THE MAKING MUSIC MEMBERSHIP MAGAZINE | AUTUMN ISSUE 2020
Music for all ALL ABOARD When some members meet in person while others can’t, make sure that no one gets left behind • PAGES 8
1,000 TINY FUN PALACES Join the creative movement from home this autumn • PAGE 10
A GUIDE TO LIVESTREAMING An alternative to in-person performances • PAGE 17
e m e r Sha your h wit up! gro Making Music events go online Support and resources
Make Music Day UK
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CONTENTS & EDITORIAL
SUPPORTING AND CHAMPIONING LEISURE ISURE--TIME MUSIC
CONTENTS NEWS
5 The bigger picture 6 Around the UK FEATURES
8 All aboard 10 Fun Palaces goes tiny 17 Livestreaming FROM OUR TEAM
12 Membership and services 15 Projects and opportunities 23 Making Music people MEMBERS
11 19 20 22 23
Blow your trumpet Exploring music Drop the mic Corporate members Readers’ page
If you have suggestions or would like to contribute to Highnotes, please contact the Commissioning Editor, Natalie Joanes, on 020 7939 6041 or editor@makingmusic.org.uk The copy deadline for Highnotes Spring 2021 (published 1 January) is 30 October Any views or opinions expressed by external contributors may not necessarily represent those of Making Music
Welcome We are delighted to note the change in government guidance which facilitates a (at least limited) return of leisure-time choirs and instrumental groups – including singers, and wind and brass instruments. A huge collective of individuals, groups and organisations, including those who campaigned to #BringBackMyBand / #BringBackMyChoir, took the time to write to their MPs and share posts of support on social media. However Covid-19 still presents many unknown factors and we need to work hard to create safe spaces in our leisure-time activities, to be inclusive of everyone in our group, whatever they are able or comfortable in doing, while behaving responsibly towards our families, friends, colleagues and fellow citizens. Not an easy equation to resolve but we believe, as many of you do, that to restore our mental balance, to rebuild our resilience, to help us build a future for our communities and society that we now know may look different to the past, our musical activities are key and therefore facilitating their return is of great and urgent importance.
Highnotes is the official journal of Making Music, The National Federation of Music Societies, 8 Holyrood Street, London SE1 2EL 020 7939 6030 info@makingmusic.org.uk www.makingmusic.org.uk 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 get in touch
Barbara Eifler
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Cover photo: Misfits Music Covid-safe session at Moseley Park and Pool, Birmingham Photo: Hannah Fathers
SUPPORTING AND CHAMPIONING LEISURE ISURE--TIME MUSIC
Autumn 2020 HIGHNOTES
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JOY TO THE WORLD A GLOBAL CHRISTMAS with the STAY AT HOME CHOIR Featuring the music of
John Rutter
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Selected Artists Guide 2020 Find the next professional artist you’ll work with in this year’s guide, included with this magazine! The guide includes high-quality solo and ensemble artists from classical, jazz, folk and other genres. These artists are specially selected by an expert panel to help music groups choose artists for the seasons ahead, and this year many of them are offering livestreaming performance options.
makingmusic.org.uk/saguide
NEWS
THE BIGGER PICTURE @makingmusicuk
SINGING NETWORK UK
Making Music chairs Singing Network UK, a network for organisations with an interest in singing. It has been steadily growing over the last few years, and counting nearly 30 members, now covering most of the estimated 40,000 choirs and 2.2m singers in the UK: makingmusic.org.uk/campaignsand-advocacy/singing-network-uk In this current pandemic crisis, it has been invaluable that organisations have got to know each other over a number of years. It made it easy in corona times to agree a joint statement and letter to ministers to express frustration about governments’ lack of action enabling choirs to return, especially given the demonstrably strong positive impact of group singing on the mental health of the nation. Read more online: makingmusic.org.uk/news/openletter-singing-network-uk
A new ge n e ra t i o n r e a dy t o t ra n sf o r m t h e m u si c i n du s t r i e s.
Key report from Youth Music
Research featuring the voices of 1,300 young people This important report is from Youth Music, the charity investing in music-making projects which support children and young people, particularly those who don’t get to make music because of who they are, where they live, or what they’re going through. Frustration about the chances of young people to progress into the music industry led to this research into barriers. Social class was found above all else to influence young people’s chances of earning money through music. Those from lower income backgrounds were significantly less likely to be earning money through music than those from higher income backgrounds. A lack of access to relevant industry connections was the third most significant barrier young adults identified. This ‘who you know’ barrier is experienced even more acutely by those from lower income backgrounds. Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic
respondents were marginally more likely to be earning from music than white respondents. The biggest distinction was between higher income and lower income people from BAME backgrounds, meaning social class remained the most consistent indicator as to whether people were earning money from music. The research also uncovered how entrepreneurial young people are in their approach, unburdened by preconceived notions. So Youth Music have followed up with the creation of an Incubator Fund to harness that fresh thinking for the benefit of the sector. An ever innovative organisation, Youth Music’s reports present well-evidenced findings which frequently contradict anecdotallybased dearly held beliefs of the music industry. new.youthmusic.org.uk/ blueprint-future
CORONA CAMPAIGNING
Did you know? Every year, Youth Music funds more than 300 projects nationwide, supporting around 83,000 children and young people to make music, develop their skills, and progress on their chosen paths.
In July, after the Department for Digital Culture Media and Sport (DCMS) issued guidance for England that unjustifiably and disappointingly distinguished between professional and non-professional singers and wind/brass players, Making Music wrote to DCMS ministers and ministers in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, to explain the significant psychological and economic fallout. For members, we created tools to write to their MPs, asking to make it possible to #BringBackMyBand #BringBackMyChoir. The campaign video, a mash up of members’ virtual concert submissions, was viewed on YouTube more than 15,000 times. Finally, on 14 August, the DCMS announced that amateurs, including singers and wind/brass, could get back to limited musical activity – a significant step forward. makingmusic.org.uk/news
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NEWS
AROUND THE UK If you have any news you would like to share, email editor@makingmusic.org.uk LONDON
Formed 11 years ago, the Deutscher Chor London rehearses mostly in German, and the singers are made up of mostly long-term German expats, and several other nationalities. The choir has turned the crisis into something creative by launching the Corona Commissions project, which is supporting composers. The project was inspired by a tweet when musical director Barbara Höfling’s social media was flooded with stories from friends who lost all their work for the rest of the year within the space of a day or two. Consulting with the choir’s trustees they launched a fundraising campaign, and are using the £5,000 they raised to commission composers to write new choral pieces during the pandemic, for future Deutscher Chor concerts. deutscherchorlondon.org.uk
Music making a difference Member groups go all out to support key workers From rainbow drawings in windows to clapping and pot bashing on Thursdays, public support shown towards our NHS and key workers produced some of the most uplifting moments of the COVID-19 lockdown. Some of our talented member groups used music to help bring a muchneeded smile to people’s faces in these challenging times. Highlights included Blackpool Symphony Orchestra who created an impressive performance of ‘Somewhere Over the Rainbow,’ arranged by their own Composerin-Residence, Edward Rugman. The orchestra used the video to launch a fundraiser for the local Blackpool Food Bank, which has so far raised £3,011, no less than 860% of their original target. As a special thank you to NHS staff and key workers, the Pandemonium Drummers put together a special lockdown performance of ‘And I Will Kiss,’ which they first performed together at the opening ceremony of the London 6
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Olympics when they were first formed, eight years ago. Members of the City of Bristol Band created a special sociallydistanced version of the iconic ‘Wallace and Gromit’ theme tune to raise money for the Bristol Children’s Hospital Grand Appeal. The hospital charity shared the video with patients, families, and staff across the hospital to help spread a little cheer during these difficult times. Rainbow Chorus, guest-starring comedian Hannah Brackenbury, recorded a parody of TLC’s 1999 hit ‘No Scrubs,’ showing their members working together (via video!) to produce scrubs for the NHS as part of the For the love of Scrubs campaign. To watch the videos mentioned here, visit: makingmusic.org. uk/news/members-supportkeyworkers. Congratulations to these and to all of the many music groups across the UK that have been fundraising and supporting causes throughout the pandemic!
WEST MIDLANDS
Did you know? Making Music’s Virtual Concerts starring member groups have been viewed over 11,000 times on our YouTube channel
The People’s Orchestra has been busy in lockdown with the first performance of its pilot virtual commonwealth orchestra, in celebration of the Commonwealth Games in 2022. Working alongside composer John Koutselinis in his latest commission for the orchestra, War Of The Titans, musicians recorded their parts from living rooms, bedrooms and kitchens across England. The orchestra invited L’Orchestre Philharmonia Mundi de Montreal in Canada and Orchestras Central in New Zealand to join them. The People’s Orchestra performed in the handover ceremony back in 2018 in Birmingham, and are looking forward to continuing their commemorative projects in the build-up to the games. thepeoplesorchestra.com
NEWS
Member announcements New appointments, anniversaries, awards and projects Jeremy Jackman is stepping down as music director of the Cecilian Singers of Leicester in December after 30 years at the helm. Over the years, the Cecilians have sung many of Jeremy’s arrangements and compositions including the first performance outside London of his new English version of Bach’s St. John Passion. The choir hope to say goodbye to Jeremy properly in a final Christmas concert in Stamford on 11 December. Jeremy will be succeeded by Benjamin Kirk in January 2021. ceciliansingers.co.uk
New Egham Singers, Progeny also from Egham, Windsor Soundswell Choir, and Voices Anon from Maidenhead have carried on singing throughout the crisis, thanks to music director Guy Bunce who set up online rehearsals for them all, and has gone on to make ‘how to’ tutorials and resources that are being viewed all over the world. The choirs plan to livestream rehearsals when they resume in person so that members who are concerned about returning can still take part.
60-second interview Mark Rawthorne introduces the Stockport Ukulele Group, one of the groups that starred in Making Music’s Virtual Concerts
Bristol a capella group, Fascinating Rhythm, made the Voluntary Arts People’s Choice Epic Award shortlist for their work with Down syndrome charity Ups and Downs Southwest, with whom they made a film to mark World Down Syndrome Awareness Day in 2019. The choir learned a song from the film The Greatest Showman and Makaton signing, and spent a day with children and young people performing and filming. Vote for your favourite arts project: voluntaryarts.org/ epic-awards-peoples-choicevoting
Virtual Concert Series Throughout the summer, members were busy recording virtual performances, which we have been curating into concerts and broadcasting online every fortnight. Groups of all shapes and sizes took part, from brass bands to choral societies, accordion orchestras and symphony orchestras to community singing groups. If you want to experience the breadth of wonderful leisuretime music that’s being made all over the UK, visit our YouTube channel to catch up on the concerts!
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Describe your group in three words? Fun ukulele singalongs How long has the group been running, and how many members do you have? Stockport Ukulele Players was formed about eight years ago. We have about 70 active members and attract about 35 members to our regularly weekly meetings. What sort of music do you play? Anything from old-time standards to pop, rock & roll and rock. Anything that we can play and sing along to. How do you accommodate your players of different abilities? Our weekly meetings are divided into three parts: the first with easier songs and some mentoring; the second with more advanced songs, and the third is spent working on arrangements. We publish a beginner’s guide and ‘Tips & Tricks’ on our website. Three performing groups have been formed by members of the club – Dr. Uke, The Crukes and No JoKe. They all perform regularly in local pubs and clubs, when conditions allow. The ‘Psycho Killer’ video used in Making Music’s Virtual Concert was one of the lockdown videos produced by Dr. Uke, ‘Stockport’s Finest Electric Ukulele Rhythm & Blues Band’ https://www.bitly.com/DrUke Where and when do you play together under ‘normal’ circumstances? We meet weekly at The Fingerpost, a local pub. We also have a monthly Saturday afternoon session, in another
pub (can you spot the theme?!). We perform at local community and charity events and raise in excess of £2,000 for charity every year. The club appeared in the Co-Op Christmas TV advert in 2017. Have you managed to keep meeting or playing music together virtually during lockdown? We have a regular Zoom meeting every Monday with about 35 people attending. Recently a few members have also met up in a local park for a socially distanced strum, sing and chat. What are your plans for when you’re able to meet again? We can’t wait to get back to the pub and have a good old singalong. Then we need to find a few local events to perform at. https://stockportukulele.blogspot.com Autumn 2020 HIGHNOTES
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FEATURE
All aboard
How can music groups make sure they include all their members in the ‘new normal’? At the time of printing, the UK is easing out of COVID-19 lockdown and into a new way of conducting daily life. However, each nation of the UK is moving at a different pace with different guidelines, and spikes in infections are also having an impact on particular regions. Some people have been working throughout the pandemic, while others are starting to find ways to go back to work. Friends and families are meeting up, while at the same time many people are still shielding, or may just not feel safe enough yet to return to their routines. For leisure-time musicians, COVID-19 has thrown up exceptional challenges that groups have faced down in a variety of brilliantly creative ways. Groups have managed to stay in touch with each other by Zoom and Skype, Whatsapp and by telephone. Even if they haven’t been rehearsing online or recording virtual performances, they’ve still managed to keep in contact and together as a group. One of the many wonderful things about leisure-time groups is that they are diverse and filled with a range of people with different needs and wants. But now that many of us are starting to think about how we might meet again in line with regulations, while others are still at home, how do we stick together as a group and make sure everyone is included? ‘Blended’ scenarios could be the solution, where
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groups meet online or offline – or both. Here are some ideas to help you make sure all your members are on board. 1. Ask your members – before you jump into meeting up in person, it’s essential to ask the people that it concerns. Find out when and how comfortable they would be coming back in person, what they would feel comfortable doing, or if they need to stay at home for a while longer. You can use our member survey to help you: makingmusic.org.uk/ resource/how-use-return-rehearsal-survey 2. Assess the risk – what risks does your venue pose? What is your local infection rate? How do people travel to rehearsals, and how do you need them to behave once they’re there? Use our risk assessment tool to find out what’s feasible for your group: makingmusic.org.uk/resource/riskassessment 3. Rota for return – you might need to limit the number of people that attend in person at one time, also taking into account who you want to attend. 4. Shorter rehearsals – think about reducing the time you spend together. Without in-person performances to work towards, you may also need to rethink your repertoire, which could offer new opportunities.
FEATURE
5. For people who can’t attend, record online rehearsals for them to watch – these members could benefit from the rehearsal in their own time. It may even reassure them to see how the in-person rehearsals are working and encourage them to attend if they feel it’s safe to do so. You could also provide rehearsal tracks, notes from rehearsals or recommended recordings to listen to. 6. Livestream the rehearsal – people at home can join in, in real time, with the MD taking questions using the chat facility, but check first that you have enough data and wifi access for this to work. 7. Deliver rehearsals twice – try once in person and once online, at separate times, allowing people to choose which one to join. Prepare rehearsal tracks, notes from rehearsals or recommended recordings to listen to. 8. Meeting entirely online – you may find that your members do need to stay at home for a while longer. If you haven’t already, you can start getting connected and trying out ways to keep them engaged on a regular basis, whether that’s through online rehearsals or musical inspiration sessions. Find ideas in our resource: makingmusic.org.uk/ resource/making-most-online-rehearsals 9. Help members who are not online at all to get connected – buddy them up with another member who is more comfortable with technology and who can help them get set up by phone: makingmusic.org.uk/resource/helping-othersget-online
Whichever scenario your group decides on, it's essential to involve your musical director in the decisions you make. They will likely be taking on some of the work, so make sure to pay them appropriately. Start by sharing what your members have said they want. There’s little doubt that the musical side of rehearsing online is not as good as in person, and the technology doesn’t exist that recreates the musical benefits of an in-person rehearsal, which all makes the MD’s job harder. They are professionals who want to know their efforts are beneficial and worthwhile and to take some job satisfaction from that. So it’s a good idea to agree with your MD on the purpose of the rehearsal sessions and be clear about musical expectations. If your survey or feedback shows that members really value the social side of being in the group, this might mean that simply asking your MD to facilitate meetings and singing/playing each week is what’s needed. For more advice on how to work with your MD to finding a solution visit: makingmusic.org.uk/resource/musicdirector-online-activities Putting some of these ideas into practice will involve time and effort, so try and share the workload as much as possible. Consider asking for help from the wider membership – there may be people who have the skills to help out.
“Before you jump into meeting up in person, it’s essential to ask the people that it concerns.”
For more ideas about blended scenarios, visit makingmusic.org.uk/returning-toactivities
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FEATURE
Fun Palaces goes tiny Stella Duffy, co-director of the annual creative event Fun Palaces, talks about how you can use the musical activities you’ve been doing during lockdown to join in This year, Fun Palaces will be different - sometimes smaller, always safer, but just as remarkable. We’re going ahead with our annual weekend of action on the first weekend of 3-4 October, and this year we are aiming for 1,000 TINY Fun Palaces. Since 2014, Fun Palaces have supported over half a million local people across the UK to connect in their communities, using all forms of arts and creativity to link with neighbours in skills-sharing activities that help us get to know each other better and understand our own locality a little more. Things have been different throughout 2020, and many of us have seen our local communities spring into action with Mutual Aid and WhatsApp groups, support for those vulnerable and shielding, help and connections made where it is most needed. We want to celebrate the great things you’ve all been doing, remember those we have lost and those who are unwell or recovering, and pay attention to the tiny things that make a huge difference. Fun Palaces has always been about the person to person connections that are the heart of community. This year, finding ways of making local connections, and including those who have been isolated or vulnerable is more important than ever. Making these connections through Fun Palaces is still possible if we keep it tiny. So instead of one big Fun Palace in a central location, this is the year to have 3 or 5 or 20, on street corners, in windows, gardens, at bus stops, or online. Let’s show the world how important community connections are to us all: a short singing workshop 10
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in the front garden, a socially-distanced drumming lesson in the park, shielders performing from their windows or balconies – all ideas welcome. To help you work out what to do in your street, block, village, carpark, front garden or balcony, we have created a number of brand new resources: • A Shielders’ Guide to making a Fun Palace so xxxxthat those who are shielding, and want to, can xxxxcreate their own Fun Palace. • A Digital Ideas page with ideas and activities for xxx an online Fun Palace. • A Covid-19 Safety Guide to make sure we’re all xxxxtaking care of each other. • Posters and invitations to download and loads xxxxof other ideas to get involved. We expect most Fun Palaces will last a few hours at most and have not more than 10-20 socially distanced people at a time. So, if you’ve always wanted to try making a Fun Palace but it sounded too daunting, now is definitely the time to get involved. And that thing you’ve been dreaming of trying one day, but it sounds a bit crazy and needs to be just 15 mins long in case it all falls apart? We’d love that idea! Visit https://funpalaces.co.uk/1000-tiny for more info and to sign up, or for help with setting up a Tiny Fun Palace, email hello@funpalaces.co.uk or call 0208 692 4446 ext. 203
Photo: Athens Fun Palace, 2019
“And that thing you’ve been dreaming of trying one day, but it sounds a bit crazy and needs to be just 15 mins long in case it all falls apart? We’d love that idea!”
MEMBERS
BLOW YOUR TRUMPET Fitting right in
Photo: Hannah Fathers
Artistic director, Rob Jones, reveals how member instrumental group Misfits Music has found COVID-19 compliant ways to run
At the very beginning of lockdown during March, we started running online activities such as playalong sessions, quizzes and bingo to keep in contact with our members. We also helped many of our older and less technically able members to use both Facebook and Zoom during the lockdown so that they could stay connected with others. As restrictions started to ease, we got
permission from Moseley Park and Pool to run outdoor in-person sessions, which strictly follow guidelines on social distancing. We only have group sizes that are recommended by government advice, with volunteers who help us welcome members and ensure they stay spaced safely apart, and we also provide hand sanitiser. If anyone is self-isolating or shielding, or is displaying symptoms they can instead join us for our online activities. We started running in-person drumming sessions alongside rehearsals of our normal music because, at the time of printing, playing wind/brass instruments is currently banned and we really wanted to give our players the chance to get together and make music, even if they can’t play their own instruments. The sessions have been really popular so far. We lend out
our own percussion for these sessions, although we do have people bring their own too! Another core part of what we offer is wellbeing visits for some of our older and more isolated members. Putting on these extra activities has been a lot of extra work from both myself and my colleague Reuben, and our volunteers and committee have been a great support. Luckily, we secured crucial funding from the National Lottery Community Fund – Coronavirus Support Fund to support our outdoor activities, and a grant from Heart of England Community Foundation to support our online activities. We are having new attendees most weeks at the moment – I think the word is spreading that there is finally a chance to play together in a socially distanced and safe way. misfitsmusic.org.uk
A festival in lockdown Janette Hall, festival director, tells us how Aberdeen & North East of Scotland Music Festival Association (NESPA) moved their annual music competition online NESPA is a charity which organises one of the oldest competitive music and drama festivals in the country. Founded in 1907, it has been running annually ever since, except during wartime. 2020 was expected to be a busy year. As the closing date for entries approached, the impact of COVID-19 set in and we realised that a live festival was unlikely, so we forged ahead with a quickly formulated plan B. Participants were asked to submit prerecorded performances, using whatever technology they had to hand. A timetable was prepared as usual with virtual classes set up using Zoom meetings in place of physical venues. Performers were given access to the relevant Zoom meeting, where videos were shared by a host as if it were a live performance. The audience was invited to unmute and applaud at the
end of each class. The adjudicator then gave live feedback, speaking to each performer individually and to the group as a whole. It was as near to the ‘real’ thing as we could manage. One parent described how her family, including those who would not normally be able to attend, were able to watch a concert, ‘with all the buzz of a real competition.’ Location was no barrier to participation. We had soloists and their accompanists, adjudicators and their stewards, teachers and audiences from across the UK. A couple of videos a day were also posted from past participants, including Dame Evelyn Glennie. They were invited to record a few words, remembering their time at the festival,
telling us what it meant to them, where they are now, and some gave a short performance. These were so enjoyable and inspiring. Yes, we had a few IT glitches. But in the absence of exams, and in difficult times, performers had something to focus on. The result far exceeded our expectations. As one of the adult performers said afterwards, “You pulled a blinder!” What better praise. https://nespa.scot Autumn 2020 HIGHNOTES
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FROM OUR TEAM
MEMBERSHIP AND SERVICES
CONTACT US info@makingmusic.org.uk / 020 7939 6030
Helping you get the most from your membership
Virtually meeting
FEATURED RESOURCE We’ve created a step-by-step guide, ‘Audio mixing for virtual performances,’ for mixing separate audio recordings into a final audio performance. Our guide gives advice on the free Digital Audio Workstation software that you can use, how to prepare files, getting to know the software, starting new projects and importing files, synchronising the tracks, trimming and mixing them and exporting the final product. Find the guide at: makingmusic.org.uk/resource/ audio-mixing
Making Music events connect members online
In mid-March, when it became clear that a national lockdown was imminent, we faced the challenge of revamping our existing events programme so that it could all take place online, with extra events to support our members in this new and uncertain situation. We launched our weekly online meetups on 27 March for members to meet, share concerns and learn from each other, and they were instantly popular. Hosting events on Zoom meant that we could accommodate and support even more members than usual. Alongside our regular weekly meetups, we introduced specific events for our members in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales, plus themed meetups for our promoter and youth group members. And we continued to deliver our regular events programme, adapting the presentations for the online environment, and adding extra events for the more popular topics. By the end of June we had 12
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welcomed 796 individuals to our online events. 571 people attended one of our events for the very first time during lockdown. Developing our online events programme has also enabled us to be more inclusive and welcome members who were unable to attend our previous in-person events. We plan to support a mix of online and inperson events in future, to enable as many people as possible to engage with us and with other members. In autumn 2020, our events will continue to be mainly online, and will focus on event planning, financial planning, growing your membership and delivering online activities – topics which will be top priorities for our members as they look for ways to get their groups up and running again. Sharon Moloney, Member Engagement and Events Manager
*NEW* resources • Helping others get online • Online safeguarding • Promoter guidance • COVID-19: Planning for the xxfuture • Planning for the future: xxFinance
Did you know? Making Music has set up over 100 websites for members since launching the all-in-one system, Making Music Platform, in August 2019. Sign up at makingmusic. org.uk/makingmusic-platform
Resources for recording performances: • Recording audio at home • Recording video at home • Planning a virtual xxperformance • Audio mixing for virtual xxperformances • How to use Audacity to mix a xxvirtual performance Tools: • COVID-19 - can my group go xxback to in-person activities? • Risk assessment for rehearsals • Risk assessment for promoters • Survey for group members Visit makingmusic.org.uk/ resources
FROM OUR TEAM CONTACT US info@makingmusic.org.uk / 020 7939 6030 We are here Monday to Friday 10am to 5pm
ONLINE EVENTS We’re offering help and support with running your group that you can access anywhere you are in the UK, plus events with a local focus. Book your free place online, and check back for more dates and topics: makingmusic.org.uk/events
Online member meetups
Finance and fundraising
Friday 2 Oct Friday 23 Oct (promoters) Friday 6 Nov Friday 4 Dec
Saturday 12 Sep Saturday 24 Oct Tuesday 10 Nov Wednesday 18 Nov
Planning a COVID-secure performance
Growing your membership Wednesday 16 Sep Saturday 10 Oct Saturday 7 Nov
Saturday 26 Sep Tuesday 13 Oct Thursday 22 Oct
Top tips for running a charity in Scotland
Running your group online Saturday 19 Sep Wednesday 7 Oct Saturday 17 Oct
Saturday 14 Nov
New members A warm welcome to the 68 new members who joined between 1 December and 31 March Aberdeenshire Saxophone Orchestra
Encore Sittingbourne
Midlands Beer and Brass on the Grass Entertainment contest
Rosin Academy Roy Bailey Big Band
Ashtead Singers
Fleet Concert Orchestra (incorporating Quintessentially Wind)
Big and Brassy
Frinton Festival
Mullion Handbell Ringers
Blandford Stour Valley Band
Gloucestershire Boys’ Choir
Music in Your Village
Brighouse & Rastrick Band
Hatfield Welwyn Community Choir
National Youth Harp Orchestra of Great Britain
The Dragons Youth Brass
Honley Girls Choir
North East of Scotland Performing Arts
The GUS Band
Horsham Borough Band
Northern Voices
In the Pipeline
Nuneaton Ladies Harmony Group
Coquet Concert Band
Kantado
Peculi8
Culture:Music
Kent Philharmonic Orchestra
Dart Music Festival - Classical Section
Knighton Town Silver Band
Aquarian Opera
BREMF Community Choir Cambridgeshire Symphonic Winds Chipping Campden Festival Chorus
Dixieland Stompers
Hognaston Music Group
Leicestershire Co-op Band Lincoln Choral Society
Monday Afternoon Band
Solent Philharmonic Winds
Moseley Misfits
Perth Choral Society Phoenix Saxophone Orchestra Limited Pittington Brass
South Yorkshire Police Band The Brooklands Sinfonia The Cantabile Ensemble The Forget Me Notes Project The Ledbury Waytes The Wall of Sound Choir Tredici Chamber Choir Village Voices (Great Wakering) Voices of Exmoor Voices of Hull Weekend Opera Workshops
London Nordic Choir
Reading Spring Gardens Brass Band
Early Music in the Marches
Marlow Gospel Choir
Resonate - Colchester
Wiltshire Saxophone Choir
East Leake Community Choir
Middle Eden Voices
Rhapsody Chorus
Yiewsley and West Drayton Band
Dunbartonshire Wind Ensemble Trust
Wendover Singers
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EVENTS 2021 Choir Competitions and Festivals
03 03 03 04 04 04 05 05 05 06 07 07 07 08 09 09 10 10 11 11 11
REGISTRATION DATES Early Bird Regular
15TH INTERNATIONAL CHOIR COMPETITION & FESTIVAL BAD ISCHL March 4-8, 2021 | Bad Ischl, Austria
2020 AUG
17
2020 OCT
26
ON STAGE IN ISRAEL March 10-14, 2021 | Tel Aviv, Israel
2020 OCT
ON STAGE IN VERONA March 25-28, 2021 | Verona, Italy
2020 NOV
VOICES & WINE ALBA April 7-11, 2021 | Alba, Italy (Piedmont)
2020 NOV
19 2
11
VOX LUCENSIS – CONCORSO CORALE INTERNAZIONALE April 7-11, 2021 | Lucca, Italy
2020 SEP
2020 NOV
7TH VIETNAM INTERNATIONAL CHOIR COMPETITION April 8-12, 2021 | Hoi An, Vietnam
2020 SEP
2020 NOV
2020 SEP
2020 DEC
21
14
RIGA SINGS – INTERNATIONAL CHOIR COMPETITION & IMANTS KOKARS CHORAL AWARD May 1-5, 2021 | Riga, Latvia
28
ON STAGE IN FLORENCE May 20-23, 2021 | Florence, Italy
23
16
7
2021 JAN
11
SOUND WAVES LINZ May 20-24, 2021 | Linz, Austria
2020 OCT
19
ON STAGE IN ALBANIA June 9-13, 2021 | Tirana, Albania
2020 DEC
14
2021 JAN
18
11TH WORLD CHOIR GAMES July 2-12, 2021 | Flanders, Belgium
2020 SEP
15
6TH INTERNATIONAL CONDUCTOR‘S SEMINAR WERNIGERODE July 17-20, 2021 | Wernigerode, Germany
2021 FEB
28
12TH INTERNATIONAL JOHANNES BRAHMS CHOIR FESTIVAL & COMPETITION July 21-25, 2021 | Wernigerode, Germany
2020 DEC
7
2021 FEB
22
SING ALONG CONCERT “ON TOUR” MILAN August 26-30, 2021 | Milan, Italy ON STAGE IN LISBON September 10-13, 2021 | Lisbon, Portugal
2021 APR
19
4TH VOICES FOR PEACE September 26-30, 2021 | Perugia/Assisi, Italy
2021 MAR
2021 MAY
4TH KALAMATA INTERNATIONAL CHOIR COMPETITION & FESTIVAL October 7-11, 2021 | Kalamata, Greece
2021 MAR
2021 MAY
10TH CANTA AL MAR – FESTIVAL CORAL INTERNACIONAL October 21-25, 2021 | Calella/Barcelona, Spain
2021 MAR
2021 MAY
15 8
15
17
31 17
ON STAGE IN PRAGUE November 4-7, 2021 | Prague, Czech Republic
2021 JUN
DEUTSCHE CHORMEISTERSCHAFT 2021 November 5-7, 2021 | Koblenz, Germany
2021 MAY
14 31
2021 JUN
VOICES & WINE MÁLAGA November 17-21, 2021 | Málaga, Spain (Andalusia)
interkultur.com
/interkultur
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/interkultur © Studi43
PROJECTS & OPPORTUNITIES Keeping you up to date with projects and programmes Photo: Still from Bring Me Sunshine Virtual Choir & Ensemble video
Make Music Day UK 2020 The Virtual Choir & Ensemble formed of Making Music members brings sunshine online In March, it became clear that this year Make Music Day (MMD) on 21 June would be unlikely to be in person. Across the world, we discovered on our conference call with other countries’ organisers, MMD was going digital. So the project team refocussed quickly and this year’s output included a 13-hour continuous broadcast on Youtube (including 45 minutes hosted by Making Music, interviewing, among others, three member groups) and over 200 separate digital events set up by organisers all over the UK, plus projects to take part in before or during the day. See more at: www.makemusicday.co.uk Usually, Making Music’s own contribution to MMD would include a showcase event with member groups in each of the nations of the UK. Instead, we commissioned an arrangement of the MMD anthem donated by Hal Leonard Europe for free
performance on the day, which would enable anyone from member groups to take part. The Virtual Choir & Ensemble of Bring Me Sunshine was born. In the end, 200 Making Music members contributed. The resulting film was launched during the Making Music session on the Make Music Day live broadcast and has now been viewed more than 3,700 times on Youtube. Another great way, we hope you agree, to showcase leisure-time musicians from around the UK – and the professionals who work with us, such as Baz Chapman (arrangement and sound mixing), Ula Weber (coaching videos for singers) and Peter Baumann (video editing). Thank you to everyone who contributed and continue enjoying, watching and sharing it. Find the video on the Make Music Day UK YouTube Channel.
Did you know? Make Music Day UK hosted a 13-hour broadcast on YouTube and there were over 200 separate digital events throughout the UK
ADOPT A COMPOSER UPDATE Despite the odds posed by COVID-19, our 2019/20 pairings have forged valiantly ahead. The Edge Chamber Choir’s MD has issued ‘home rehearsals’ each week of their new piece by Rob Jones, combined with notes on breathing, dynamics and things to look out for. Thanks to the lovely weather, the Sussex Folk Orchestra has been able to hold small rehearsals outdoors, which has helped them get the concert programme for Jonathan Brigg’s piece together. The Junior LCoM Ensemble Creative have moved to onlineonly classes, with students working on composition and improvisation, and hope to resume in-person sessions with Carmel Smickersgill soon. City of Bristol Brass Band’s plans for their premiere with Laura Shipsey have been postponed by a year. In the meantime they have released lockdown video performances. Camden Symphony Orchestra organised Zoom meetings, which were attended by their composer Claire Victoria Roberts who talked about the music that’s influencing her, and the composition process. Helensburgh Oratorio Choir have practised Aileen Sweeney’s piece on Zoom and are waiting for the Scottish Government to allow singing and performance again. Alex Paxton’s project with Haslingfield Choir involves local childrens’ choirs. Although the children’s premiere didn’t happen in March, Alex has continued to work towards the full premiere in Spring 2021.makingmusic.org.uk/ adopt-composer-pairings Autumn 2020 HIGHNOTES
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Certificate: The Practice of Music Making
TRINITY LABAN CONSERVATOIRE OF MUSIC & DANCE
/ D evelop your skills with flexibility including a residential week and online learning combined trinitylaban.ac.uk/certificate
photo: Tas Kyprianou
/ O ne year distance learning programme in partnership with the Open University
FEATURE
Livestreaming Try out an alternative to in-person performances Professional artists may have been given permission to perform again, but with certain restrictions still in place, promoters are also turning to digital alternatives to presenting performances. A livestream is a broadcast live over the internet, and YouTube, Facebook Live and Crowdcast are just some of the livestreaming platforms available. To livestream, you’ll need a device that can access the internet. This could be a laptop, tablet, or mobile phone (but be aware that both YouTube and Facebook require you to have 1,000 subscribers before you can livestream from a mobile). You will also need a decent camera and microphone which may already be built into your device. You can sell tickets to a livestream using an online ticketing platform, or some livestream platforms offer a way to suggest that your viewers make a donation – you could choose your own group or another charity for this. Making the performances free is a great way to keep connected with your members and audiences and a good promotional opportunity too. Pre-recording a performance for livestreaming is another option – scheduling a release time could create an ‘appointment to view’ sense of occasion and excitement around the broadcast. YouTube has a ‘Premiere’ function which allows you to upload a recording and then set it to be broadcast at a certain time as a premiere. When you’re planning your livestream, think about the availability of your performers and also your audience – make sure it doesn’t clash with popular TV programmes or any other online events you think your audience might be interested in. You could try making it an occasion by encouraging attendees to dress up, pour themselves a
drink and take a photo of themselves enjoying the performance, which they can send to you afterwards or tag you in a post on social media. If you’re using YouTube, a recording of the livestream will save automatically to your channel so that people can watch it again. This video is covered by YouTube’s blanket licence in terms of copyright, but don’t forget to ask the performers’ permission to make the recording available. You can also embed the video from YouTube on your own website and it will still be covered by their blanket licence. A YouTube video is also easy to share on your social media channels. And finally, don’t forget to publicly thank your performers, tell your audiences how successful the event was, and let them know when the next livestream will be! Livestreaming subsidies for promoters At the time of writing, government guidance allows professional performances so Making Music is offering subsidies to promoter groups of any size. Livestreaming Subsidy – Philip & Dorothy Green Young Artists. Some of our Young Artists have agreed to a fixed fee of £150, and our subsidy will cover the full amount. Livestreaming Subsidy – any artist. Promoter groups can claim a £150 subsidy from Making Music towards the booking fee of any artist engaged for a livestreamed performance. For more detailed advice about how to livestream, guidance on how to set up an online donation platform, how to make and mix recordings and more visit: makingmusic.org.uk/resource
“Make it an occasion by encouraging attendees to dress up...and take a photo which they can send to you afterwards...”
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Rehearsal Orchestra Orchestral repertoire courses for advanced players 2020 London weekends Bartok, Britten, Bridge, Rachmaninov, Rautavaara, Saariaho & Sibelius
Edinburgh summer week August 8 to 15 2020 “The Rehearsal Orchestra does invaluable work on the quiet and with the minimum of fuss.” Sir Simon Rattle
Artistic Director Levon Parikian
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Follow us on Facebook
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rehearsal-orchestra.org Registered Charity Number 237816
For all your
music education & performance equipment
Sound-isolating Music Practice Rooms Music Stands, Lights & Accessories Music Folders Music Chairs & Accessories Instrument & Sheet Music Storage Conductor’s Equipment Staging & Risers Acoustic Products
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MEMBERS
EXPLORING MUSIC Readers tell us about the music they love. Email editor@makingmusic.org.uk
Jukebox Readers share how a particular piece of music inspires them ‘Children Will Listen’ (from Finale - Into the Woods) Stephen Sondheim Growing up in semirural County Down, the West End not easily accessible and touring companies not always keen to visit Belfast through The Troubles, I learned musical theatre piecemeal through school choir, CDs and films. So it wasn’t until university that I encountered the music of Stephen Sondheim and my world was shaken. I was twenty and the Oxford Playhouse had a student production of Into the Woods. I loved both musicals and fairytales, and student tickets were cheap enough that I went to the theatre every week anyway. Mostly what I remember
now is crying through the gut-punch of the last three songs including the finale with ‘Children Will Listen.’ Sondheim and Lapine’s show is all about the complicated legacy of parents and children, what it is to be good, and the ways we end up fighting the same battles over and over again. The finale is a showpiece of Sondheim’s genius, weaving refrains from the whole show back together, reinforcing the storytelling theme, and reframing repeats to be something new. The Witch - one of those troubled mothers - sings: Children may not obey / But children will listen. / Children will look to you / For which way to turn / To learn what to be. / Careful before you say / “Listen to me.” / Children will listen. In the OBC, Bernadette Peters’ voice soars into glorious lifts, reminding us of the damage that careless words can do to those who trust us, and our responsibility to teach well. I now manage Belfast Philharmonic Choirs, who primarily perform classical works, but our last adult concert before lockdown was a musicals one. Sadly no Sondheim (though if anyone knows of a great SATB arrangement let me know!) but a wonderful evening which is sustaining us through this period apart. Laura Bradley, Belfast Philharmonic Choirs
Light music Bridging the gap between classical and popular Light music has an immediate appeal, with strong emphasis on melody, and is designed to appeal to a wide audience. The seaside and spa orchestras that abounded in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, as well as the smaller palm court ensembles that played for tea dances in large hotels, were a significant factor in the demand for short, approachable pieces. This music gained popularity in the late 1920s when BBC radio broadcasting was introduced and increased mass appeal with the launch of the BBC Light Programme in 1945. Light orchestral ensembles broadcast daily, in programmes with titles like Music While You Work, Melody Hour and Friday Night is Music Night. In 1957, the heyday of light music, the Light Music Society was founded with the composer Eric Coates as its first President, which championed light music throughout the world. For more than twenty years there were regular meetings and concerts in London, competitions, magazines and social events. As the broadcasters changed their programming in favour of popular music, there were fewer opportunities for broadcasts of
the lighter orchestral repertoire. The introduction of Radios 1, 2, 3 and 4 during the 1960s was a significant factor in this decline. Although Radio 2 was originally named as the channel for light music it was soon considered too highbrow for the targeted audience, just as it was thought to be too lowbrow for Radio 3. Many light orchestras were disbanded. The Light Music Society is the custodian of the Library of Light Orchestral Music and has approximately 40,000 sets of orchestral and dance band music. To borrow music you can join the society as an individual or as an organisation, which gives you access to works including the ‘core’ light orchestral composers such as Eric Coates, Ernest Tomlinson, Leroy Anderson, Robert Farnon, Haydn Wood, Edward German, Albert Ketèlbey, Roger Quilter, Trevor Duncan, Peter Hope and others. With the help of inspirational conductors like John Wilson and Gavin Sutherland, interest in light music is growing and many leisure- time arts organisations and professional ensembles are starting to appreciate light music. lightmusicsociety.com Autumn 2020 HIGHNOTES
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FROM OUR TEAM
DROP THE MIC If you have any software, hardware or performance tips you would like to share, email editor@makingmusic.org.uk
Getting digitally creative Digital producer, Leon Gower, shares tips for keeping up your musical creativity with digital technology
Over 2020 most of us have found ourselves, to some extent, using digital tools and platforms to keep our groups playing and performing over this unusual period. While there are lots of great apps and software to help us do this it’s easy to feel like these new technical processes really get in the way of our musical creativity and desires. So rather than seeing these as hurdles you can look at the benefits of embracing digital technology within your group to enhance musical experiences for both players and audiences – plus these techniques can be just as creative as the act of playing. With that in mind, here are some top tips: Experiment The way to get the best results when using new techniques is first just to have a play! Set aside some time to experiment with the tools to find out what exactly they do and how they can best help you and your group. You’ll quickly be learning along the way and will be ready to get creating while using your new skill or tool. 20
HIGHNOTES Autumn 2020
Rather than emulating reality – you’ll be creating something new! Don’t feel pressured to recreate a ‘real life’ performance. Why not celebrate and embrace the production values of a recording made at home and the unusual nature of how musicians are now collaborating online? This can unlock a new level of creativity in your project allowing your group to experiment and create in ways you or they may not have previously considered. Get problem solving It’s rare that a digital tool will have an ‘off -the-shelf’ solution to help you get the results you desire. The digital world is all about problem solving and is surprisingly DIY – so don’t worry when you encounter problems, those experiences are often part of the process! For tips on digital solutions, including recording and editing video and audio, and livestreaming visit: makingmusic.org.uk/resources
REVIEW: HEADLINER An app that turns your audio file into video
If your group has created a lockdown recording, it’s likely that you’ll be eager to share the final piece on social media or perhaps privately online among your group. However in the visual world of online content, many platforms and messaging services don’t make it easy to share audio files and favour video instead. So here’s a handy free online tool that will allow you to quickly and professionally turn your audio recording into an eyecatching video file. Headliner (www.headliner.app) is an online tool and app aimed at podcast creators who wish to easily turn an audio clip into an audiogram. An audiogram is a short video file in which an audio wave is visualised and moves in time to the sounds that you are hearing. To create your own audiogram in Headliner: • Sign up for the free service at xxxwww.headliner.app • Select ‘Audiogram Wizard’ • Upload your audio • Choose the proportions of your xxxvideo (landscape, square or portrait) • Choose the colour and design of xxxyour visual audio wave • If desired, add your own image or xxxtext to display behind the audio xxxwave • Select ‘Create Your Online Project’ – to preview the final Audiogram • Export the video file to your device xxxor computer, or post directly to xxxyour social media account from xxxwithin Headliner The tool is very intuitive; it has lots of handy prompts to help you all the way through the process and is a great way to bring your audio recording to an online audience. Leon Gower
MEMBERS
READERS’ PAGE Got something to say? We’d love to hear from you: editor@makingmusic.org.uk. It’s tearing us apart We used to meet at weekly rehearsals, get a few minutes’ conversation with our seat neighbour. Now and then we’d all go to the pub, and when we did performances, we’d get to know fellow players a bit more, meet the family. Covid changed all that. We got to know each other much better, over Zoom, but it hasn’t been all positive. At least with Brexit, you could just not talk about it. Since the end of lockdown, the group ‘enthusiasts’ were badgering to get back to playing, so the committee helped them plan get-togethers outside in groups of six. It kept them happy, and off the backs of those who are really worried and don’t yet want to rehearse in person. But then the government decided to pick
on amateurs in its guidance, telling us we’re not allowed to play, that we’re not capable of risk assessment. I resent that: my day job is as a health and safety manager, I could probably teach civil servants a thing or two. The enthusiasts went ballistic – and rogue. Having no safe outlet, they threw caution to the wind (haha – we’re a wind band), meeting anyway and hassling the committee and those who think it’s too early. The divisions, bubbling under the surface before, have now become glaringly obvious. What will this do to the group? Surely we need to respect everyone’s opinion? I am seriously thinking that perhaps the only thing I can do is to join a different band.
“The divisions, bubbling under the surface before, have now become glaringly obvious.What will this do to the group?” Tell us! If you’ve got something you’re burning to say, a book you’d like to recommend, or even a piece of music you love that you’d like to share on these pages, email editor@makingmusicorg.uk
Anon
FILM REVIEW - Military Wives
Military Wives is a powerful emotional rollercoaster that offers a small insight into the reality experienced by our armed forces and those they leave behind when they go off on tours of duty. It captures an evolutionary journey, for the group as a whole and for each of its members; from the choir’s awkward beginnings (when singing was first proposed as a novel activity the wives could do to pass the time aside from knitting), to navigating through unimaginable personal and shared events and experiences, through to the establishment of a cohesive choir performing on stage at The Royal Albert Hall. This film is a visual manifestation of the power of group music-making to break down barriers, to bring people together, to create a sense of purpose, to provide an emotional release and escapism, to be a supportive environment and a pillar of strength in times of grief. Making Music members (and anyone who has turned or returned to music during lockdown) will naturally identify with some, if not all, of these things. Kristin Scott Thomas and Sharon Horgan are a powerful duo in this film – they portray two very headstrong characters who provide the momentum needed to keep the choir together. They deliver some inspirational pep talks throughout the film and use landmark quotes like ‘Every successful choir is just a bad choir that didn’t give up’ and ‘Great music doesn’t happen when you’re perfect – it happens when you care’. This is definitely a film that you’ll want to watch over and over again – enjoyed by anyone musical or not – and gets 5 stars from me! - Helen Greig, Linlithgow String Orchestra
SING BARBERSHOP IT’S THE HARMONY THAT MAKES THE DIFFERENCE
The British Association of Barbershop Singers (BABS) is a registered charity
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PREMIUM CORPORATE MEMBERS Our corporate members play an important role in supporting leisure-time music. Member music groups can use exclusive discounts, subsidies and offers (indicated by below) to save on everything from sheet music, to booking artists and making recordings. See makingmusic.org.uk/discounts for more
Discount on all services and help with every stage of the recording process. 360music. org.uk
Tailor-made concert tours throughout the UK, Europe and further afield. rayburntours.com
Providing the world’s largest digital library of scores, parts and educational materials. nkoda.com
Attenuating earplugs that reduce damaging frequencies but still allow you to hear the music. acscustom.com
Easy to use software to sell tickets online with affordable pricing and local support. trybooking.com/uk
Connects musicians in need of rehearsal space with homes, studios, churches and more. tutti.space
Normans is one of the UK’s leading education suppliers of musical instruments and accessories. normans.co.uk
Association of professionals encouraging a healthy voice, vocal skills and communication. britishvoiceassociation. org.uk
HAWES MUSIC PUBLISHING
CORPORATE SUPPORTERS
Entertainment Nation Gig Heaven
Last Minute Musicians Melofonetica OneStage Score Exchange
Represents most respected publishers, artists, songwriters, and arrangers. musicshopeurope.com
Musical arrangements of a range of titles and genres at a much lower individual price. choircommunity.net
A clothing range that allows freedom of movement to play at your best. blackdresscode.com
A team of musicians who advise on repertoire, acoustics and maximising audiences for tours. club-europe.co.uk
A free online ticketing system that enables you to sell tickets both online and in-house. ticketsource.co.uk
CORPORATE MEMBERS
Bands for Hire Black Cat Music
Audio and music technology products including Cubase and Dorico. steinberg.net
Sokol Piano Academy WKMT
Created by industry experts to raise awareness of the potential of music technology among national decision makers. techmusiced.org.uk/org.uk
Charitable foundation providing courses for musicians of all abilities and more. benslowmusic.org
Classical music artist and project management, through business management and strategic planning. https:// polyphonyarts.com
FROM OUR TEAM
MAKING MUSIC PEOPLE Interested in getting involved? Visit makingmusic.org.uk/volunteers
VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT
STAFF MEMBER SPOTLIGHT
ELAINE FOX
LILY FUNNELL
PRESIDENT’S AWARD WINNER MEMBER CONTACT VOLUNTEER / SELECTED ARTISTS LISTENER
MEMBERSHIP & SERVICES MANAGER
How long have you been volunteering with Making Music?
I joined in March 2017 as the Office & Membership Assistant but I have been the Membership & Services Manager since March 2020.
I have been volunteering with Making Music since I finished full time work in 2006. Aside from being involved in my local chamber choir Vivace, and my piano practice, it made sense to do some volunteering with an organisation that supported amateur music making.
When did you join Making Music?
What does your role involve? My role involves overseeing our services and finding ways to improve our members’ experience of these, managing the membership team, writing guidance for the website, and answering members’ queries.
What does your role involve?
What do you enjoy the most about your job?
As a Member Contact Volunteer I call member groups to offer advice and information. As part of the Selected Artists listening panel I go to concerts to hear performances by musicians who have applied to be in Making Music’s Selected Artists Guide.
I love how varied and fast-paced the role is and I enjoy being able to make improvements to our services based on members’ suggestions.
What else have you helped with over the years? I started as the secretary to the East of England committee, helped with various projects at the head office and went through several precursors of what became the Member Contact Volunteer role. What do you enjoy doing the most? I enjoy attending the performances of potential selected artists. I have heard some wonderful music making, visited interesting concert venues and experienced varied and fascinating programming. What else do you do outside of Making Music? I am chair of the local arts and leisure group which is a not-for-profit organisation providing leisure opportunities. Although we cannot meet in person at present, we have been using online technology to provide a range of innovative and stimulating opportunities for our members. What’s your favourite piece of music? The Lark Ascending by Vaughan Williams, which reminds me that the world carries on despite current restrictions.
What’s the most important thing you’ve learned about Making Music and its members during the pandemic? I have learnt how essential it is for us to support each other. Our members have shared with us some fantastic ways of keeping their groups running and have shown impressive levels of determination and adaptability. Similarly, Making Music has received positive feedback from members about the resources and tools which we have been providing during the pandemic. This has shown how resilient we all are and how much we can learn from one another. Do you play an instrument or sing? I am currently teaching myself to play the piano which I am really enjoying! If you could invite three people to dinner, who would they be? I would invite Margaret Atwood to talk about all things dystopian, Marcus Mumford (Mumford and Sons) to play some very loud music which I can sing to and David Attenborough, who would no doubt provide some very witty commentary. What was the last piece of music you listened to? The Pretender by the Foo Fighters, I always listen to their greatest hits while running!
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