News
-
Cheshire East Young Musician
Cheshire East Young Musician of the Year
On Sunday 11th March, the Cheshire East Musician of the Year competition was held at Sandbach School. We received a fantastic number of entries this year, and the day was a great success.
Performers were divided into five age groups (based on school key stages), with each age group split into instrumental and vocal classes. Entrants were free to choose the piece they wished to perform, which resulted in a great variety of music during the day – from Beethoven to Broadway!
Many thanks to our expert judges: Mark Concar, Denise Vaughan, Gary Curtin, Jacqui Drennan, Graham Proctor and John Barber.
Thank you and well done to all who took part. Particular congratulations to the category winners, all of whom received a cash prize. -
Gifted and Talented Vocal Day at Clonter Opera
A wonderful day was spent on Wednesday 7th March at Clonter Opera with 70 gifted and talented students from 7 Cheshire East schools and Impromptu Opera, who lead a series of workshops on topics such as ‘What is Opera?’, vocal technique, improvisation and performance. Impromptu Opera gave constructive advice in the afternoon’s master class and performances from opera singers Alastair and Habba, accompanied by Martyn Parkes, were inspirational in every sense and left us all wanting more. Classics included ‘The Torreador’s Song’, ‘O Mio Babbino Caro’ and ‘Summertime’. The evening concert was a Secondary School Choral Celebration with brilliant challenging programmes from Knutsford Academy, Sir William Stanier, Shavington Academy, Poynton High School, Holmes Chapel Comprehensive and Alsager High. A massed finale of James Bay’s ‘Hold Back the River’ heard a resplendent massed choir of 200 young people join together in song. A true celebration of singing together!
-
Cheshire East Schools Music Competition 2018
This year’s Cheshire East Schools Music Competition heats were held at Tytherington School and Sandbach School. With over 500 students participating, we saw an incredible array of instrumental and vocal performances on both nights. A big thank you to all the schools who took part: Elworth Hall Primary School, Acton CE Primary Academy, Cranberry Academy, Excalibur Primary School, High Legh Primary School, Marlborough Primary School, Smallwood C of E Primary Academy, Stapeley Broad Lane C of E Primary School, The Dingle Primary School, Alsager School, Brine Leas School, The Fallibroome Academy, Poynton High School, Sandbach School, Shavington Academy and Tytherington School. Many thanks also to our judges, Joy Naylor and Sean Lock, who offered some excellent feedback.
-
Barlines: The Half-Termly Newsletter From The LMT
View this email in your browser
The Newsletter from the Love Music Trust
Diary Dates
Wednesday 28th February
Deadline to enter Young Musician of the Year
Friday 2nd March
Percussion Ensemble
Music For Youth - Rochdale
Wednesday 7th March
Vocal Day & Choral Celebration Concert
Clonter Opera
Sunday 11th March
Cheshire East Young Musician of the Year
Sandbach School
Tuesday 27th March
Barnaby Bear in Space
Singfest
Cheshire East Schools Music Competition Final (Primary)
Crewe Lyceum
Wednesday 28th March
Singfest
Cheshire East Schools Music Competition Final (Secondary)
Crewe Lyceum
Thursday 29th March
Singfest
Come and Play with Crewe Co-Op
Battle of the Bands Final
Crewe Lyceum
Click here to see the full calendar
This month the Spotlight is on our Partner Ensemble Congleton Youth Orchestra
Congleton Youth Orchestra were recently honoured to have been invited to provide a String Ensemble to play in Congleton Town Hall for the visit of H.… -
LMT Percussion Day 2018
On Sunday 14th January, the inaugural Love Music Trust Percussion Day was held at Sandbach School. The day offered a mixture of open rehearsals and workshops, with a programme spanning a wide range of genres and styles. The day kicked off with an open rehearsal of ‘Six Marimbas’ by Steve Reich. The session featured players from LMT ensembles alongside visiting students from Birmingham Conservatoire’s Percussion Department. This was followed by a Latin percussion workshop, which was delivered by students from Birmingham Conservatoire. Participants had the chance to try their hand at a wide variety of instruments, including congas, cowbells and shakers. By the end of the session, the group had put together a great piece for the concert. After a break for lunch, there was an open rehearsal of ‘Ionisation’ by Varése, led by Adrian Spillett.
-
Brass Toff Donate to Africa
Brass Toff, instrument repair and renovation specialists based in Warrington, have been on a mission to help disadvantaged children in Africa. Each summer, Brass Toff work alongside Steve Caunce to collect donated instruments and bring old ones back to life for children in Gambia and Zimbabwe. This year, just in time for Christmas, the Mandanari Scout Band and Bakoteh National Scout Band in Gambia were brought the gift of music!
Paul Andrews, owner of Brass Toff, said, ‘We are proud to have the opportunity to transform the lives of so many children and young people… We have heard what a positive effect our gift of music has brought, not only to the children but the whole communities in which they live. ’
Some of the donated instruments in action
If you would like to help, please contact Brass Toff via email at brasstoff@btconnect. com, or visit their Facebook page. -
Artvark Saxophone Quartet at LMT Big Band
On Wednesday 10th January, the Love Music Trust Big Band were treated to a private performance from Artvark, a saxophone quartet from Holland. Artvark has performed at major international festivals such as The North Sea Jazz Festival, The Cairo Jazz Festival, The Bohemia Jazz Festival in Prague, Jazz Bruges and toured in Ireland, Turkey and South Africa. The session began with a short recital from Artvark’s extensive repertoire, including some really exciting arrangements of pieces by South African composers, and several of their own compositions. One of the highlights was ‘Breathe In, Breathe Out’, in which the players used their saxophone keys as pitched percussion.
-
Barlines: The Half-Termly Newsletter From The LMT
View this email in your browser
The Newsletter from the Love Music Trust
LMT would like to wish everyone a
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
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
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. -
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. -
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.