Welcome
Welcome to our September Music Hub Bulletin. Please email us at news@yorkmusichub.org.uk with anything you'd like us to publicise or feature in our October edition.
We hope this bulletin finds you well and settled back into the new academic year. We are pleased to announce that we have now appointed a Part Time Admin Assistant. Rebecca Shaw has joined the team for 8 hours a week and will generally be in the office on a Monday - you can contact Rebecca on admin@yorkmusichub.org.uk
As always there have been lots of music making activities happening for young people in and around York. York Music Hub has been proud to be involved with so many different things there is truly something for everyone - regardless of ability level or taste in music. We're excited about what 2019/20 has in store!
News...
York Music Hub on Radio 4!
Our very own Molly Newton, the Hub's Music Lead and Strategic Manager was featured on Radio 4's Woman's hour last week! The interview was based around inspiring children to play a musical instrument or learning to sing. To listen to the full interview click here.
Social Impact award for community champions!
Shepherd Group Brass Band have had a very busy September collaborating with youth organisations and collecting national awards! Click here to read all their exciting news.
What the Dickens!
This year the York Museums Trust are creating a 'Victorian Christmas' at Kirkgate in the Castle Museum, complete with Santa, a magician (who might just pick a pocket or two) and a Punch and Judy show. Celebrities putting in an appearance include Scrooge, the Artful Dodger, and Mrs Mann from Oliver Twist, the heartless superintendent of the workhouse.
But there is one thing missing… Music!
Christmas events will be happening on Kirkgate every weekend from the 16th November until 21st December. The performance space is big enough for individuals or ensembles (bands or choirs) up to about 12 or 15. York Museums Trust are looking for youth ensembles to provide traditional Christmas music, of all kinds including choirs, brass, early music and strings.
If you really want to enter the spirit of the event and dress up, they would welcome that too. The museum can provide appropriate, hats, shawls, bonnets and coats. The performances would be for no more than an hour, perhaps repeating a 15 – 20 minute set with a gap in between. Anything and everything can be programmed in, and it could be a great occasion with a very sympathetic audience and full publicity for your school or organisation. If you are interested in this performance opportunity, get in touch with Kirstie.Blything@ymt.org.uk for more details
Entries now open for CASSGB Young Saxophone Soloist Competition
The Clarinet & Saxophone Society of Great Britain are organising a competition, in which a total of £3,000 prize money will be awarded to three sax players aged 19 and under on 12 January 2020 (UK nationals or non-UK nationals studying in the UK). Click here to see the guidelines and to download the application form. The deadline for entries is 15th October.
Guildhall Orchestra - Design a poster competition
York Guildhall Orchestra are looking for poster designs for their January concert! The competition is open to all school children and entries can be in any format (electronic or designed by hand). Please click here to see full details or visit www.yorkguildhallorchestra.com for more information.
Guildhall Concert - Free tickets for Children & Young People
We still have a number of free tickets for children and young people available for the opening concert of the 40th anniversary season featuring Nicholas Wright's violin concerto on 12th October. Please contact York Music Hub to request tickets.
The National Centre for Early Music have a number of events coming up specifically aimed at a younger audience. On Sunday 6 October they have "Mambo Jambo's Nonsense" where you can join multi-instrumentalists Frankie Banham & Pete Jack, with their array of instruments and nonsense props, songs and raps. They will be sharing in song and silliness, exploring the Octopus' Garden, and making a Nonsense Stew! The show is aimed at children ages 3-7 and their families. Running at 2.00pm, tickets are priced at £8.00 (£6.00 for Under 16s) or a family ticket for £24.00 (2 adults, 2 children) click here to purchase tickets. "Mambo Jambo is a total delight! Perfect for all ages!" Big Malarkey Children's Literature Festival
In addition to this, the NCEM also have "Little Listeners: The Carnival of Animals", presented by Opera North Bass Ensemble. The show is aimed at under 5's and tickets are available here priced at £5.50 (£1.50 for siblings under 1).
Casting Call!
Opera North are looking for boys (aged 9-13) to take roles and ensemble parts in Opera North’s new production of Kurt Weill’s Street Scene, directed by Matthew Eberhardt and conducted by James Holmes. Rehearsals will take place in Leeds from Monday 18 November 2019. Please note that time off school will be required during the rehearsal period. Please click here for full details.
In addition Opera North are also looking for one boy, plus one understudy, to sing the role of Miles in their revival production of Benjamin Britten’s Turn of the Screw, directed by Alessandro Talevi and conducted by Leo McFall. Rehearsals will take place in Leeds from Monday 14 December 2019. Please note that time off school will be required during the rehearsal period. Please click here full details.
YORCHESTRA York's Holiday Youth Orchestra have five orchestras for young people from age 6-21 of all abilities to attend. These holiday courses run at Christmas, Easter and Summer and will be held in the Music Department of University of York and Heslington Church. For course dates and to apply, please visit www.yorchestra.org or see Facebook /yorchestra or Twitter @yorchestra.
The Sound of Bronze - Youth Gamelan Ensemble
The University of York is home to a beautiful set of musical instruments from Indonesia – a collection of bronze gongs and chimes, called a Gamelan. These instruments were handmade especially for the University and the city of York in 1981 and have been used for many community and school projects over the years. There is more information about the instruments, including a short film about the music and the experience of playing it, click here to watch.
During the past year, the University has been running the Sound Of Bronze youth gamelan project, which has invited young people from across the city to be involved in taster gamelan sessions, which have been very positively received. Because of the enthusiastic response to these taster sessions, the University has now set up a weekly, term-time Youth Gamelan Ensemble, aimed at young people aged 7-14. These sessions cover traditional Indonesian music, as well as creative and new uses of the instruments. There will be opportunities for children who enjoy performing to work towards public concerts alongside university students and professional musicians.
The Youth Gamelan is running during school term times on Thursday evenings, 5.00pm-6.15pm, at the University of York Music Department click here for more details or contact Gamelan Director, Emily Crossland to find out more. Places are limited, so please encourage interested parties to book as soon as possible.
Courses & Professional Development opportunities...
York Music Hub have partnered with NCEM to produce some upcoming CPD sessions they will be:- Reflective Practice Sessions and Music and Wellbeing sessions focusing on Building Resilience we will post further details once everything is finalised.
There are also a number of upcoming Music Mark sessions - please click this link for details of several afternoons of practical CPD for Music Teachers.
Teach Together takes place Thursday afternoon at the Cutlers’ Hall and is part of Music Mark’s Annual Conference running from 21st to 22nd of November in Sheffield.
If you would like to also take part in other elements of the Annual Conference, such as the Thursday Drinks Reception and Dinner, the Friday conference dedicated to Strategy and Discussions, as well as overnight accommodation, please book here via the main Music Mark conference booking page.
