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West Midlands
Regional Development e-bulletin |
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July 2008
Dear Arts Workers,
STOP PRESS!
We need your details by August 15 for the next Concert Diary, which will be sent with Network and appear on our new web site.
We need events post-1st September including those which appear in the current edition of the Concert Diary.
We require the following information, in this order: Date (inc. day),
Time, Town, (and venue separately), Organising group, Programme details
(in brief), Conductor, Performing group/ accompaniment/ soloists, and
Contact or Box Office Phone No.
If you have any questions contact Sue Peters on  0121 453 2898 or email.
Thanks!
Now for my message:
My highlights are many, including Phone Surgeries in July, and the Semele workshop
being put on with help from our Small Training Grants. So if you
missed our fabulous Verdi experience, read on to find out more. I’ve
included some more on arts networks and the Cultural Olympiad, plus
loads on youth arts work.
Thanks,
Micaela Schmitz, West Midlands Regional Development Officer |
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| Introduction |
| Micaela Schmitz, RDO |
If
you are aware of any West Midlands members not receiving this
publication, or if other members of your group would like to be
included on the circulation list, please contact me via email .
What this publication is:
Monthly news to keep you in the loop… from the West Midlands
This
is the July 2008 edition of West Midlands Regional Development
e-bulletin, the monthly email bulletin for all Making Music
members. Its purpose is for me, your Regional Development Officer
to inform you about things that just can't wait until Network comes out.
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| Making Music Events, including... |
| Green Surgeries |
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'Green Surgeries' by Phone with your RDO Mon. July 7, Wed. July 9, and Fri. July 11
I
will not give advice on public transport or composting, but I will be
available at the end of the phone to help you with your music
group!
Note: People should book ahead (by ringing or emailing)
so I can do a bit of research ahead of time and to ensure I won't be on
the phone already with someone else. To book visit the website. Click here to find out more. |
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Verdi Success
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at Birmingham Symphony Hall
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Verdi
was a lot of fun and Marie Curie Cancer Care did well also, collected
about £138 in bucket collections. Congratulations to Mike Lloyd, Chandos Symphony Orchestra, our fabulous choir and the soloists. I hope to have a few video clips from rehearsals on our website soon.
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Small Grants
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and Semele workshop run by Operamus
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Operamus offers Workshop on Handel’s Semele 4-7 September, at Birmingham Conservatoire (Friday evening 4 September –Sunday 7 September with 3pm performance)
Artistic
Director: Richard Laing (Operamus, Birmingham Conservatoire); Director:
Annette Thompson (Guildhall School of Music and Drama),
Conductor: Daniele Rosina (Birmingham Conservatoire, University
of Birmingham). Including chorus workshops with special guests
Christine Cairns and Rita Cullis. £50 fee covers all workshops. 20%
discount for groups of 5 or more. 10% discount for individuals booking
by end of July. Apply for a place to Karen Wise on 0121 427 8033 or email.
Above
is the result of just one of our group's work. So far I’ve
embarked on a range of meetings or have set up meetings with all of our
7 grants recipients.
Operamus- I’ve observed
soloist auditions (now most roles are cast) and attended two meetings
on the ‘Semele Workshop’ (see above). I’ve provided contacts for
promotion of the workshop to chorus members, and sent news of it to the
Staffordshire Choirs Network.
Meeting in July with Bromyard and District Choral Society and Local and Live to discuss plans. We hope to have a meeting set soon with Midlands Festival Chorus.
Solihull Symphony Orchestra-
after an initial meeting, the group are thinking about how to plan a
large meeting at their group to identify people’s skills, contacts, and
ideas.
With a group of four members from Windmill Singers, we are now downloading trial software for four different types of scanning and music notation.
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Arts Networks
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in Coventry and Evesham, and for jazz enthusiasts
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--Meetings in Coventry
All
Tuesdays 6:30-8:30pm at the Herbert Art Gallery, Coventry
on 12 August, 14 October, and 9 December (with the popular ‘show
and tell’ format.)
--Artists Networking Meetings Continue in Vale of Evesham
I
attended the second meeting of the Vale of Evesham Network of Artists
on 19th June. It was a useful meeting as people appreciated
making contact. It's in the early stages where those who attended
discussed what they want out of the group. The next is Thursday
September 18 at 7:15pm, Venue TBC. Ring Jenny Davis, Arts Officer on 01386 565396 or email.
--Warwick District Arts Consortium Website Is Now Live
Visit their website. The website lists organisations in the district.
--MU Offers Free Networking
‘Network-Musician’ Fri 11 July, 5-8pm at the Wine Republic, Centenary Square, Birmingham
hosted
by MU jazz and Bham int'l jazz festival; forum is free to all
musicians, promoters, or anyone involved with music. This event has a
jazz tinge.
Network Musician is a new initiative where six
areas will get a meeting per quarter. Again it’s
free. Two sites in the West Midlands include Stoke College
(2 September and 2 December) and Cox’s Yard in Stratford (21 October,
20 January). All meetings are 4-6pm so you can enjoy a drink and
still have the evening ahead of you. For more info. email or ring 0121 6223870.
--New Arts Officer In Worcestershire
A
warm welcome to Stephen Wilson, the new (full time) County Arts Officer
for Worcestershire. He has a Project Support Assistant, Sue
Church, who works on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Many thanks to
Manda Graham who keep things going in the interim period. Stephen
can be reached at 01905 765754 or via email.
--Mapping of Staffordshire and Stoke
Local
authorities in Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent have recently completed
a 'music mapping' exercise, to provide a contemporary 'map' of music
provision across the sub-region – not a geographical map, but a
plotting of what music is happening, and where.
I had a look and
you may find the festival, venue, group, and recording studio
information useful- I did just for the list of arts officers! Visit
their website.
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| Member Group Vacancies |
| and positions filled |
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What to Pay:
Have
a look at the Incorporated Society of Musicians Website- they have a
survey listing what people have been paid in the past. Their
information sheets are free. Visit their website.
I will list your vacancy- but I would like you to tell me when you find someone- and announce it on your websites…!
Conductor sought by the Phoenix Singers of Shrewsbury
(40 members) from September 2009, on retirement of Richard White after
40 years with the choir. Wide-ranging repertoire – sacred and secular;
a cappella and with orchestra; new commissions; overseas tours.
Further information + application form from Tony & Averil Newell
(joint chairpersons) 25 Belle Vue Gardens, Shrewsbury SY3 7JG (send
S.A.E) or from website.
Ceramic City Choir, who listed their vacancy here, has found a new musical director, Oliver Neal Parker.
Warwick and Kenilworth Choral Society has found a new director, Andrew Jones, who will take over from Ronald Binnie starting January 2009.
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Tips
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on studios, charity links, business sponsorship and more
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--An Historic Recording Studio in Handsworth, Birmingham
has
been reinvented as a community based centre for music and arts
technology. The not-for-profit Centre in Grosvenor Road…has a
range of facilities including three recording studios, a video-editing
suite, meeting rooms and offices. Visit their website. [from Birmingham Post June 16, 2008]
--Charity Links Bring New Audiences
A
request for help- there was a Making Music member group, who came up
with the idea of tying a concert in with a charity. E.g. we give them
10 free tickets, which they sell and keep the money. We get 10
more in the audience and extra publicity. Does anyone know about this?
We have one idea below but I want to hear more…
Sue Peters writes:
The Sinfonia of Birmingham has been offering 30-50 Charity
tickets for each of the CBSO Centre Concerts for the last few years and
many £100s have been raised by the charities concerned. It's not
certain if this has encouraged more to attend further concerts, but it
indicates a support for other charities and gives people who wouldn't
normally attend a concert a chance to have this experience.
--Briefings are available to download from the Voluntary Arts England website:
115 - Attracting Business Sponsors
116 - Trustees and Fundraising
Click here.
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| External Events/News |
| caveat emptor! |
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--Come Sing Mozart with the Needwood Singers.
'Come
and Sing' on Saturday 5th July at St James' Church, Barton under
Needwood. The work being performed will be the Mozart
'Requiem'. Contact Fiona Shaw Telephone 01889 560130. email -From Staffordshire Choirs Network
--New Child Protection Laws For 2009
The
creation of the Independent Safeguarding Authority (ISA) is part of the
biggest overhaul of vetting and barring arrangements ever undertaken in
this country. From 12 Oct 2009, anyone employed or volunteering
to work with children or vulnerable people must apply to be registered
with the ISA, in addition to the existing CRB checks. After this
date it will be a criminal offence to employ anyone to work with
children or vulnerable adults who is not registered. Applicants (apart
from volunteers) must pay a one-off fee of £64 to register (£28 for
registration with ISA and £36 for an enhanced CRB check).
--posted by Music Leader, June 2008
[ Micaela
writes: Well, any improvement on the current system would be
welcomed. What’s not clear is whether you can then take your CRB
check and move from county to county without having to have it redone.
We watch with interest…]
--National Children’s Orchestra Announces Auditions
The
National Children’s Orchestra of Great Britain is inviting the cream of
the nation’s young musical talent to join its ranks in 2009. Children
aged 7-13 are invited to apply. Auditions are from October this year at
23 UK centres. Click here. ring 01934 418855 or email.
--Marching Youth Music Month
July
is Marching Youth Music Month. Marching youth bands - traditional and
contemporary - throughout the country will be celebrating throughout
July. For more details click here.
--European Youth Music Week, Stourbridge 2- 9th August 2008
Provides
an informal opportunity for European musicians aged 16 to 26 to meet
and play. Still recruiting for the following instruments: tuba, bass
trombone, double bass, viola, cello and bassoon. Visit their website for further information.
–[ last three listings borrowed from Becky Stickland’s excellent Making Music East Midlands e-bulletin.]
--Green Paper On Volunteering Is Available For View. Click here.
I
am being asked to read it and will be commenting on it as part of my
role with the England Volunteering Development Council-West Midlands in
early July. It’s 86 pages! |
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Funding and Advice
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| for all ages |
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--Vcashpoint - New Round Announced
Funds
for 16-25 year olds in England who want to set up their own
volunteering project in their community... up to £2,500.
Deadline: 18 July 2008; project must start 26 September –
26 December 2008 [posted at Voluntary Arts Network 13 June] Click here.
--Age Concern
Any
voluntary or charitable club for older people whose charitable
objectives are similar to those of Age Concern England, is eligible,
and whose annual turnover is less than £50,000 per annum can apply for
up to £500 for equipment. Click here.
TRUSTHOUSE
CHARITABLE FOUNDATION GRANTS PROGRAMME invites charities and not for
profit organisations that are active in the fields of Health Care and
Disability; Community Support and the Arts and Education to apply for
one off funding. Grants of up to £10,000 and the Large Grant Scheme
that offers grants of between £10,000 and £30,000. Click here.
CULTURAL OLYMPIAD UPDATE
As previously mentioned, applications are now open to be part of the Cultural Olympiad in every UK region and nation. Click here.
Contact the West Midlands Creative Programmer, Paul Kaynes who can
offer feedback on ideas, and explain the application process. Email him.
BBC
Big Screen/ Live Sites will set up across the country (including
Birmingham and Manchester). At each location on 24 August
for the handover ceremony, a choir will lead the public in shared song.
(Applications are closed now). Each Live Site is organising a menu of
community events in addition to 10 minutes of singing. This
continues after August.
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Web Updates
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in the regon and for concert promoters
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Our new revamped regional website is available for your enjoyment here.
We have made a big effort to make it easy for groupsto find each other,
and to make it easy for you to see what services our regional network
can provide.
All our publications are there and some great photos at the ‘Music in the Region’ page. Have a play! Also see the website for all concert promoters in our organisation. Visit their website.
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| Your News |
Micaela Schmitz
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Lastly,
but certainly not least, if there is anything which you would like to
share with other members around the region through the e-bulletin,
please do get in touch: 01386 859648 or email.
Making Music, the National Federation of Music Societies.
A company limited by guarantee. Registered in England no. 308632 Registered Charity no. 249219 and in Scotland no. SC038849
2-4 Great Eastern Street, London EC2A 3NW. Tel 0870 903 3780. |
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