Music for a Summer’s Day

There’s a range of musical events taking place up at the University of Kent next week, in a five-day festival celebrating the end of the academic year.

Summer Music starts Wednesday 6 June with a free lunchtime concert from some of the Music Scholars at the Gulbenkian Theatre; later in the evening the Big Band Gala will include special guests, the Simon Bates Quartet.

Thursday lunchtime sees the Sirocco Ensemble and Brass Group in a free lunchtime concert on the University Labyrinth, overlooking the city; bring a picnic!

On Friday, two choirs present a concert at St Mildred’s Church, Canterbury, in praise of the Virgin Mary, whilst the University Music Theatre Society tell us ‘There’s No Business Like Show-Business!’ at the Gulbenkian Theatre on Saturday night.

The festival concludes on Sunday 10 June in the annual Music Society summer afternoon concert, complete with cream teas, flag-waving to rousing Elgar, and balloons!

Visit the What’s On page for all the details; something for everyone.

Family festival fun tomorrow at the Gulbenkian

Coming up tomorrow, family events (and free entry for children) at the Gulbenkian Theatre.

Part of this year’s Sounds New Festival taking place in Canterbury at the moment, Sunday sees Worldwide Mother’s Day, celebrating international Mother’s Day with a feast of family-oriented fun, with musical performances every hour, art and drama workshops, dance, face-painting and more.

The event starts at 11am and runs until 3.30pm. Children go free when accompanied by a paying adult, tickets are £5.

More details on the Sounds New website here.

Festival of contemporary music in Canterbury: Sounds New starts this Friday

Canterbury’s very own festival of contemporary music, Sounds New, bursts into life starting this Friday, on 4 May.

‘Theme GB’ celebrates the best of British music and musicians, with a range of renowned national and international performers, including the London Sinfonietta and the King’s Singers, performing a feast of new music at various venues in and around Canterbury until Tuesday 15 May.

For jazz enthusiasts, British jazz giant Julian Joseph will be appearing at the Gulbenkian Theatre, as will the BBC Big Band together with Norma Winstone and Mike Gibbs.

There’s a host of free events for children, including Worldwide Mothers’ Day celebrations at the Gulbenkian on Sunday 13 May, with free art, music, dance, drama and more throughout the day. A range of educational concerts, ‘All for One,’ will introduce new music and extended instrumental techniques to children across a series of three events. Other free events include lunchtime concerts, a poetry workshop, and more.

Children under the age of sixteen can attend any concert absolutely free (provided they are accompanied by a paying adult); a chance for young people to engage with new music, and perhaps be inspired to become the performers, composers and audiences of tomorrow!

Full details about the festival on the Sounds New website here.

Music to your ears…

Ofsted report damns one in five schools as ‘inadequate for music’

A new report from Ofsted declares that a fifth of schools is providing an inadequate music education.

A damning report, as indicated yesterday in Music Teacher magazine,  also states that there is not enough emphasis on practical music-making in sessions, and that there is a ‘scarcity of good vocal work in secondary schools.’

Amidst a litany of depressing statements, detailing the failures and short-comings Inspectors found in their assesment of music in schools across the country,  one terse fact rings out:

Too often, inspectors simply did not see enough music in music lessons.

Read the report in full here.

Carols with the University Brass Ensemble

We know it’s a bit early, but here’s a date for your diary:

Listen and join in with the carols at the

University of Kent ‘Carols round the Christmas Tree’

With the University Brass Ensemble

“Festive Cheer, Roasted Chestnuts and Mulled Wine” Weather Permitting

Wednesday 14th December

The Registry Garden 5.00pm

EVERYONE WELCOME!

Find out more  here

Nation’s biggest celebration of singing: 123Sing!

Schools across the country will raise their voices in celebration of singing this autumn from 30 September to 2 October to support disabled children.

All together now!

A joint venture between ClassicFM and Making Music, the project will raise money for the Classic FM Foundation to fund music therapy for disabled children.

Schools across the UK will be holding special ‘bring £1 and sing’  assemblies: schools can keep a quarter of the overall amount they raise, and also win musical instruments for their schools.

Make sure your school is involved! More details on the ClassicFM website here.

Local singing groups, choral societies and spontaneous community groups can also participate. Let’s get singing to help other children!

The Hernhill Singers: open to everyone!

Ever fancied singing in a choir ?

If so, you are warmly invited to the new Hernhill Singers first rehearsal next Wednesday, 13 July, in the Upper Room of the Red Lion Pub, Hernhill.

Take note! The Hernhill Singers

Open to all ages, the chance to sing for fun and for pleasure: no musical experience necessary, and families welcome!

Songs, games, and the chance to try some choral pieces that are a rollicking good sing, followed by drinks in the pub afterwards.

If you’d like to come, simply e-mail Dan Harding by clicking here (to make sure we’ve enough seats and copies for everyone) and come to the Red Lion Pub in Hernhill for 6.30pm next Wednesday.

All welcome!

Music to our ears

We’re delighted to announce that, as promised recently at the Classic Opera summer concert, the Village Hall is now the proud custodian of an upright piano.

Graciously donated by the Collard family in Chestfield, to whom we owe much gratitude, the Crane & Son piano is in fine condition; it will now be left to settle into the environment of the hall for a couple of months before being tuned.

With thanks to Michelle, who found the piano and organised its relocation, and Crispin and Dan who went out to see the instrument.

A final word of thanks to the sterling chaps at An Easy Move 4u, who collected and delivered the piano in a thoroughly profesional manner, and in what seemed like the blink of an eye, which (when you’re talking about moving a piano) is no mean feat!

Here’s looking forward to lots of musical entertainment, events and workshops at the Village Hall in the future.

Music for a Summer’s Day

Adults and children alike were captivated by the superb music that filled the Village Hall on Sunday. The children were free to come and go to the play area outside, but nearly all chose to stay – and they listened silently (almost!) to the powerful performances by mezzo soprano Michelle Harris, soprano Julie Gray and baritone Adrian Gray. They loved the humorous acting that went along with some of the pieces – and the dads quite enjoyed it too!

The audience were soothed by oboe recitals from Dan Lloyd and enjoyed Dan Harding’s seamless piano accompaniment that provided a backdrop to it all.

It was the perfect introduction to live classical music for the first-timers in the audience, and a real summer’s afternoon treat for the more experienced listeners.

What a privilege to experience such top quality professional musical talent in our little village. The children, I am sure, will never forget it!

Many Many Thanks to Classic Opera : https://sites.google.com/site/classicoperaweb/

Classic Opera tickets available at the Exchange Cafe

Tickets for the Classic Opera ‘Music for a Summer’s Day’ concert on Sunday 3 July will be available at the Exchange Cafe over the next two Fridays. Tickets are £2, family tickets (two adults and up to three children) £5: where else could you hear a professional programme for such a bargain price: don’t miss it!

Click to enlarge

If you’d like to reserve a ticket on the door, please e-mail the Forum and let us know how many tickets you would like and, in the event of a family ticket, how many people are included: this will assist with planning numbers for the afternoon.

More details about the concert here.