Herts Music Service news

The Time Tunnel Exhibition at the Bowes Lyon Centre, Stevenage

2012-05-24T10:20:29Z

Hertfordshire Music Service and Youth Connexions Hertfordshire have been awarded £7,300 by the Heritage Lottery Fund to work with a group of young people from the Bowes Lyon Centre to create an exhibition of photographs, newspaper articles, old posters and other memorabilia celebrating the rich musical history of the centre.

During the 1960s and 1970s, the Bowes Lyon Centre was the largest youth centre in Europe. Bowes encouraged new talent including 999, John Mayall and the Blues Breakers, The Troggs, Caravan, Simon & Garfunkel, Status Quo and The Who. In the 1980s and 1990s The Bleach Boys, UK Decay, Bad Brains, Scum of Toytown (recently reformed to perform at Rhythms of the World 2011), Johnny Thunders (New York Dolls),The Cranberries and Johnny Cooper Clarke also performed there. Memorable promoters included Alternative Muzik and Thee Klub Wiv No Name,

The young people are requesting anyone who has a story about attending gigs at the Bowes Lyon Centre in the 60’s, 70’s, 80’s and 90’s or have any memorabilia:- tickets, photos, posters etc to contact Chris Strong on 01438 202806 or by email: christopher.strong@hertscc.gov.uk

Mid-Herts Junior Choir on BBC Show!

2012-05-15T09:03:20Z

Mid Herts Junior Choir, conducted by Rachel Dawson featured recently on BBC progamme "Songtree".
Rachel said "They worked very hard and I am extremely proud of them! Enjoy singing along!"
This was a tremendous opportunity and congratulations to Rachel for organising this opportunity for the choir. The episode is available to download from:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/podcasts/series/songtree

Creswick School performs at the Olympic Park

2012-05-15T08:49:42Z

Congratulations to Creswick School who were one of only two primary schools nationally to sing at the Olympic Park as part of the Schools Games. on May 9th. Creswick performed throughout the day with four other schools (2 primary, 3 secondary)

Music Service teacher Joan Wright began an "after- school" club choir at the school in October last year with children from year 2-6 and they have performed alongside Monks Walk School on a few occasions including at the Monk's Walk consortium Christmas concert and also at their school House Music Competition.

The head of music at Monk's Walk, Anna Gower recorded the performances and amongst others, submitted them in a "Musical Futures" competition to sing at the Schools Games on May 9th in the Olympic Park. Well done to all involved on what was a very special event.

Click on the linkt o see the report of the event on BBC news:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/schoolreport/17930413

Hertfordshire Music Service praised in Arts Council Press Release

2012-05-04T10:54:18Z

Today saw the announcement of the new music education hubs with Hertfordshire Music Service being successful in its application to be the Lead Partner for the Hertfordshire Music Education Hub. The Hertfordshire Music Service has also received recognition on the quality of its application on the Arts Council web-site.

The Arts Council Press release also identified some "notable examples of partnership working". Hertfordshire Music Service is one of these. Read the Arts Council Press Release:
http://press.artscouncil.org.uk/Press-Releases/Arts-Council-England-announces-music-education-hubs-629.aspx

Elsewhere on the Arts Council web-site, Hertfordshire Music Service is also used as an example of a Hub in Practice:
http://www.artscouncil.org.uk/funding/apply-for-funding/music-education-hubs/examples-hubs-practice/

The Music Service, its teachers, schools and partners should be justifiably proud that all the work undertaken across the county to deliver and support music education has been recognised in this way.

Music Service secures Lead Partner role in new Music Education Hub

2012-05-04T08:43:10Z

I am delighted to announce that Hertfordshire Music Service's application to lead the new Music Education Hub for Hertfordshire has been succesful. The Arts Council have announced this morning that we will be one of 122 Music Education Hubs across the country that will deliver on the ambitions of the National Music Plan and within the framework and spirit of partnership required by the Hub.

This is a very significant development for us, as it gives us a three year framework in which to build, develop and transform the way we deliver music to our schools and communities. Thanks must go to all out partners including our schools that made our application a successful one. Recognition must also be given to Hertfordshire County Council who committed to the three year application with not only strategic advocacyand endorsement but continued significant financial support.

Congratulations to St Albans Music School Big Band

2012-05-03T12:13:27Z

Congratulations to St Albans Music School Big Band who have made it through to the Finals of the “Music for Youth Big Band Competition”

Directed by Duncan Fraser, the band will travel to the Adrian Boult Hall in Birmingham on Saturday 7^th July and will be up against the best Music Service Big Bands in the country. It will be an exciting day listening to the other groups and being marked by top professional jazz musicians. Let's hope they do well.

Royal Albert Hall Hertfordshire Schools' Gala Tickets - Sunday 13th May 2012

2012-04-26T15:49:50Z

Royal Albert Hall Sunday 13th May 2012

Featuring the Hertfordshire Schools’ Symphony

Orchestra, County Youth Brass and massed choir of Hertfordshire primary schools

Conductors: John Brennan, Paul Fisher & Rufus Frowde

www.royalalberthall.com

Royal Albert Hall, Kensington Gore, London SW7 2AP

Ticket BOX OFFICE 0207 589 8212 or online

- £28 Grand Tier / Loggia / Second Tier boxes
(All tickets in boxes sold individually at £28 each)

- £20 Stalls (further tickets available on 01727 860941 ext 2) / £16 Circle / £10 Restricted View

Please note a £2 booking fee per ticket plus 2% charge of the total booking applies for telephone and on line bookings

Please note that for group bookings (categorised as 10+ tickets) the £2.00 per ticket levy will be modified and a cap of £20.00 introduced in its place. The £20.00 cap will be in addition to the 2% charge of the total transaction value.

Summer Term Begins!

2012-04-17T14:43:32Z

Welcome back to all those returning to schools and music centres. The Easter holidays were a busy time once again for the County Youth Music Groups. The County Youth Orchestra, conducted by Peter Stark gave a rousing performance of Brahms' 3rd Symphony at the Royal Academy of Music in London, whilst Hertfordshire Wind Sinfonia delivered a stunning concert at the Clarendon Muse in a concert that included a wide variety of music ranging from Shostakovich's Festive Overture to Eric Whitacre's Godzilla eats Las Vegas. Hertfordshire Schools' Symphony Orchestra meanwhile spent their course preparing for the Hertfordshire Schools' Gala at the Royal Albert Hall on May 13th. Tickets can still be purchased by contacting the County Activities Team at St Albans Music School on 01727 860941 and selecting extension 2 when prompted.

We are eagerly awaiting the outcome of our application for Lead Partner status for the Hertfordshire Music Education Hub which we expect to be announced on May 4th. This will be a major announcement and will give the Music Service and its partners a financial framework for the next three years, if successful.

Until then, the priority is to continue with our substantial programme of tuition and activities and begin to plan with our schools and other partners programmes of work for the forthcoming 2012/13 academic year as well as in the short term prepare ourselves for all the additional events that will take place to celebrate London 2012. Happy music making!

School music lessons: Not enough music, says Ofsted....

2012-03-02T12:53:51Z

Not enough music, says Ofsted

There is not enough music in music lessons in many schools in England, say Ofsted inspectors.

In some lessons, teachers do not play or sing a single note, according to a report looking at music education as a whole.

Inspectors found girls were twice as likely as boys to take part in extra-curricular music in primary schools. For more information click here on the BBC website: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-17226187

Royal Albert Hall Gala - Buy tickets now!

2012-02-27T12:12:32Z

Sunday 13th May 2012 will see the Royal Albert Hall host two performances of the Hertfordshire Schools' Gala. This musical celebration will bring together over 2,500 children from schools right across the county and will showcase the committment and quality that our schools give to music making.

Tickets have been on sale for a couple of weeks and are selling well, but there is still time to book seats. So if you have a child involved in a performance or would simply like to experience massed children's choirs in this iconic London venue, then contact the Royal Albert Hall box office: www.royalalberthall.com or call them on 0207 589 8212

In the meantime don't miss out on the wealth of concerts being presented by our music centres at the end of this term as well as the County concerts across the Easter holidays. Select the music centre of your choice or "County Activities" from the left hand menu on the home page for more details.