Monday 12 August 2013

Music for Everyone gets Sherwood singing!

Nottingham based music education charity, Music for Everyone, is starting a new choir in Sherwood. 

Especially designed for singers of all abilities and experience, the choir will rehearse on a Thursday afternoon from 2pm - 4pm at Sherwood Methodist Church starting on Thursday 26th September.

When asked about the kind of members that they are looking for, conductor Alex Patterson said, “We welcome everyone. All that’s required is a love of singing and a sense of fun. I am really looking forward to our first session - I have some exciting repertoire planned. We will be singing some fabulous songs from classics to musicals, jazz to pop - something for all tastes”. This will be Music for Everyone's fourth daytime choir. Other groups rehearse and perform in Wollaton, Southwell and West Bridgford.

Member Mary Stokes talks of her experience of singing with Daytime Voices in Wollaton. “I went into the first rehearsal in trepidation as I thought I couldn’t sing in tune. When I arrived it was a relief to find that everyone was friendly and welcoming and they soon put me at ease. Singing with a large group has been a great experience for me. When you are together and you sing, it makes you feel good inside. I have been with the choir for 6 years now and believe I have improved!” When asked why the group is so good, Mary added “I love being a part of it as it is a really relaxed atmosphere and we seem to do as much laughing as we do singing! I have made some great friendships and the whole world of music has opened up in a way that it hadn’t before.”

So is Music for Everyone’s aim to get everyone in Nottingham Singing? Angela Kay of Newark, founder and Artistic Director of Music for Everyone for the past 30 years exclaimed “Let's hope so, we started with just one group in 1983 and now we have numerous choirs and other ensembles rehearsing and performing all over the city and county, so who knows!”

If you are interested in joining Daytime Voices you can try out a session for free on Thursday 26th September at Sherwood Methodist Church (2pm - 4pm). For more information contact Music for Everyone on 0115 9589312 email admin@music-for-everyone.org or visit our website www.music-for-everyone.org

Thursday 1 August 2013

It’s a Ginormous Choir

With the help of Music for Everyone 450 members of Girlguiding Nottinghamshire gathered in Nottingham’s Albert Hall on Sunday 14th July to build a ‘Ginormous Choir’ in a day. Those taking part included members of Rainbows (aged 5-7), Brownies (7-10), Guides (10-14), Rangers and Senior Section (14-25) from all over the county, supported by adult volunteers from Girlguiding Nottinghamshire.

Amongst those singing were girls from 4a Mansfield St Johns Brownies.‘It has been an awesome day!’ said Libby Bowler, aged 8. ‘It was really exciting to practice the songs in the morning and then perform to our families in the afternoon’. Her friend, Esther Lane, added ‘I really liked singing together with all the other Brownies. Especially the songs by One Direction and Coldplay!’.

Steering the day was Angela Kay, Artistic Director and Helen Hayes, singing specialist from Music for Everyone, who helped the girls polish up a diverse programme ranging from pop songs, rock anthems and favorites from film and stage musicals to folk and world music. The morning was filled by group workshops and rehearsals, with the whole Ginormous Choir rehearsing together after lunch.

The day culminated in a special concert for the participants’ families and friends. ‘All 450 girls worked really hard all day and I was amazed at the high standard shown in the final performance,’ says County Commissioner Kate Royse. ‘My thanks must go to all the helpers and, of course, to Angela Kay and her team, for all their time, energy and enthusiasm in making the day such a Ginormous success!’

Would your son or daughter be interested in joining a Ginormous choir? Click here to visit our website to read more about our Vocals events>>