boldly vibrant and delicately beautiful, excitingly powerful and hauntingly tender. It will be captured here, in all its variety.’ Applications for this year’s Adopt a Composer scheme are now open. If you’d like to work with an emerging composer on a new piece of music, turn to page 16 to learn more.

Summer 2014

HIGHNOTES

FEATURE

Best practice How to get the most from practising, from pianist Stephen Hough CBE I wrote an article on practising recently that was mainly intended for students aiming for a professional life at the piano, or near it. Then Making Music wrote to me: ‘What about amateurs? Any advice for them?’ I think it’s important to begin with the origin of the word ‘amateur’. It comes from the Latin ‘amare’ and it means ‘to love’. An amateur is not someone who is less good than a professional but rather someone for whom love overcomes obstacles – and practising is all about overcoming obstacles. In fact many professionals could learn a thing or two about the love for music which fills the lives of so many who have other daytime jobs. The French novelist Julien Green wrote that if students still wanted to read books after they’d completed his literature class he considered his teaching to have been a success. If we think of practising itself from the viewpoint of love I think many things will slot into place. But love is not quite enough, as anyone who has placed stiff hands on keys or dry lips to a mouthpiece will know. The first problem is how to maximise limited time at the end (or the beginning) of a busy day. There is no question that a lot of time is wasted when practicing. Passages are repeated over and over again with no improvement and no concentration. I love Hans von Bulow’s saying: ‘Do not despise the 15 minutes you have whilst waiting for your carriage to arrive.’ You won’t be able to practise the whole of that Beethoven sonata but you can make a real improvement in that tricky arpeggio passage. What’s essential is to focus on why something is not good, and in almost every case there is a clear, logical reason. Playing an instrument is always a matter of 8

HIGHNOTES Summer 2014

doing something finite – a practical, physical action. The effect of that vibrato may be to create a tear in the corner of an eye, but what’s actually happening on the string is a wiggle of a finger in the right place. So to some random tips … Don’t always ‘start at the very beginning’ of a piece. When we do, and time is short, we will often give insufficient attention to the middle or end of the piece. Start in the middle of a movement sometimes. Try not to enjoy your practice too much. Avoid just playing through the music and hearing what you want to hear rather than what the listener will be hearing. It takes real courage and determination to listen honestly to the sounds which are actually coming out of the instrument. Choose repertoire sensibly, but do stretch yourself as well. Some people have a natural flair at an instrument, while for others certain pieces will never be possible. It’s not a bad thing to realise this. It’s important to remember that being an amateur (a lover) should be a carefree task. Leave the egoposturing to the professionals. Make demands on yourself, fill the time well, concentrate, but then enjoy: joy inside the music you play and inside yourself. Who knows, you may end up bringing some of that joy to your family and (one can always hope) to your neighbours. Read the full version of this article at bit.ly/houghtips. Stephen’s recording of Brahms’ Piano Concertos 1 and 2 is out now on Hyperion. Learn more at stephenhough.com and bit.ly/houghblog.

Photo: Sim Canetty-Clarke

“ Make demands on yourself, fill the time well, concentrate, but then enjoy”

International Summer School 26 July - 16 August 2014

Residential music courses for all ages and abilities CHoIr - orCHESTra - WorkSHopS MaSTErClaSSES - CHaMbEr MuSIC

Sing, Play, Listen, Learn Space, Dartington Hall, Totnes, Devon TQ9 6EN +44 (0)1803 847080 summerschool@dartington.org

www.dartington.org/summer-school DArtington internAtionAl Summer School iS A DepArtment of the DArtington hAll truSt, A regiStereD chArity. reg chArity no 279756

London Symphony Orchestra Living Music SINGING DAY & CONCERT

SINGING DAYS 2014/15

Sun 22 Jun 2014 BEETHOVEN MASS IN C

Sat 20 Sep 2014 BACH TO THE BEATLES Sing music from one of the greatest pop groups ever.

Singing Day 10am–5.30pm Barbican & LSO St Luke’s Watch a full LSO morning rehearsal and enjoy a singthrough in the afternoon. David Lawrence conductor

LSO Singing Days

Whether you’re a keen choir member or new starter, get to grips with iconic choral works and modern classics with the help of a world-class conductor.

Concert 7.30pm, Barbican Strauss Ein Heldenleben Beethoven Mass in C major Fabio Luisi conductor Christiane Oelze, Anna Stephany, Timothy Oliver, Matthew Rose soloists London Symphony Chorus London Symphony Orchestra

Sat 22 Nov 2014 19TH CENTURY ORATORIOS Work on choruses by Schumann and Mendelssohn. Sat 7 Feb 2015 DURUFLÉ REQUIEM Discover one of the bestloved choral works of all time. Sat 20 Jun 2015 AFRICAN/AMERICAN JOURNEY Explore early gospel sounds through to music of today.

020 7638 8891 lso.co.uk

FEATURE

Summer fête Sarah Hayward outlines just a few of the summer events your group can get involved in There are a multitude of national days and events popping up every month – a quick Google search today got us chuckling about Answer Your Cat’s Questions Day and SPAM Appreciation Week – but how do you decide which ones you or your group should support? Here are just a few of the events taking place this summer. We know our members often plan well in advance, so you may not be able to take part this year, but by telling you about them now we hope to encourage you to get involved in the future. Music Day (21 June) This is the English name for Fête de la Musique, which started in 1982 in France and is now a national institution, with streets in French towns and cities closing every summer solstice to allow musicians to entertain the masses. The concept has spread across the globe, with Fête de la Musique events taking place in around 460 cities in 110 countries. The UK’s contribution, World Music Day, was first launched in 2013 and is returning this summer, with the ‘World’ dropped from the title to emphasise the fact that musicians from any genre can take part. Like Fête de la Musique, Music Day aims to get amateur and professional musicians out from behind closed doors to perform to the public. To be included, events must be free, although groups can make collections. Why get involved: You’ll be early UK adopters of a huge tradition. You can register on the festival website to use a free event toolkit, add your event to an online map and find other performers to work with. Plus you could attract new audiences and members, raise a bit of money and catch some rays while you’re at it! www.musicday.org.uk #musicday2014 10 HIGHNOTES Summer 2014

Voluntary Arts Week (9-18 May) This is a celebration of cultural creativity across the UK and Republic of Ireland. Promoted by Voluntary Arts, the national development agency for arts participation, the week aims to encourage voluntary groups to showcase their activities and attract newcomers. There are lots of ways to get involved: you could promote your usual activity, or plan something special, maybe even a flashmob! Why get involved: There are online resources to help you devise and plan an event, including a guide to organising a flashmob. Whatever you decide to do, you can add your event to the online calendar. www.voluntaryartsweek.org Refugee Week (16-22 June) Refugee Week uses the arts to celebrate the positive contributions refugees make to the UK, while raising awareness of the reasons that people seek sanctuary. Anyone can participate by organising, attending or taking part in activities, and events of any type are welcome. Why get involved: To connect your group with an important local issue and help promote community cohesion through music. The jam-packed website allows you to find out what is happening in your local area so you can support or piggyback on an existing event. The website also provides excellent promotional materials including films, refugee fact sheets and images, which you can use to spread the message if you create your own event. www.refugeeweek.org.uk If your group is taking part in a summer festival, let us know at editor@makingmusic.org.uk.

Above: A 2012 World Music Day event in Shoreditch, central London Photo: Ana Barreira

“... you could attract new audiences, raise a bit of money and catch some rays while you’re at it!”

Sherborne Summer School of Music

3 - 17 August 2014

Hear the Festival Chorus, Philharmonia Orchestra, Cathedral Choirs and guest artists in glorious live performance

Four Choirs Cappella Chamber Choir, Lighter Side Choir Choral Masterpieces Choir, Voices in Harmony

Mixed Chamber Music Piano and Vocal Masterclasses Piano Course, Piano Accompaniment Course Masterclass for Singers 1 and 2

Jazz Four Conducting Courses

Programme to include: Bach B Minor Mass Britten War Requiem Elgar The Apostles Mahler Symphony No 2 Rasch A Foreign Field

Guest artists: Sarah Connolly Håkan Hardenberger Tenebrae The King’s Singers John Wilson

(World Premiere)

26 JULY – 2 AUGUST 2014

George Hurst Conducting Course Wind Conducting Course, Practical Conducting Choral Conducting

Composition Wind Ensemble Two Orchestras

0845 6521823

Chamber and Symphony Orchestras

@3choirs 3ChoirsFestival

Drawing and Painting Musicians Sherborne Summer

School of Music

www.3choirs.org

email summermusicschool@btinternet.com tel +44 (0)1342 893963

Tickets available online from 14 April

www.sherbornemusicsummerschool.co.uk

40th Anniversary Barbershop Convention

UNMISSABLE Join us for a fabulous weekend of singing, harmony and fun!

Our 40th Annual Convention takes place at the Harrogate International Centre from the 23rd to 26th May. Over 2700 visitors are expected to attend this celebration of barbershop harmony.

and chorus contests, masterclasses, singing sessions and much more. If you can’t make the whole weekend, one and two day registrations are also available. You can also buy tickets for 3 fabulous shows featuring the very best of barbershop harmony.

Come along for a weekend of friendship, song and an incredible weekend of harmony!

So why not join us in Harrogate for a unique and unmissable event that will leave you with an unforgettable experience.

The weekend registration is only £60 and offers access to all events, including quartet

www.sing2014.co.uk

email getinvolved@singberbershop.com The British Association of Barbershop Singers Registered Office: 6 Corunna Court, Corunna Road, Warwick CV34 5HQ Registered Charity No: 1080930

FEATURE

Space to play Henry Bird offers his advice on finding the perfect rehearsal and performance spaces You’ve got everything in place. A group of able and committed players, a charismatic musical director, a pile of sheet music awaiting eager eyes and frantic scribbles, and a small army of friends and family ready to amass for your debut performance. There’s just one slight snag: you haven’t got anywhere to rehearse. Thankfully, the UK is brimming with community centres, town halls and churches your group can use. The question is, how do you find the right one? It’s probably best to start by deciding on what ‘right’ means. According to Lyn Kesterton, a choral singer who also works as a development officer for Locality (see box on right), the important thing is to try the space out before committing to it. ‘You have to stand in front of the (hopefully) patient caretaker and sing,’ Kesterton says. ‘If the sound is clear and strong and full of promise, your heart lifts. If it sounds like you’re standing in a cupboard, bid a speedy farewell – this is one problem that just can’t be overcome.’ Of course, good acoustics are just as important for symphony orchestras as they are for community choirs, and there are other practical things all groups should consider: the size of the room, whether there’s

12 HIGHNOTES Summer 2014

a piano, what sort of seating is available, what the situation is with access and parking. And don’t forget the importance of Britain’s most popular drink in lifting the spirits during a mid-rehearsal slump; respondents to a recent Twitter poll said tea making facilities are an essential feature of any rehearsal space. Once you’ve decided on your needs, have a think about what’s available in your local area. You could start by looking on the Church of England website: www.churchofengland.org. There is a ‘Find your Local Church’ facility, allowing you to search through the 16,200 parish churches and (if your group is feeling particularly ambitious) 43 mainland cathedrals. The directory lists contact details for each of the churches, allowing you to contact the church directly to make an enquiry. You could also consider the Churches Conservation Trust (CCT), which cares for 345 UK historic churches, ensuring each of them retains its place at the heart of community life. Go to www.visitchurches.org.uk to look through the list of CCT churches and make a booking enquiry. The churches are often stunning buildings, providing perfect settings for atmospheric concerts. While

Above: Church of All Saints, Langport Photo: The Churches Conservation Trust

FEATURE

“If the sound is clear, strong and full of promise, your heart lifts”

the majority are still consecrated, it is still OK to sell alcohol during concerts, provided you get a Temporary Event Notice (details at www.gov.uk/temporary-events-notice). Remember, you don’t need a license if you are offering alcohol free and asking for a donation. If you decide against a church, try contacting your local authority, as you may be able to use your local town or village hall. Peter Bryan of Arts Development UK, which represents the interests of those working in arts development for local communities, advises contacting your local arts development officer in the first instance, as you may be able to work in partnership, meaning you get the space at a percentage rate or even free. You can find out who your arts development officer is by visiting your local authority office or on Google, and they will almost certainly be able to give you a list of local community venues. Be sure to mention the fact that you’re from a voluntary group, as they may have special rates available. It might also be cheaper to hire spaces in the daytime or at weekends. It might seem like a difficult task at first, but it’s definitely worth putting the effort in. Get it wrong, and you could dampen the overall atmosphere in rehearsals, lessening your members’ enjoyment and enthusiasm for the music that they’re making. Get it right, and you’ll have a happy home for a happy group. Send us your tips for finding rehearsal or performance spaces to editor@makingmusic.org.uk.

COMMUNITY SPACES Locality is the leading network of community groups in the country, with around 700 members, a good number of which host or run music groups. According to development officer Lyn Kesterton, these community organisations will often be more interested in trying to accommodate your requirements than commercially run venues, as well as being cheaper and more flexible. They also understand community in all its forms, which is key when it comes to finding the right space. For details of community groups in your area, visit the Locality website. Making Music members can also get a special discount of 10% on Locality membership, which will give you access to peerto-peer learning and expert advice among other benefits. To claim the discount, simply state that you heard about Locality through Making Music on the application form. www.locality.org.uk

Summer 2014

HIGHNOTES 13

FROM OUR TEAM

MEMBERSHIP AND SERVICES Helping you get the most from your membership SELECTED ARTISTS

JoinMusical for easy, affordable musical instrument insurance ... instrument insurance …

£2,000 cover

£3,500 cover

More cover options and terms & conditions at makingmusic.org.uk/im

This year’s edition of the Selected Artists brochure, featuring an outstanding array of musicians available at special rates, is out now. Making Music Representatives should have received their copy in this issue of Highnotes. To order additional copies, please get in touch at info@makingmusic.org.uk.

£5,000 cover

... for the whole household!

DATES FOR THE DIARY

We thought it would be helpful to list all of our upcoming events in one place. New dates are constantly being added, so keep an eye on makingmusicuk.eventbrite.co.uk, where you can also reserve places.

Individual membership We’ve opened our membership to individuals, so that we can truly support everyone who performs or promotes music for the love of it The immediate membership benefit is access to a competitive new instrument insurance scheme, which protects all instruments in a household. No more having to ring up the insurer every time you or one of your children takes up a new instrument. Musical Households Insurance has four levels (see below). Custom quotes are also available, as is the option of adding individual public liability cover. Membership itself will set you back £15 if you’re a member of a Making Music group, and £25 if you’re not. This is the first time individual amateur musicians have had the opportunity to become part of a national community of like-minded music makers. Making Music is already the home

of voluntary music groups, so embracing individuals as well is a natural extension of what we do. If you’re a group member of Making Music, please do share this news with your members. There’s an incentive: if 10 of your members join as individuals, we’ll give you 5% off your next year’s subscription, and a further 5% for the next 10 members who join. For full details, visit www.makingmusic.org.uk/im. Musical Households Insurance options • Bronze (price £25): £2,000 cover/£1,000 single item • Silver (£35): £3,500/£2,000 • Gold (£45): £5,000/£3,000 • Platinum (£80): £10,000/£6,000 • Custom quote

UK conferences • 17 May 2014, London • 11 October 2014, Derby

Did you know? Musical Households Insurance offers Europeanwide cover away from home and in locked vehicles

Training • Reaching new people 10 May, Gateshead 21 June, London • How to use social media 10 May, Exeter 28 June, West area 19 July, Cardiff • Fundraising 31 May, Manchester 14 June, East area 12 July, South East area Information and advice sessions • Audience development 8 May, Eastbourne • Focus on funding 22 May, Kendal Partner events ŷ Cerdd conference • Ty 6-8 June 2014, Cardiff www.tycerdd.org

CONTACTS Cindy Truong, Membership and Services Manager: cindy@makingmusic.org.uk • Sally Palmer, Membership and Projects Coordinator: sally@makingmusic.org.uk • www.makingmusic.org.uk/membership-advice-blog

14 HIGHNOTES Summer 2014

FROM OUR TEAM

MEMBER NEWS Two Making Music choirs are celebrating the dedication and commitment of particularly long-serving members this year. Brighton Orpheus Choir has just held an event in honour of accompanist Muriel Hart, who has played with the group for 70 years. And in July, Thames Philharmonic Choir will be marking 50 years under the baton of musical director John Hart, who has conducted the ensemble since it was founded in 1964. www.brightonorpheus.org www.thamesphilchoir.org.uk The Band of the Surrey Yeomanry is marking the first world war centenary with a tour to Ypres, Belgium – the scene of intense and prolonged conflict during the war. On 2 May, the band will be performing as part of the Last Post Ceremony, a daily event honouring soldiers of the former British Empire and its allies who died at Ypres. www.surreyyeomanry.com Making Music choirs have also been busy on new interpretations of works by Handel, with two notable performances last month. On 5 April, Stavely Choral Society teamed up with the drama department of a local school to give a performance of the Messiah, aiming to recreate the feeling of being in a rock concert, with dramatic lighting and stage sets. The following week, the Sussex Chorus gave the premiere of a new English language version of The Brockes Passion, arranged by the group’s musical director Neil Jenkins. facebook.com/staveleychoral www.sussexchorus.org

Making Music members’ concerts have total audiences of more than 1.5 million people each year

Treasurers’ survey The results of our 2013 survey, showing the value and importance of voluntary music in the UK A heartfelt thank you to all those who spent considerable time filling in the treasurers’ survey last year: we at Making Music, and your fellow members, really appreciate your efforts. The survey was completed by more than 800 members, representing 27% of our total membership. This information strengthens Making Music’s message as we promote the value and importance of voluntary music to stakeholders, existing and potential partners, and policy makers. But it’s useful for you, too, whether you are applying for funding or simply making a case for support. Do please feel free to download the report and quote from it. The results show that: •

Making Music members promote around 23,000 events a year, including 12,000 concerts. This means that nearly half of publicfacing activity consists of outreach activities, such as workshops, school visits or open rehearsals, rather than concerts.

•

Concerts have total audiences of 1.5 million people a year and performing groups use places of worship/church halls for two thirds of their concerts, promoters relying on them for only 38% of their events.

•

73% of concerts contain at least one piece written since 1938 (promoters’ concerts: 60%), and 57% of concerts feature music from a living composer (promoters: 43%). 30% of members have commissioned at least one piece of music in the last five years, an average of 400 commissions a year.

•

Member groups have between them around 170,000 members. They spend £18.5 million on engaging 34,000 professional artists a year, and £1.7 million with music publishers, though 45% of them get their music from music libraries.

Much more detail can be found in the full report, available to members at www.makingmusic.org.uk/treasurerssurvey.

Concert Promoters’ Group Around 15% of Making Music groups are promoters, whose members put on concerts but don’t perform themselves. They automatically belong to the Concert Promoters Group (CPG), which has a steering committee drawn from these members. The committee raises issues of specific interest to promoters, informing Making Music policy and services. It also fulfils one practical function: every year, from around 100 applicants, it selects 20 or so professional artists and ensembles to feature in the Selected Artists brochure. It does a fantastic and useful job and if you think you might like to join, please get in touch with its Chair, Edmond Fivet, at e.fivet@makingmusic.org.uk. If committees aren’t your thing, the CPG is also looking for more volunteers to report on concerts by artists applying to be in the brochure. It means a free concert ticket! If this appeals, again, please get in touch with Edmond. Summer 2014

HIGHNOTES 15

FROM OUR TEAM

OPPORTUNITIES Keeping you up to date with our national projects and programmes Left: The Singing Squad, one of the children’s choirs that performed alongside Hallam Choral Society Photo: Alex Rumford

Carols for Everyone

Carols for Everyone involved 1 adult instrumental group 8 adult choirs 2 youth choirs 24 schools 730 performers, including 265 children

16 HIGHNOTES Summer 2014

The trust offered further funding for Christmas 2013 performances, and eight member groups, including Hallam Choral Society and Glasgow Chamber Choir, received free copies. Feedback has been very positive, with one young performer at the Glasgow Chamber Choir concert saying: ‘It was the best concert I’ve ever been to. My mum was one of the ‘oldies’ and it was fun to sing with my mum and my sisters.’ To order copies for this Christmas, visit bit.ly/carols4ev.

Would you like to have a piece of music written especially to suit your group’s particular needs and abilities? This scheme, run in partnership with Sound and Music, and funded by the PRS for Music Foundation, could be just the ticket. It enables amateur music groups to ‘adopt’ an emerging composer and work with them over the course of a year on a new piece of music. Applications for this year’s scheme are open until 13 June. To learn more, visit www.makingmusic.org.uk/aac. AWARD FOR YOUNG CONCERT ARTISTS

Sarah Hayward reports on our members’ carol concerts with children’s choirs Last year we worked with the Carnegie UK Trust and Novello to launch Carols for Everyone, a collection of seven carols that allow adult and children’s choirs to sing together. We approached the Carnegie UK Trust in response to feedback from our member choirs about a gap in the choral repertoire for pieces written for adult and children’s voices. We were delighted when the trust agreed to commission the book to mark its centenary. The collection includes six arrangements of well-known carols such as Silent Night, alongside a new commission from Paul Mealor.

ADOPT A COMPOSER

“I realise every day how lucky I am for having the opportunity to play with such wonderful orchestras.” Mario Mora, 2013 Award for Young Concert Artists winner

The 2014 winners of this award, which goes to some of the UK’s most promising young classical musicians, have now been announced. As a Making Music member, you can book the winning artists for your concerts at a subsidised rate. Further details are available in the Selected Artists brochure. The 2014 winners are: • Katherine Birtles flute • Alberto Casadei cello • Manus Noble guitar • Marios Panteliadis piano • Matthew Scott clarinet • Joo Yeon Sir violin • Alexander Soares piano

British Composer Awards We all know that voluntary music groups play an essential part in the commissioning of new music. That’s why Making Music is behind a special category of the British Composer Awards that recognises works written for voluntary, amateur or youth choirs and ensembles. The British Academy of Songwriters, Composers and Authors (BASCA) is accepting nominations for this year’s awards, which take place in London on 2 December. You can nominate pieces you’ve commmissioned, provided they received their UK premiere between 1 April 2013 and 31 March 2014. To learn more, visit www.britishcomposerawards.com.

Julian Dawes QE:Layout 1 16/03/2014 21:34 Page 1

Julian Dawes Composer

www.juliandawes.com • Instrumental and Chamber Music • Vocal, Song Cycles and Choral Music • Contemporary and Accessible

Amongst his 20th century English influences are the pastoralism and extended tonality of Herbert Howells, the richness of Walton, the elegant delicacy of Berkeley and the jazzy impetus of Rodney Bennett; wider European influences include the caustic irony of Shostakovich and Kurt Weil and the rhythmic impetus of Prokofiev and Stravinsky. Yet Dawes welds from his influences an individual voice that is distinctive and refreshing, displaying assured craftsmanship and characterful invention. (Malcolm Miller 2008)

Music Available from www.tutti.co.uk

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FROM OUR TEAM

VOLUNTEERS Interested in volunteering for Making Music? Visit www.makingmusic.org.uk/volunteers OBITUARY

BOARD MEMBER SPOTLIGHT

MICHAEL BURNS

LINDA YOUNG

1925–2013

Vice Chair

Making Music has always been fortunate in attracting people who give of themselves to the organisation because of their passion for music, and for amateur music especially. Michael Burns was one such volunteer – at times he was doing almost as much work as a paid member of staff. When the National Federation of Music Societies (NFMS), as Making Music was then known, lost its Arts Council funding, he was critical in keeping the organisation going. He had been attracted to the NFMS through his love of classical music, and sang in member choir Goldsmiths Choral Union for more than 50 years. He was a man who enjoyed what might be called the finer things in life, such as good wine and opera. For many years I was lucky to go with him to productions at Glyndebourne and I have fond memories of his generosity at the dinner table, and his sometimes trenchant but always honest views of the productions. I will remember Michael with tremendous affection and respect. He loved a good natured argument, and he was immensely loyal and kind. He recognised the qualities of others and he also was very self-aware – he saw himself as a good man behind the scenes. He played a critical role in launching the block insurance scheme that was so beneficial to music groups throughout the UK for so many years. It was typical of him that he arranged his own gradual exit from Making Music so that, when he finally retired, the work continued unaffected – the greatest contribution any volunteer can make to an organisation. Roderick Wylie, Honorary Vice President and former Chair

How long have you been on the Board? I first joined in 1996.

MAHLER 5 OXFORD STUDIO and WANTAGE ORCHESTRAS Sunday 22 June – 3.30pm St Michael’s Church, Summertown, Oxford Saturday 28 June – 7.30pm Wantage Civic Hall Tickets – cfc47@btinternet.com

18 HIGHNOTES Summer 2014

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Please contact Antoinette at Space Marketing on 01892 677721 or antoinettem@ spacemarketing.co.uk

What does your role involve? As Vice Chair I deputise for the Chair should he be unavailable for any reason. In addition to my regular Board member duties, I also keep a watching brief on volunteer activity throughout the UK. What have you gained from being on the Board? I could write a book on this one! I’ve learned new skills, become a more confident person, and built up a bank of knowledge on running a music group. Most importantly, I’ve made lasting friendships with some very special people. What has been your most rewarding experience with Making Music? The Scottish Conference in 2003, when more than 300 singers and musicians took part in a workshop and performance of the Verdi Requiem. The organisation was mammoth but the satisfaction of seeing everything come together made it all worthwhile. Do you play an instrument or sing? I used to play the cello many years ago but the children came along and there wasn’t time for practice. I’ve sung for as long as I can remember and am a soprano until my age tells me otherwise! I sing with Making Music member Strathaven Choral Society, as well as with the Strathaven Singers. Who is your favourite composer? It has to be Mozart. His music has always been there, from listening to Eine kleine Nachtmusik at an early age to my first professional singing lessons. My teacher considered the entire Exsultate Jubilate as ‘a nice little warm-up, dear’!

CORPORATE MEMBERS

Gold members (cont.)

Platinum members

Specialists in creating tailor made concert tours throughout the UK, Europe and further afield for all types of youth ensemble! Your repertoire, venues and excursions will be selected to meet both the performance and leisure objectives of your group. www.rayburntours.com/ concert

Silver members

After over 60 years of music making in Devon, Dartington International Summer School has become something of an institution for amateur, professional and student musicians alike. Courses and concerts offering the best in classical, jazz, folk. www.dartington.org/summer-school

Gold members

‘The world is a book and those who do not travel read only one page,’ Leeds College of Music is an Allsaid Saint Augustine. Calling all Steinway School and Apple Accredited those groups who haven’t been Training Centre, providing students on tour. Turn a new leaf. It’s an with a world-class education, in worldunforgettable experience. class facilities, enabling them to be www.going4travel.com confident, versatile and creative across 020 8891 1575 their chosen fields.Sch www.lcm.ac.uk Oxford Summer QE:Layout 1 01/04/2014 12:50 Page 1

Singalong Showstopper workshop with Jenni Matthews Ukelele workshops for beginners and improvers with Zachary Taylor Further details from Liz Bryant 01993 704345 or email oxfordsummerschool@talktalk.net www.oxfordsummerschool.com (arts, crafts, music)

Wigmore Hall - Monday 23 June at 7.30 pm A Monday Platform Concert

Anthony Brown saxophone

Marta Fontanals-Simmons

mezzo soprano

Oscar Alabau

cello

The Young Artists Platform scheme offers promoters sponsorship towards concert fees. Complimentary tickets for the Wigmore concert for any promoter available from Katie Avey: 0845 070 4969 info@thetilletttrust.org.uk

www.thetilletttrust.org.uk

MEMBERS

BLOW YOUR TRUMPET Shadow Game

Alex Beldea

Tracy Bryant of Making Music promoter Music in the Round describes her group’s innovative fundraising technique

Music in the Round, a leading promoter of chamber music outside London, and Cast, a new venue in Doncaster, launched a new partnership with a bang in February. We’ve run a concert series in Doncaster for five years, but it is hoped our move to Cast will help give classical music in the area a fresh lease of life. When thinking about a performance to kick-start the partnership, bringing together local amateur musicians

with world-class professionals for a world premiere from a leading young composer seemed like the perfect idea. Shadow Game was born. The piece was commissioned from Charlotte Bray, who describes it as ‘a game of light and darkness. There are parts of extreme lyrical intensity as well as parts of fiery zest where sparks fly between soloists and ensemble.’ The premiere took place at Cast on 8 February, bringing together the Boyce Chamber Orchestra, Beechfield Youth Orchestra and the professional musicians of Music in the Round’s resident group, Ensemble 360. Over 400 people, including the composer herself, watched on as Shadow Game finished an evening of glorious chamber music. To raise the final bit of funding needed, Music in the Round launched an unusual scheme: Buy a Bar. For just £10 people could invest in the live music,

with each ‘bar-buyer’ receiving a printed copy of their unique bar as a memento. The reaction has been wonderful. Buy a Bar didn’t just help us raise vital funds; it also helped people to feel part of the work. We had bar-buyers from Europe and America; The Guardian joined in, too. Some people brought their bar to the premiere hoping to identify it as it was played. The money raised via Buy a Bar was vital but was only one part of a much larger pot which included funding from Catalyst, the Foyle Foundation, Arts Council England via Grants for the Arts, and a legacy payment by Miss D R Kurzman. As it turned out, it was the perfect scheme for a brand new venue because it appealed to local people. It’s definitely something we would do again in the right circumstance. www.musicintheround.co.uk Coslee Searles

A* for Richmond Orchestra One member recently used live performance to help local students with their GCSEs. Chris Sanctuary tells us more The Richmond Orchestra seeks to serve its local community through its educational and charitable work. For many years we’ve given concerts for primary-age children with different degrees of participation, including playing and singing with the orchestra. At the other end of the spectrum we provide concerto workshops for talented young soloists. But we had not yet found a practical way to add to the musical education of secondary students. Last February we finally managed it with a presentation of Mozart’s 40th 20 HIGHNOTES Summer 2014

Symphony at the Heathland School in Hounslow. The aim was to add to the GCSE syllabus – the first movement is a set work – by presenting Mozart’s music through live performance. The audience consisted of 25 GCSE students, several from the previous year, alongside pupils from a feeder primary school and parents and friends. First we gave a presentation about the first movement, with illustrations by the orchestra demonstrating musical structure, emotional messages, and social and historical context. Then we

performed the whole symphony. Feedback from students was very positive. To ensure success in a project like this we suggest you have enthusiastic participation from the school music department. Choose a work which is relevant to the young audience, and use a charismatic, knowledgeable speaker. Finally, encourage the audience to participate, and to think as well as enjoy. www.richmondorchestra.org.uk

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THE

NATIONAL CHILDREN’S CHOIR

of GREAT BRITAIN

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President: Bob Chilcott, Musical Director: Lissa Gray

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Fours Galore! An exploration of chamber music for four musicians November 30th - December 5th 2014 Rothay Manor has been running music courses for over 25 years. e informal talks are designed for people with an interest in classical music. Guests require no special musical skills, although musical examples will be available to follow in some of the sessions. Groups are limited to 30, and are well suited to anyone on their own. e holiday will culminate in a recital by the Solem Quartet, recent graduates of the R.N.C.M., on the brink of their professional careers Join us on a relaxed and informal holiday in good company and pleasant surroundings, with plenty of time to explore the Lake District.

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MEMBERS

READERS’ PAGE This is your page and we’d love to hear from you: editor@makingmusic.org.uk. Could you be an occasional or even our resident cartoonist? Would your group like to feature in a 60 second interview or send in an anonymous column?

Isle of Man Wind Orchestra

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WELCOME NOTES w

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We catch up with Michael Morrison, Chair of the band that’s been bringing wind music to the Isle of Man since 1997 Describe the orchestra in three words. Community, inclusive, fun. What are its aims? The ensemble was founded in 1997 by a group of friends as the first wind orchestra on the Isle of Man. It is a community organisation which performs up to half a dozen times each year, with a wide repertoire including original new music composed by our Music Director, Paul Dunderdale.

Tell us about the 2014 Island of Culture celebrations. This year the Isle of Man is celebrating its culture through dance, music, theatre and other art forms, intending to leave a lasting legacy for creativity and the arts. As part of this we’re collaborating with other cultural groups, including a concert with a youth drama ensemble and another featuring the European premiere of a new composition by American composer Clare Shore. What do you do when you’re not doing orchestrarelated activities? I am a senior manager and civil servant with the Isle of Man Government. What would be your desert island disc? Hadyn Wood’s Mannin Veen, which is a Manx tone poem. It is a large and powerful work containing Manx folk music themes. We’re performing it this year (we think it’s the first time it’s been performed on the island in its original form for wind orchestra) and the themes have stuck. www.iomwo.com 22 HIGHNOTES Summer 2014

deserted school corridors before I could find it. When I finally got there, no one came to introduce themselves – they barely acknowledged my existence – and I had to just find my place and sit in silence until the rehearsal began. Not a great start. I’m now feeling much more settled, and the other players turned out to be perfectly friendly once I’d made the initial contact. It’s daunting enough joining a new orchestra with unfamiliar people, and it wouldn’t have taken much to have made my first rehearsal less nerve-racking. If you want to attract new members, please make sure you give people a better welcome than I got!

BRASSED FROM THE PAST

Fans of the film Brassed Off might be glad to know that one of the film’s stars, Ewan McGregor, had an interest in brass music well before being cast as young tenor horn player, Andy Barrow. This image, taken by McGregor’s mother, Carol, shows the Hollywood actor posing with his French horn as a teenager. He performed at a school concert as part of the 21st anniversary celebrations for Strathearn Arts Guild, a Making Music member. Now called Strathearn Music Society, the Crieff-based promoting group will celebrate its 50th anniversary in 2016. Strathearn Music Society prides itself on the quality of the performers at its six annual concerts. Artists to have performed for the society include Peter Katin, Peter Donohoe CBE and Sir Peter Pears.

Carol McGregor

How do orchestra activities fit in with members’ work schedules? We have a wide age range, from teenagers to those in their 80s. Orchestra activities have to fit around other commitments, which can be a challenge. The secret seems to be organising things well in advance and making sure rehearsals are enjoyable and unmissable.

The Victorian poet Robert Browning once said someone who hears music ‘feels his solitude peopled at once’. It’s a beautiful sentiment, but not one that always works in practice, if an experience of mine is anything to go by. Recently I joined a local orchestra. I’ve always been confident in my abilities on the clarinet, so I wasn’t at all put off by the audition process, and I was thrilled when I was accepted. I was less thrilled by the first rehearsal. I’d been given the address of the venue – fine, although no-one had bothered to mention which room we were in, so I had to spend 10 minutes gingerly pacing the

McGregor took French horn lessons up until the age of 16 from George Annan of Perthshire Brass Band. He made his television debut performing on Grampian Television’s A Touch of Music, although he is said to have had to borrow a horn from his teacher!