Here’s our latest round-up of positive stories relating to music education and music in general. We also cover anything else other music teachers might find of interest.
What links Mozart, President Thomas Jefferson, Rachmaninoff, Edgar Allan Poe and the helicopter?
Classic FM covered the extraordinary and moving story of Aboud Kaplo, a self-taught violinist who fled Syria to Lebanon, met a musician from Oxford University and was loaned a rather special violin, and has now secured a scholarship with the Sydney Youth Orchestra.
Congratulations Drake Music and No Label Arts, whose “Preston All-Stars music-makers project” – a music tech project for young people – has secured funding through the Co-Operative Foundation‘s Building Connections Fund Youth strand.
A total of £1.5m of grants have been awarded by the Foundation to 144 organisations through the Building Connections Fund Youth strand.
Drake Music are “leaders in music, disability and technology…innovators, educators, curators and advocates.” No Label Arts is a community interest company which “presents visual and performance arts and film by professional artists with disabilities and offer creative skills training for people with disabilities.” We look forward to hearing more details about this initiative.
Y ME? is written “by young people for young people,” and the first issue, covering studying music at University and gaining work experience, is here.
Our great friend Alison Smith is course director of what looks set to be a fantastic event in September, the Cawsand Bay Guitarfest 2019.
Alison, an alumni of Trinity College of Music where she and Claire met, is known as one of the UK’s most exciting and lyrical guitarists. She’s put together a wonderful programme, crammed with opportunities for musical development, but also plenty of fun and time to enjoy this lovely part of the world.
The weekend includes ensemble classes with Alison, a Masterclass with Classic FM chart-topping Craig Ogden, “one of the world’s finest guitarists,” a workshop with the Eden Stell Duo, “internationally renowned for their dynamism, innovation and breathtaking virtuosity,” three professional concerts, dinners and much more. Full details here.
What links Mozart, President Thomas Jefferson, Rachmaninoff, Edgar Allan Poe and the helicopter? Listen to episode one of “James Burke’s Web of Knowledge” to hear Burke join the dots. I caught this 14-minute show on BBC Radio 4 on Monday in one of those serendipitous moments of discovery when you stumble on something you find fascinating. The podcast is available here – well worth a listen.
Voting for the BBC Music Magazine Awards opened this week, “your chance to vote for the best classical recordings from the past year.” You can participate until Tuesday 19 February. Details here.
Reminder…British Youth Music Theatre’s 2019 Audition Tour – taking place in January and February – is open for bookings now. Each year BYMT offers “opportunities to talented young musicians (aged 11-21), who play ANY instrument to a grade 7 standard and above, to play in a pit-band, on-stage band or as an actor-musician.” BYMT is a not-for-profit educational charity. Auditions are three hours long and cost £38 – group discounts are available. Full details.
If there’s something you would like us to cover in Good Music News, please email us.
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