- Business & finance
- Environment
- Libraries & leisure
- Registrations
- Roads & travel
- Safety and crime
- Schools & learning
- Social care & health
- The council
| CMS News - 2008/2009 | ||||||||||||||
 | ||||||||||||||
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ||||||||||||||
| Successful Kaleidoscope concert at Avon Valley School >> | ||||||||||||||
A very successful Kaleidoscope concert was held in the theatre at Avon Valley School on Thursday 21st May. There was a wide range of instruments and ages involved from beginners to more advanced players. For the first time we had someone who played on two different instruments – Olivia Fancourt - who played the tenor horn and then the violin. To make it a family occasion her sister Imogen played Dance of the Blessed Spirits on the cello. All in all it was a great evening and the small but enthusiastic audience thoroughly enjoyed it. | |  | ||||||||||||
| Other performers included Emile Rackham, Clarinet, Jacob Coleman, Trombone, Georgie Barber and Nikola Nowak, voice, Kathryn Harris – violin, Molly Waldren, cello, Ellie Griffin-Smith, recorder, Danielle Malin, guitar, and Nathan Fernando, trumpet. Posted: 3.7.09 | ||||||||||||||
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ||||||||||||||
| Warwickshire's Youth Parliament representatives experience team building with a difference>> | ||||||||||||||
CMS teacher Fareed Siddiqui brought a different version of team building and fun to young people at the Warwickshire Youth Parliament induction day. The young people recently elected to represent Warwickshire in the UK Youth Parliament were treated to a session of African drumming which took place at the Fire Service College, Moreton-in-Marsh.
Posted: 23.6.09 | |  | ||||||||||||
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ||||||||||||||
| Nuneaton & Bedworth Jazz Band perform at Gala Day >> | ||||||||||||||
A gloriously sunny day saw the Nuneaton & Bedworth Area Jazz Band performing for Our Lady of the Angels Parish Gala Day held at St. Thomas More School and Technology College. The audience were treated to thirty minutes of various jazz melodies including the tune which is becoming something of a signature tune for the band; ‘The Muppet Show Theme’. Proceeds from the event will go to church charities. Posted: 16.6.09 | |  | ||||||||||||
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ||||||||||||||
| Youth Waits perform at Shakespeare's birthday celebrations >> | ||||||||||||||
The County’s Early Music ensemble, Youth Waits, were privileged to take part in the Celebrations for Shakespeare’s birthday on 25th April this year. They played tudor music in Holy Trinity Church as dignitaries from the RSC and all over the world filed past to lay flowers on the Bard’s grave. Also in the procession were representatives from local schools and arts groups, many of whom performed around the town in the afternoon. The Youth Waits, playing a wide variety of the County’s extensive collection of renaissance instruments, were able to lend a really authentic air to the occasion as the crowds entered the church. | |  | ||||||||||||
They have a heavy programme ahead including a Leamington Rotary club dinner in June, a concert at the Warwick International Festival on 2 July and performances at Canon’s Ashby (National Trust) on 5th July. They gave a recital in Coventry in May and will be performing on 14th November at the International Early Music Festival in Greenwich. They have also been invited to take part in the National Festival of Music for Youth this summer and are very much looking forward to playing in Birmingham’s Town Hall on 9th July. The group rehearses in term time every other Sunday afternoon. Membership is available by audition to interested players of Grade 6 and above. Posted: 15.6.09 | ||||||||||||||
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ||||||||||||||
| Rock and Pop Institute Auditions >> | ||||||||||||||
The County Performance Groups Rock and Pop Institute Auditions are being held on Tuesday 30th June and Tuesday 7th July at Coten End Workshop, Warwick - 7-9pm. If you are interested and would like to be part of this fantastic new venture which is being organised by Mike Roberts, please click on the links below for further details regarding the auditions and what is involved. Rock and Pop Institute Auditions Poster (pdf 362Kb) Rock and Pop Institute - What will happen at the audition? (pdf 53Kb) Posted: 4.6.09 | ||||||||||||||
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ||||||||||||||
| Warwickshire's first Jazz4Youth day >> | ||||||||||||||
Twenty young jazz enthusiasts assembled on the morning of Sunday 17 May to form a Big Band under the guidance of Jon Watson, Director of the Warwickshire Youth Jazz Orchestra (WYJO), and have a taste of what it is like to play in the renowned County group. The morning started with a Samba workshop led by Philip Hutchinson (WYJO tutor) and then Jon Watson took over by taking the young players through some improvisation skills. With Phil Hutchinson on kit and Sunim Koria on bass guitar the group sounded pretty impressive by lunchtime. In the afternoon they had a chance to sit in on a WYJO rehearsal and the day finished with all players performing together to parents. Posted: 20.5.09 | |  | ||||||||||||
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ||||||||||||||
| Silver Award for WYJO at the National Concert Band Festival, Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama, Cardiff >> | ||||||||||||||
WYJO has earned itself an enviable reputation in Warwickshire during the 10 years of its existence and the Silver Award that it has just gained at the National Concert Band Festival is a fitting way of celebrating its achievement on a national scale. The Orchestra played a 20 minute slot in front of 2 adjudicators at a Festival that attract the best big bands in the land. One of the things that distinguished WYJO from the other big bands were the two singers – Sarah Robertson and James Berry – who between them performed 3 songs as part of the set. Travelling to Cardiff and back in one day made for a long day but the experience of participating was rewarding for all concerned. Posted: 19.5.09 | |  | ||||||||||||
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ||||||||||||||
| County Youth Waits invited to Festival of Music for Youth >> | ||||||||||||||
So far this year the Youth Waits are the only Warwickshire County Group to be invited to take part in the Festival of Music For Youth on Thursday 9 July at Birmingham Town Hall. Several groups (Pannissimo, County Youth Chorale, ‘Gutted’, County Boys Choir) took part in the Regional Festivals in March and it is a great achievement for the Youth Waits to be given the honour to take part in the Festival. The Youth Waits specialise in the performance of Renaissance and Medieval music and as a Youth Music Group are pretty well unique in the UK. Posted: 19.5.09 | |  | ||||||||||||
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ||||||||||||||
| Music Discovery Day at C.H.E.S.S. >> | ||||||||||||||
On the 1st May around 40 young people from North Warwickshire and Nuneaton and Bedworth descended on Camp Hill Education Sports & Social. They were there for the first Music Service/Virtual School’s Music Discovery Day. The aim to encourage more young people to opt in to music! The day began with a welcome from Andrew Atkins, Director of CMS after which everyone was treated to an excellent performance by the Nuneaton and Bedworth Area Steel Orchestra led | |  | ||||||||||||
| by CMS teacher Kali Mattu. Andrew keen to show everyone how easy it can be to play a musical instrument then handed every young person and adult helper a harmonica and within 10 minutes had taught a tune with a lively backing track which everyone performed with great enthusiasm. The main body of the day focussed on each young person choosing 3 out of 4 workshops on offer led by CMS teachers and the Director. These included Samba Drumming led by Andrew Atkins, Steel Pans led by Fareed Siddiqui, Musical Theatre led by Matthew Hinchliffe and Songwriting and Music Tech led by Bryan Robinson assisted by Youth Leader Anthony. After lunch there was another enjoyable performance by the Nuneaton Area Jazz Band led by Trevor Jones before the final workshop. Everyone came back together at the end of the day keen to perform – a massed Samba Band performance, a lively dance routine to ABBA’s Dancing Queen and group compositions all went down very well – ending with Andrew leading everyone in a Harmonica finale. Comments from the young people “fantastic”, “brilliant”, “one of the best days of my life”, “where can I do more of this” were backed up by scores on the evaluation form. Everyone scored the day 4 or 5 out of 5 (1 being lowest 5 highest). The day was a joint venture with the Virtual School and County Music Service which is hoped will be the first of many as for some of those present it could prove life changing. Posted: 12/5/09 | ||||||||||||||
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ||||||||||||||
| Warwickshire Youth Waits performance >> | ||||||||||||||
On Saturday 23rd May Warwickshire Youth Waits are doing a fundraising concert for The Friends of WYW at Holy Head Road URC, Coventry. The programme is called ‘Music for a Tudor Green: Dance Music from Renaissance England’. Venue: Holy Head Road URC, Holyhead Road, Coventry CV6 1QL Time: 7.30pm Tickets: £5 (£3 concessions) available on the door. Posted: 5.5.09 | ||||||||||||||
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ||||||||||||||
| North Warwickshire GCSE Composition Evening >> | ||||||||||||||
| 31st March 2009 saw the North Warwickshire GCSE composition showcase evening which included pupils from Polesworth International Language College, Queen Elizabeth School and Sports College and Kingsbury Maths and Science College. 23 GCSE students performed their own compositions for an audience of family and friends. The staff and schools all enjoyed sharing the different achievements of their pupils. Posted: 2.4.09 | |  | ||||||||||||
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ||||||||||||||
| Youth in Concert >> | ||||||||||||||
| Over one hundred young performers filled the Temple Speech Room in Rugby with high quality music making on Tuesday 24 March. This major concert was run in partnership with Rugby Rotary and the hall was filled to capacity to support this exciting event. Special guest and international cellist Anup Biswas gave an inspirational performance at the start of the second half. Anup spoke of his childhood at a mission school in Calcutta where his musical talent was spotted and encouraged by Rev. Theodore Mathieson. Since then Anup has performed as a soloist across the world and, in 1994 founded a unique music school in Calcutta, named after his guru Theodore Mathieson. Click here for more photos from the concert Posted: 31.3.09 | | 
| ||||||||||||
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ||||||||||||||
| CMS pupils support Red Nose Day/Comic Relief >> | ||||||||||||||
| Central Warwickshire Music Centre Steel Pan Orchestra 'Pandemonium entertained shoppers and passers by during the day in Talisman Square, Kenilworth on Saturday 14th March (see photo). They collected a total of £261.23. Well done to all involved. East Warwickshire Music Centre pupils also organised a collection at the Primary Schools Choir Festival concert at Harris School on Friday 13th March, raising a fantastic £146.33. Young players in Nuneaton & Bedworth Junior Woodwind and Junior Brass groups got into the spirit of Red Nose Day by attending their rehearsal wearing something red including red noses (see photo). One young player did say “Playing the clarinet while wearing a red nose isn't that easy, but it sounded funny!” Both groups are currently rehearsing for the Area Summer Festival Concert in the Civic Hall at Bedworth in July. | |   | ||||||||||||
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ||||||||||||||
| County Youth Orchestra perform at Bablake School >> | ||||||||||||||
| The County Youth Orchestra has chosen Bablake School in Coventry for its Spring Concert this year on Saturday 21 March at 7.30 pm. It features the Clarinet Concerto No 2 by Weber, played by Paul Jordan, himself a pupil of Bablake – so we are looking forward to a good audience from his friends and supporters in the school. The symphonic work in the programme is the London Symphony by Vaughan Williams and on a more popular note, the orchestra will also be playing themes from Lord of the Rings. | |  | ||||||||||||
| Tickets: Adults £7.00, Concessions £3.00 available on the door. For further information please contact the CMS office on 01926 742630 or visit the County Youth Orchestra page. Posted: 6.3.09 | ||||||||||||||
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ||||||||||||||
| 'Together in Time' goes from strength to strength >> | ||||||||||||||
| Parent and Toddler music group 'Together in Time' is going from strength to strength under the direction of CMS manager Judy Brulo. Established in the autumn term 2008 through a partnership with Family Learning the activities, which run as part of CMS Music Centre activities on Saturday mornings at Avon Valley School, are proving very popular with local parents and children. More information is available from CMS area office 01788 575489 Click here for more photos of the group Posted: 4.2.09 | |  | ||||||||||||
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ||||||||||||||
| ‘WOW’ - BOYS DO SING – Brilliantly! Warwickshire County Boys Choir conquers Symphony Hall >> | ||||||||||||||
| 85 of the 100 plus members of the Warwickshire County Boys Choir dazzled the packed audience of the Symphony Hall, Birmingham on Monday. Singing as guest soloists at a West Midlands ‘Sing Up’ celebration concert, their highly trained voices filled the huge hall with the unique sound of boys voices, and delighted everyone with their skill and musicianship. Michael Collie, the well-known TV and Radio presenter and news reader, was equally impressed. Turning to a delighted audience at the end of the boys | |  | ||||||||||||
| performance, he summed up everyone’s reaction by simply saying ‘WOW!’ The County Boys, who were founded less than a year ago, have been steadily building up membership and gaining popularity. They have forged prestigious links with New College Oxford, and also St Mary’s Warwick, as part of the new Choir Schools Initiative. Garry Jones, the Choir’s Director, said “The County Boys Choir now has over 100 members and is still growing in all areas of Warwickshire. The Concert ensured that we are now highly respected regionally and nationally – we expect even more exciting events and achievements in the future.” The Choir sang an unaccompanied three part version of the spiritual ‘Were You There’ with faultless tuning, blend and tone, and followed this with a stirring and moving two-part rendition of the Josh Groban classic ‘You Raise me Up’ which received a rapturous ovation. ‘It was a beautiful, moving performance that really stole the show’ commented a parent. ‘The County Boys are certainly the ones to watch out for in the future’. Alex, age 13 from Kenilworth said: “Symphony Hall is huge and really challenged us to do our best. We were all very pleased when we heard the audience cheering, and felt we had achieved something special” Future appearances will be at the National Choral Festival and at Christ Church, Oxford, and the choir is increasingly receiving invitations to perform. “New members are always welcome!” says Garry. Please contact Garry at the County Music Service, 01926 742630, or 07763-757191 or ask at your local school. Click here for more photos from the event Posted: 29.1.09 | ||||||||||||||
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ||||||||||||||
| Viol & Recorder Workshop & Concert in Birmingham >> This is a combined workshop and concert by viol and recorder players from Warwickshire & Birmingham Music Service on Monday 26th January. The Warwickshire groups taking part are County Youth Waits, 'Gutted' (Central Warwickshire Viol Consort) and Central Warwickshire Intermediate Viols. Venue: ARC Church, Darnley Road, Ladywood, Birmingham B16 8TF Time: Workshop 2.00 pm, Concert 7.00 pm (open to the public) For further details please contact Simon Grimshaw on 01926 742630 Posted: 20.1.09 | ||||||||||||||
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ||||||||||||||
| Pupils from North Warwickshire visit Symphony Hall >> | ||||||||||||||
| Pupils from North Warwickshire Music Centre visited Symphony Hall on 6th January to hear and watch the National Youth orchestra play. Dominic, trumpeter, at Queen Elizabeth School, Atherstone said "It was fantastic, hearing the sound 100 musicians make together", while Sian and Amy, both from Kingsbury School enjoyed the way the musicians moved round the stage during an improvised piece. Posted: 20.1.09 | |  | ||||||||||||
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ||||||||||||||
| HELP - new home needed for Music Theatre costumes >> | ||||||||||||||
| The Music Theatre groups attached to the Central Warwickshire Area Music Centre are looking for a new home for their costumes, accessories and all the paraphenalia which goes with them!. Newburgh Primary School currently houses boxes, racks and bags which are used for various productions each year, but a new space in a local building, preferably with evening access, is now urgently needed. Any one who can offer help is asked to contact Sue Mock, Deputy Area Manager for Central Warks on 07901 700008 or the Music Centre ansaphone 01926 4942426 | |  | ||||||||||||
| (Music Theatre costumes and masks kindly modelled by Brendon, Charlotte and Nina from Yr 6 at Newburgh School). Posted: 22.12.09 | ||||||||||||||
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ||||||||||||||
| WYJO’s Christmas Concert, Sunday 7 December at the Grange Hall, Southam >> | ||||||||||||||
| This venue off the Coventry Road on the edge of Southam is little known to many but eminently suitable for a 25 piece band like WYJO; it has a good sized hall set out with tables, café style with a bar off to one side. A number of new numbers had been added to the programme since the band’s success at the National Concert Band Festival in November, when it secured a Gold medal; and | |  | ||||||||||||
| several older members returned to play and contribute their experience with solos and improvisations. We had songs from Kate Thorogood, Robert Busiakiewiecz and James Berry and a very high standard of playing from the rest of the band. A great night! Posted: 15.12.08 | ||||||||||||||
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||
| ‘Gutted’ and the County Youth Waits perform at the International Exhibition and Festival of Early Music at Greenwich >> | ||||||||||||||
| On 15 November Warwickshire’s young ‘Early Music’ musicians, the County Youth Waits and ‘Gutted’ (Central Warwickshire Viol Consort), visited the International Exhibition and Festival of Early Music at Greenwich. Both groups had been invited to perform as part of the Festival and when they got there it appeared that, apart from Junior Trinity College music pupils (The Old Royal Naval College is home to Trinity College of Music) the Warwickshire players were the only school children from the rest of the country to be invited to take part in this prestigious event. | |  | ||||||||||||
| The coach left at 6 in the morning – not an easy start for those members of the County Youth Orchestra who had been rehearsing until late the evening before - and arrived at the Old Royal Naval College soon after 9 am after travelling through London along the river Thames. After a well-earned stop at the student café, both groups got straight down to rehearsing in preparation for their performances. ‘Gutted’ were the first on and made a fabulous sound in what is perhaps one of the most beautiful performing spaces in the world – the Old Royal Naval College Chapel with its wonderful acoustic and the sunlight pouring in through the stained glass windows. At 4 in the afternoon, the Youth Waits performed in a completely different setting – the Admiral’s Room - a softly lit panelled room which seats around 60 people, in the corner of the College next to the river. The venue suited the music perfectly and the group generated a great atmosphere and genuine interest from the audience who came up and talked to the players after the concert. During the rest of the day, the musicians toured the stalls in the great Painted Hall trying out a plethora of instruments, and several of them bought bows; one young viol player bought himself a magnificent bass viol! Posted: 15.12.08 | ||||||||||||||
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ||||||||||||||
| Youth Music Charity Concert at St. Andrew’s Church, Rugby >> (organised by the Warwickshire County Youth Music Association) 29th November 2008 | ||||||||||||||
| The venue for this concert was chosen partly to show off one of the major works in the programme – Saint-Saëns’ Organ Symphony, performed by the County Youth Orchestra with Ruaraidh Sutherland, organ – and partly as a way of enabling the County Youth Chorale to give of its best in a wonderful setting. The two groups sang and played to a full church with the Chorale making use of the space by performing some music standing in the apse at | | | ||||||||||||
| the east end and the rest closer to the audience, at the transept. In the first half the Youth Orchestra kicked off with two overtures (Light Cavalry by Suppé and Orpheus in the Underworld by Offenbach) and they finished the concert with the Organ Symphony in which rows of trumpets, horns, trombones and a tuba enhanced the orchestral sound together with the powerful organ. A raffle was held, refreshments were served and despite having to wrap up well (it was a cold night!) a good time was had by all and it is hoped that a significant injection of cash was earned for the Warwickshire County Youth Music Association, the charity that organised the concert. Posted: 15.12.08 | ||||||||||||||
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ||||||||||||||
| Sparkling Performances >> | ||||||||||||||
| A large audience at Milby Primary School was treated to some sparkling performances at the Nuneaton and Bedworth Kaleidoscope Concert on Monday 8th December. Pupils from pre grade 1 to Grade 7 performed music in a wide variety of styles including classical, jazz, blues, pop and country and western. It was exciting to have, for the first time, items performed on the oboe and the bassoon. Some pupils had never seen or heard these double reed instruments. | |  | ||||||||||||
| Many pupils were able to gain some valuable experience with exam pieces they will be performing next week. Pupils were presented with a certificate at the end of the concert. Posted: 12.12.08 | ||||||||||||||
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ||||||||||||||
| Northern Area’s first ever Early Music Concert in splendid setting >> | ||||||||||||||
| The sound of crumhorns, recorders and viols from the County Music Service County Youth Waits filled the air in the Northern Area’s first ever Early Music Concert in the splendid setting of Polesworth Abbey on the 27 November. The building echoed to the wonderful music of the Thomas Tallis “Canon” performed immaculately by the Intermediate brass who opened this exciting evening. An early music theme continued throughout the whole concert with Dowland from Junior Guitars, Susato and | |  | ||||||||||||
| Praetorius from the Intermediate Strings, a 16th Century carol from Vocalise and the first performance of a modern Pavan written especially for Birchwood Junior Strings. At the end of their own performances the children from Music Centre groups gathered closely around the County Youth Waits to watch a twenty minutes display of spectacular virtuosity on a range of instruments that they probably never had seen before. The finale was a combined performance by the Waits and the Intermediate Groups of the “March” from the Five Courtly Dance from “Gloriana” by Benjamin Britten. Caroline Powell-Brett, Area Manager for Warwickshire County Music Service (North), said: “Our groups are growing in quality and number. They all performed fantastically and it is wonderful to see how much the pupils gained from playing, singing and observing the wonderful range of music performed tonight” Posted: 10.12.08 | ||||||||||||||
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ||||||||||||||
| Warwickshire County Youth Jazz Orchestra go for GOLD! >> | ||||||||||||||
| The County Youth Jazz Orchestra, (‘WYJO’), have walked away with a Gold Medal at the National Concert Band Festival in Northampton on 16 November. This is the second time the Orchestra have entered this national competition; 3 years ago the band secured a Silver award, and on this occasion Director Jon Watson said: “This is a great achievement for the orchestra and an excellent way | |  | ||||||||||||
| to celebrate WYJO’s 10th Anniversary year! The award reflects the skill and commitment of the players, many of whom are new to the orchestra this year.” The adjudicators complimented the band on a “confident performance with good solos from piano, tenor, trumpet and drums, which were of consistently high quality.” WYJO is now looking forward to receiving an invitation to the National Festival in Cardiff on 19th and 20th April! After that WYJO will be presenting a special 10th Anniversary Concert on 11 July followed by a Concert Tour of Italy later in the month. Posted: 8.12.08 | ||||||||||||||
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ||||||||||||||
| Young Musicians excel in Civic Hall Concerts >> | ||||||||||||||
| Over 300 Nuneaton and Bedworth County Music Service pupils gave spectacular concerts to packed audiences at The Civic Hall in Bedworth on Wednesday 26th November 2008. Both concerts featured a wide range of vibrant orchestras and bands, including steel pan, percussion and guitar ensembles which, together with the choirs, were very well received as they performed music as diverse as Haydn’s Surprise Symphony, and themes from Star Wars and Mamma Mia. | |  | ||||||||||||
| Hugh Disley, Head of Division for Young People had only one word to say about the standard of the concert and the talents displayed by the musicians: “Fantastic”. The concerts this year far exceeded previous years in both standard of performance and number of musicians. The increase in the number of young people accessing CMS music activities in this area is largely due to the move to area working, which has enabled the deployment of CMS teachers, with County Council funding, more equitably across the county. CMS is committed to supporting the government’s “Every Child Matters” agenda and to providing access and inclusion to as many pupils as possible through the important medium of music. Sixteen year old Liberty Yorke, an able flautist in the Area Band and Orchestra, scaled new heights as she overcame her struggle with dyslexia to realise her dream of becoming a confident musician. Liberty will take her Grade 5 flute exam later this month. She has been fully supported by CMS teacher, Jo Lawrence, who is trained to teach pupils with special needs. Credit for the hugely successful evening must go to the talented and dedicated County Music Service staff in Nuneaton and Bedworth who are not only stretching the musical boundaries of their pupils, but are helping to shape the musical futures of hundreds of young people across Nuneaton and Bedworth. Posted: 8.12.08 | ||||||||||||||
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ||||||||||||||
| Together in Time East Warwickshire Music Centre at Avon Valley With the Family in Mind >> | ||||||||||||||
| An exciting joint venture between CMS and the Rugby Adult and Community Learning Centre. The aim of this project is to provide a family learning experience, encouraging fun time together. The action rhymes and songs, sometimes using puppets and other props, are simple and easy to remember. They are designed to assist the child in the development of oral motor skills, gross and fine motor skills, turn taking, listening skills and participation. We hope that the family involvement will filter through to continued support of any future musical experience the child may wish to pursue. The Rugby Adult and Community Learning Centre fund this project whilst CMS provides the venue and the teaching. This funding enables a free of charge family learning experience. The courses run three times a year in conjunction with the Music Centre terms and at the end of a 10 week course the participants receive a Certificate of Attendance and also the opportunity to experience further learning opportunities through the ACLC. Come and visit us. Judy Brulo Contact: 01788 575489 or 07920 822080 Posted: 5.12.08 | ||||||||||||||
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ||||||||||||||
| Nuneaton and Bedworth Area Ochestra Residential Visit to Dunfield House 14-16 November >> | ||||||||||||||
| Musicians from the Area Orchestra together with some pupils from the Intermediate Wind Band had a fantastic trip to Herefordshire at the weekend. Everyone had an amazing experience; we are still in a state of euphoria! Our music making reached new heights as we worked together as a team, rehearsing a wide repertoire of pieces as diverse as Haydn’s ‘Surprise Symphony’, Rossini’s ‘William Tell Overture’, Eric Coates ‘Dambuster’s March’, Take Five, and the exciting John Williams theme from ‘Star Wars’. | |  | ||||||||||||
| The impact of spending a whole weekend in a range of rehearsals including full orchestra, sectionals, jazz, wind band and string orchestra will become obvious as we approach our concerts on 26th November and 29th January, both at the Civic Hall in Bedworth. It is a privilege for us to be invited to fill the second half of the latter, which is an event featuring many community groups, organised by Councillor Chataway on behalf of the mayor’s appeal. The enjoyment at Dunfield House is always increased by the beautiful surroundings and the delicious and plentiful supply of food. I am pleased to report that staff and pupils alike managed to get some sleep, at least on the second night! Nor did our adventures end when we left Dunfield House. Many pupils were delighted to be able to spend more time together when our coach broke down and our arrival home was delayed by over two hours! Diane Slater, Area Manager Posted: 21.11.2008 | ||||||||||||||
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ||||||||||||||
| Young musicians strike up the band >> | ||||||||||||||
| Young musicians from across Rugby were out in force for two instrumental workshops organised by County Music Service. Over sixty string and guitar players met together at Rokeby Primary School for a massed workshop culminating in a special performance for supporters at the end of the day. An equal number of wind, brass and percussion players did the same thing in a windband workshop the following day at Avon Valley School and performing arts college. CMS area manager Jeremy Dibb said; "Once again our instrumental workshops have proved very popular and it is the perfect opportunity to highlight the value of making music together. | |  | ||||||||||||
| Many of the young people involved already play in our weekly Music Centre groups but it was a chance for even more young musicians to experience the joy of playing together. It is just as important for parents, friends and family to be able to hear all their hard work and enjoy two excellent performances at the end of two very successful workshops". Posted: 20.11.2008 | ||||||||||||||
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ||||||||||||||
| Milby Primary School host workshop and concert >> Milby Primary School hosted a wonderful workshop and concert on Thursday 13th November. Thirty guitar pupils and twenty one keyboard players made an impressive sight and sound as they combined forces to provide an exciting concert experience which was enjoyed by all. They performed a variety of music including the 'Canon' by Pachelbel, 'My Heart Will Go On' and a joint rendition of 'Love Me Tender' brought the event to a stunning climax. Posted: 18.11.2008 | ||||||||||||||
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ||||||||||||||
| A Community Choir is launched >> A brand new community choir has been launched at Avon Valley School and Performing Arts College. Head of Music Sheila Allen and Jeremy Dibb, Area Manager for the County Music Service, have started a new community choir aimed at everyone; young and old; experienced and not so experienced. The first rehearsal took place at Avon Valley School on Tuesday 11th November and over thirty singers turned up with an age range from seven to seventy-seven! The community choir meet every fortnight on Tuesdays from 6.00 – 8.00 pm and their target is a performance at Avon Valley as part of the County Music Service summer festival, accompanied by Bilton Silver Band. New member Kerry Horsman-Grey said, ‘It was a really uplifting experience and a life long dream to rejoin a choir having not sung in one since I was at school.’ ‘This was a wonderful start’, said Jeremy Dibb, ‘and we hope that more singers will join us at our next rehearsal’. Posted: 12.11.2008 | ||||||||||||||
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ||||||||||||||
Warwickshire 'new boys' take Oxford by storm >> | ||||||||||||||
| History was made in New College chapel, Oxford on 18th October, when the newly formed Warwickshire Boys Choir performed evensong with the six hundred year-old New College Choir. The New College boys have an international reputation and recently won a prestigious Gramophone Award. Yet the visitors, drawn from schools all over Warwickshire, held their own, despite having sung together for only six months. "It was the best day of my life", said seven year old George, the youngest member of the Warwickshire troupe. "The cakes at tea were brilliant and so were the clothes the choristers wore". Warwickshire County Boys Choir is the brainchild of Garry Jones, formerly Warwickshire County Council's Director of Music. Last March, Garry set about finding one hundred 7-14 year old boys to form a new choir. After six months of rehearsal, the Warwickshire boys were thrilled to receive an invitation to Oxford from Edward Higginbottom, Director of the New College Choir. “My boys were terrified,” Garry said, “but we practised in the chapel beforehand and had a special rehearsal with Edward Higginbottom. When it came to evensong itself, some of our older boys suddenly realised they could do it. They were working as a team, projecting their voices and singing like a proper choir.” And the choir brought its own fan club. Mums, dads, aunts, uncles and grandparents poured into New College Chapel to hear their boys sing. When the parents of New College School arrived, their usual seats were full and they had to scramble for space in the ante chapel. But it was all taken in good part. As the members of the two choirs set off for home, one proud Mum summed up her feelings: “The music in the chapel was beautiful and the Warwickshire boys really shone. New College Choir has given them a fantastic opportunity which they'll never forget. If you would like more information about Warwickshire County Boys Choir please contact Garry Jones on 07763 757191 or the CMS office on 01926 742630. Posted: 3.11.2008 | ||||||||||||||
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ||||||||||||||
| Brass Explosion in Rugby >> | ||||||||||||||
| The CMS summer festival concerts are upon us and children from three Rugby schools joined together with the CMS area junior wind band for the first of eight concerts in the eastern area over the next two weeks. Young musicians taking part in the Wider Opportunities programme from Cawston Grange, Knightlow combined with children at Newbold Riverside primary school to perform to a delighted audience of family and friends. | |  Posted: 3rd July 2008 | ||||||||||||
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ||||||||||||||
| Summer Newsletter >> | ||||||||||||||
| The summer edition of the Warwickshire County Music Service Newsletter is now online. Download the Newsletter PDF 3,023KB | |  Posted: 8th June 2008 | ||||||||||||
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ||||||||||||||
| County Boys Choir Launch >> | ||||||||||||||
| March 18th saw a very special concert with the launch of the long awaited County Boys Choir. The brain child and inspiration of Head of Service Garry Jones, the concert involved 70 boys representing five area boys choirs. The boys were joined by very special guests from Oxford, the choir of New College Oxford directed by renowned choral conductor Edward Higginbottom. Many congratulations to Garry and Head of Choral Sheila Russell for organising this major event for Warwickshire. | |  Posted: 21st April 2008 | ||||||||||||
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ||||||||||||||
| ChamberPlus at Bedworth >> | ||||||||||||||
| 200 talented young performers from across the county gathered at the Civic Hall in Bedworth on March 11th to celebrate the 22nd annual Chamber Music Festival. In a new look festival thousands of performers were involved in concerts across the county. Representatives of every area were then invited to the showcase event at Bedworth which culminated in a rousing rendition of 'Hey Mr. Miller' sung by performers and audience. | |  Posted: 21st April 2008 | ||||||||||||
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ||||||||||||||
| Get The Singing Habit >> | ||||||||||||||
| Congratulations to CMS area manager Jeremy Dibb and the recent publication of his teaching resource Get The Singing Habit. GTSH is a video based resource aimed at class teachers working in keystages 1 & 2 who are looking for additional support in delivering the music curriculum in infant, primary and junior schools. Based on 23 years of teaching experience this innovative approach is published by Leamington based Educational publishers LCP. Get The Singing Habit. (External site). | |  Posted: 21st April 2008 | ||||||||||||
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ||||||||||||||
| Notehouse People Book 1 Treble Clef >> | ||||||||||||||
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ||||||||||||||
| Chamber Music Festival 2008 >> | ||||||||||||||
| Chamber Music Festival 2008 took place in Nuneaton & Bedworth on 5th and 6th March. Groups from schools across the Nuneaton & Bedworth area took part in the two day festival which was held at George Eliot Community School and Ash Green School and Arts College. There was also a steel pan festival held at Stockingford Junior School in Nuneaton. | |  Posted: 31st March 2008 | ||||||||||||
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ||||||||||||||
| Orchestra4Youth – 90 strong! >> | ||||||||||||||
| On Sunday 24th February nearly 90 members of Warwickshire’s 4 Area Orchestras, together with other Grade 4 – 6 instrumentalists, converged on Trinity Catholic School in Leamington for a mammoth rehearsal day under the baton of Colin Touchin, the conductor of the County Youth Orchestra. The venture was called ‘Orchestra4Youth’ and the aim was to give all string, wind, brass and percussion players of Grade 4 – 6 standard a taste of what it is like to play in a large orchestra like the County Youth Orchestra. | |  | ||||||||||||
| During the morning the players rehearsed in 4 sections (strings, wind, brass and percussion) directed by County Performance Group tutors Michael Williamson (strings), Pauline Eldridge (wind), Dan Walton (brass) and Eddie Jones (percussion) and in the afternoon the musicians assembled as one orchestra conducted by Colin Touchin. The day finished with an informal performance of several different pieces culminating in The Pirates of the Caribbean which proved a firm favourite with the players. Judging by the response of the parents and the players themselves a good day was had by all, and County Music Service looks forward to welcoming these players to the County Youth Orchestra when they reach Grade 6 standard. Michael Williamson Manager County Performance Groups County Music Service: 07920 071159 Posted: 31st March 2008 | ||||||||||||||
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ||||||||||||||
| County Music Celebrates >> | ||||||||||||||
| The County Music Service has gained the Diploma of Merit from the National Music Council, in recognition of its major achievements in music education across all areas in the county. Dame Cleo Laine formally presented the award at a glittering ceremony in London. Judges from the National Music Council, set up to celebrate and promote the value and enjoyment of music, recognised the contribution of staff from the County Music Service in a wide range of musical activity. | |  Posted: 5th February 2008 | ||||||||||||
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ||||||||||||||
| WYO Chamber Music >> | ||||||||||||||
| Sunday 27th January saw the second of the County Youth Orchestra's Chamber Music days when students get together to develop musicianship skills as part of the Youth Orchestra's yearly programme. The course consists of one Sunday each term and runs concurrently with the weekly orchestral rehearsals. in addition to offering musical training it also serves as a way of developing small groups who can represent the County at civic funtions when music is required. | |  | ||||||||||||
| The music played ranged from Handel's Concerto Grosso , string music by Boismortier and Haydn, wind music by Ibert and Lloyd Webber and a couple of folk sets led by orchestral member Neal Pointon. Many thanks to CMS teachers Pauline Eldridge and Jacqui Robertson-Wade who gave up their time to act as tutors for the day, and to Trevor Barr, Director of Music at Warwick school, who made the music department available. The final day of this year's WYO Chamber Music Course is Sunday May 11th. Posted: 31st January 2008 | ||||||||||||||
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ||||||||||||||
| Top County Musicians in Action >> | ||||||||||||||
| The talented young musicians in our county groups have been as active as ever in a series of concerts and events that included an away weekend at the Hayes Conference Centre in Derbyshire. Trumpeter Ed Hayes performing the Haydn Trumpet Concerto was the highlight of the orchestra concert in Rugby. The Chorale were in action at the Guy Nelson Hall on December 5th and the Wind Band performed splendidly at the Warwick District Mayor's Charity concert in the Town Hall at Leamington. | |  | ||||||||||||
| Amidst all the more serious concerts there was an opportunity for the players to relax and enjoy their own CPG Christmas Cabaret which took place at their rehearsal centre in Kenilworth school. Please see the links for a full report on a very busy time for the CPG: December Successes for County Performance Groups. PDF 12KB WYO Weekend at the Hayes Conference Centre, Derbyshire. PDF 9KB Posted: 31st January 2008 | ||||||||||||||
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ||||||||||||||
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ||||||||||||||
How do you rate this information / service?
