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The Newsletter from the Love Music Trust
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  LMT would like to wish everyone a
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!   |
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Diary Dates
Sunday 14th January
Percussion Day
Sandbach School - Longsdale Centre - 10am
Tuesday 30th January
Music Competition Heats
Tytherington High School - Time TBC
Thursday 1st February
Music Competition Heats
Sandbach School - Time TBC
Click here to see the full calendar
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| This month the Spotlight is on Nantwich Youth Choir
Nantwich Youth Choir is one of Love Music Trust’s newest and most exciting ensembles. Set up in September 2017, it offers the opportunity for singers aged 11-19 to try out music from all different genres. Recent performances have included a cappella arrangements of songs by Bruno Mars and Avicii, alongside more challenging works such as Rutter’s ‘Christmas Lullaby’ and a jazz version of ‘Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town’!
Led by Helen Burrell, the group meets weekly on Thursdays at Nantwich Methodist Church. Singers come from across the Nantwich and Crewe area, and all are welcome to come along and join in the fun.
The ensemble recently gave a very successful performance at the Love Music Trust Christmas Concert, held at St Mary’s Church, Sandbach on Wednesday 6th December. All three songs were unaccompanied, which is always a challenge, but they sounded fantastic! Nantwich Youth Choir are singing at several more events during the winter season, including the following:
15th December: Sacred Orchard, Nantwich, 6 - 8pm
18th December: Carol Service, Malbank School, 10:30am
January (date and time TBC): Joint concert with Nantwich Voices and Nantwich Young Voices
The choir is currently looking for new members to join in the new year (particularly tenors and basses). More details can be found on the Love Music Trust website.
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Nantwich Light Switch On
On Thursday 15th November, Sandbach and Nantwich Young Voices sang 'Jingle Bells', 'Starlight', 'Reindeer Rock', 'Love Shone Down' and 'Merry Christmas Everyone' before the annual light switching on ceremony. |
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This month the Student Spotlight is on Catherine Flanders, from LMT Percussion Ensemble, LMT Big Band and Foden's Youth Brass Band
Tell us a little about your background as a musician
I started playing the cornet a couple of months before my 7th birthday. My brother was a member of the Lions Youth Brass Band and my choice was to sit around for two hours a week or join in. Unsurprisingly I opted to join in and I progressed from there through all three bands. Since then I have been a member of both the National Children's and National Youth Brass Bands, which I have really enjoyed and which have been an incredible experience giving me the opportunity to play in spectacular concert halls like the Barbican. I played piano for a number of years before giving it up to focus on my other two instruments, as well as my GCSEs! I initially took up percussion as my third instrument as part of a Wider Opportunities project in my primary school in Year 5 and then didn't play for a couple of years, before really starting to play in 2013 when I joined the percussion ensemble.
How did you come to join the LMT Big Band, Fodens Youth & Percussion Ensemble ?
I was a founding member of both the Foden's Youth Brass Band and the LMT Big Band. I think I'm now the only original player left in both of them! I joined the Big Band mainly because my brother had heard about it and was planning to join, and as I already really enjoyed playing jazz music I joined at the same time. I joined Foden's Youth as it seemed like a great opportunity to play in a large youth brass band on a regular basis, particularly with the help and expertise from the tutor base there. I'm currently joint principal cornet. I initially joined the Percussion Ensemble as a way to re-start my percussion playing as I had enjoyed it so much during Wider Opportunities. When I first arrived, I was yet to discover how to play a roll, or even that there's a whole range of different sticks for different instruments. Since then, percussion has become an increasingly prominent part of my musical life, especially after I joined Silk Brass, and I play as much, if not more, percussion than trumpet!
What have been the highlights of your musical career so far?
Highlights of my musical career so far are really varied. They range from my first courses with both National Bands, to LMT masterclasses and concerts in amazing venues such as the Birmingham Symphony Hall and the London Southbank Centre, alongside musicians such as Anthony Kerr, Ian Wright, Philip Cobb, Georgina Jackson, and especially the Big Band's recent performance with Allen Vizzutti! Another highlight would probably be my first solo contest on cornet after my brace was removed. I was incredibly happy with my performance and couldn't believe I was finally playing at the level I wanted to again!
Do you have any musical aspirations for the future?
Looking into the future, I'm not actually planning to pursue a career in music. I also love Science and, for various reasons, I am leaning towards some kind of science degree at University, but music has been a huge part of my life for so long I can't see it ever going away!
What school do you go to and what lessons do you enjoy?
I'm currently a year 12 student at Sir John Deane's Sixth Form College in Northwich. I really enjoy all of my subjects (most of the time), but I particularly enjoy physics. There's something really fascinating about learning how stuff works and why the world is the way it is today. I have music lessons at the JRNCM in Manchester on Saturdays. The day lasts from 9am until 4.30pm with no breaks, even for lunch, but I really love it!
What do you enjoy doing when you're not playing? What are your other hobbies?
I began rowing at the start of this year as part of the college rowing club. It's absolutely freezing at this time of year but great fun. I'm really enjoying getting to know my current crew and it has been really interesting to start a new activity completely from scratch. When I'm not needed in a band rehearsal, I'm an Explorer Scout and I have been working my way through the Duke of Edinburgh's Award Schemes. I've made it as far as gold, which will hopefully be finished by next summer, assuming all goes to plan.
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Saxophone Ensemble at Sandbach Concert Series Charlotte Harding was commissioned to compose a new piece for the Saxophone Orchestra which was premiered at the Sandbach Concert Series. The piece has a bebop/blues feel throughout, with space for some solos and a little bit of singing! ‘Vi’ is an exploration of Vi Redd’s styles both as a Saxophonist and a vocalist. The solos feature three of the Saxophone Orchestra’s most experienced performers, Ellen Pointon, Ben Jacckson and Nathan Bentley. To find out more about charlotte click here
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Mark Wheeler, a student within the Saxophone Orchestra, has recently written a piece for the group. This was showcased at both the Christmas Concert and also the Sandbach Concert Series. The title of the piece is 'Diminished Responsibility', which came from the fact that this piece is based around diminished 7th chords. 'Diminished Responsibility' is a legal term that refers to when a murderer is declared insane and his charge is reduced. Mark hopes that the composition represents this insanity! Inspired by the works of Andy Scott and Barbara Thompson, it is written in a theme and variations form in a minimalist style. The first theme was written in February and this version of the piece was finished in September. Mark would also like to thank Jamie Sharp and all at the Saxophone Orchestra for helping me in realising his work.
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| The Love Music Trust Christmas Concert
On the evening of 6th December, the Love Music Trust Christmas Concert took place at St Mary’s Church, Sandbach. It was a wonderful evening, full of fantastic performances and festive cheer.
The show kicked off with some samba rhythms from one of the Love Music Trust’s newest groups, the World Percussion Ensemble. Led by the inimitable Graham Proctor, their batucada-inspired performance really got the audience rocking!
The next group to perform was the Saxophone Ensemble, led by Jamie Sharp. Among the highlights of their varied programme was ‘Diminished Responsibility’, a fantastic new composition by ensemble member Mark Wheeler.
Guitar Ensemble performed a delightful programme of classical guitar pieces, including ‘Morning Has Broken’ and the festive ‘Snow Dance’. Their Christmas hats certainly helped to set the scene!
The fantastic first half was closed by a beautiful performance from Alsager, Nantwich and Sandbach Young Voices. The group sounded great, singing two atmospheric pieces in harmony.
After a short interval, the second half began with Nantwich Youth Choir. Directed by Helen Burrell, the young singers performed three a cappella arrangements, including songs by Bruno Mars and Avicii. It was a very impressive performance from one of the Love Music Trust’s newest ensembles.
Following their performance was the Folk Ensemble, who got our feet tapping along to their upbeat arrangements of traditional tunes. They sounded lovely in the great acoustic of St Mary’s Church!
Last but certainly not least were the two Love Music Trust big bands. On first were the Junior Big Band, who played some great versions of pop and swing classics. They were followed by the Senior Big Band, led by Kyran Matthews, who rounded off the show in style with a really professional-sounding performance.
All in all, the evening was a great showcase of the exceptional talent and musicianship we have within our ensembles. Congratulations to all who performed!
To see more photos from the evening click here
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The Snowman with Live Orchestra
On Monday 18th December over 1000 children came to see 'The Snowman' with live orchestra at Victoria Hall, Hanley.
Our three lucky vocalists, Alice, Ben and Sophie, each sang a rendition of 'Once in Royal David's City' and 'Walking in the Air', accompanied by a professional orchestra. It was a beautiful performance and put everyone into a thoroughly festive mood.
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Congratulations to Ellen Pointon and Ben Jackson for both getting a place at the RNCM on the BMus (Hons) Performance course for Saxophone!!! |
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| Crewe Co-Op Wind Band at the National Concert Band Festival |
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On Sunday 19th November 2017 The co-operative Youth Wind Band, conducted by Emma Clark, took part in The National Concert Band Festival
at Oldham. This Festival is open to any Concert Bands in the country & is sub divided into different sections inc.
school bands, community Bands & Youth Bands. It is slightly different to many other Festivals in that you are playing
for your standard & not against other Bands in a section. For the 2nd year running the Band came away with a Gold award
& were very pleased with their feedback from the 2 Mentors.
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Vocal Residential 4th - 6th May 2018
Come along and join us for the first Vocal Residential at Stanley Head, Stoke on Trent.
A full weekend of vocal fun with expert tutors, suitable for all students in KS2 - KS4.
A fantastic subsidised weekend, only £75.00 including travel, food, accommodation and an outdoor activity, specialist choral tuition, exciting workshops and a celebratory performance at Sandbach School on Sunday.
Places are limited to 40 so early booking is essential!
To book click here |
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| On Wednesday 10th January, the Artvark quartet (www.artvarksq.com) are coming to the LMT Big Band rehearsal to do a short recital and then sit in the Big Band rehearsal amongst the saxophone section. This is a great opportunity not to be missed! |
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RNCM Young Instrumentalists
The RNCM are running a selection of free workshops for young musicians:
Young Basses - Sunday, 14th January, 4th March, 22nd April, 24th June
www.rncm.ac.uk/youngbasses
Young Violas - Sunday, 11th Febuary, 8th April, 27th May, 22nd June
www.rncm.ac.uk/youngviolas
Young Tubas - Sunday, 7th January, 4th March, 20th May, 24th June
www.rncm.ac.uk/youngtubas
Young Bassoons - Sunday, 21st January, 25th Febuary, 29th April, 1st July
www.rncm.ac.uk/youngbassoons
Young Oboes - Sunday, 21st January, 25th February. 29th April, 1st July
www.rncm.ac.uk/youngoboes
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Music Open Days at Royal Birmingham Conservatoire
Thursday 25th January
Wednesday 13th June
Register at www.bcu.ac.uk/conservatoire/opendays
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