Hampshire Music

Education Hub HUB Newsletter 11 Spring 2017

Welcome...... Happy New Year! 2017 starts with the fantastic news that the Music Education Hub was shortlisted as one of the seven hubs in the Music Education Council Music Education Awards 2016. This is testament to the superb work of all Hampshire Hub Partners and to the great musical opportunities that are available for all Hampshire’s children and young people. The shortlisting panel cited the following as evidence for their decision:

We especially liked the impressive use of the hub’s significant resources, to do more, The Schools’ Award Scheme has better, sustainably. A huge range and begun for primary, secondary and number of quality partners leads to special schools across Hampshire continuing work with Travellers, with looked As part of the Chairman’s Year of Music an after children, and with other disadvantaged award scheme has been launched to celebrate groups. Elsewhere we picked out, from a music activities in Hampshire schools. Schools swathe of activity, a composition are encouraged to take part by submitting simple competition. And we much liked a creative Music Logs for each half term in 2016/17. technology project. Certificates are awarded each half term and awards presented to the top five in each The overall winner of the category: KS1, KS2, Secondary and Special, at Music Education Awards 2016 the end of the year. There is also a Special awards will be announced in Recognition category February at the Music Education for those extra-special Expo 2017 music stories. Is your school taking part? Jill Larner, Head of Hampshire Music Service Get in touch with us. / Please see our website for news and forthcoming events: www.hantsmusichub.org.uk Working for the benefit of all our partner organisations. Contact us with your news, comments and suggestions: [email protected] , facebook.com/hantsmusichub, @HantsMusicHub

www.hants.gov.uk Partnership news & events across Hampshire

The Hampshire County Youth Show

Choir’s debut attracts a special VIP Winchester’s Great Hall came alive with the sound of the brand new Show Choir on Friday 14 October, singing songs from well-known musicals. The audience included West End legend Lord Andrew Lloyd-Webber, the champion of the Hampshire Music Education Hub. The evening was the second of eight key events for the Chairman’s Year of Music. Nearly 50 members of this new choir were joined by singers from , Bishop Challoner School, Hamble Community College, , The Hurst Community College, Lord Andrew Lloyd-Webber with the Chairman of HCC and Westgate School. The programme was complemented by Kingsclere Singers. Chairman of Hampshire County Council, Councillor Keith

Chapman MBE said: “I thoroughly enjoyed the evening. The standard of the performances was very impressive indeed. It’s been the high point so far of my ‘Year of Music’ - especially seeing the new Show Choir performing for the first time. They sounded marvellous, and it was a great experience for them to perform alongside an experienced choir like Kingsclere Singers. The Show Choir is an exciting new opportunity for young people to explore a style of music that many of them are passionate about. Like all the choirs and ensembles run by our Music Service, it’s a fun environment to really stretch and challenge musical thinking, team-work and performing skills. Music benefits young people in so many ways – and that’s why our Music Service is such a valuable asset to Hampshire’s school pupils.” An The Show Choir audience of more than 200 people enjoyed the concert programme, which included a wide range of songs from West End musicals such as Les Miserables, The Lion King, Wicked, Sister Act, We Will Rock You, Jersey Boys, Sweet Charity and Chicago. Two female soloists stole the show, one being an ex-member of the Hampshire County Youth Choirs, Gina Beck, who has performed in the West End in shows such as Wicked, Phantom of the Opera and Showboat. The other was Romsey school student Suzanne Poole, who sang tunes from My Fair Lady and The Phantom of the Opera. Lord Andrew Lloyd-Webber congratulated a thrilled Suzanne after her performance. An unforgettable evening for all involved and the first of many more performances of the new County Youth Show Choir. More members are welcome to join the Show Choir, conducted by music theatre specialists Kim Seagrove and Kerry Kenward.

Suzanne Poole

Partnership news & events across Hampshire

County youth bands and orchestra play to audiences in central and eastern Europe Hampshire County Youth Orchestra led the way, travelling to Hungary in late July. One of their final concerts in Budapest was attended by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office’s Deputy Head of Mission in Budapest, Caitlin Jones who said “The audience was blown away. I wish I had known how good they were going to be!”. The Hampshire County Training Band and County Junior Band followed with their trip through Alsace in France and the Black Forest region in Germany. A great time was had by all and more international tours are being planned through 2017.

A new composition, Ambition, the

Musical, is commissioned and launches with the first auditions and workshops Young Hampshire performers from years 10 - 14 were invited to the first auditions for the lead roles and chorus at Hub Partner New Theatre Royal, Portsmouth, for this new musical . It explores the theme of what people are willing to give up in order to fulfil their dreams through the rise of a new boy band. It follows the story of their intertwined successes and failures, before tragedy strikes, leading them to question their role in celebrity, pop culture, and the wider world. It’s a unique project with lots of creative opportunities and collective ownership, with lead roles for both genders. Playwright Zella Compton and composer and Hampshire Music Service teacher David Cefai of The Sea Slugs have produced the core material. More auditions are planned in mid January, so get in touch - visit the Facebook page (Musical Theatre Project: Hampshire Music Service) for more details and use the ’Sign Up’ button to download the application form.

Festive celebrations by special school pupils light up Winchester Cathedral for Christmas Over 230 children from 16 special schools and schools with special units across Hampshire joined together for a festive musical celebration at Hub Partner Winchester Cathedral on Friday 2 December 2016. This annual event, organised by Hampshire County Council’s Music Service, re-tells the nativity story with a modern twist, combining traditional Christmas carols with modern songs as well as readings by the schoolchildren. The service began with a procession of banners representing all the schools taking part. Children and helpers dressed as angels carried candles to the altar. The service continued in themed sections with the children in costumes processing as innkeepers, shepherds and kings with other Christmas symbols. Music was provided by the Baycroft School Brass Band, the Hampshire County Junior Choir and Hampshire Music Service Hub Scholar soloist Connor Bates, on Cello. Longdown Activity Farm supported the event by bringing miniature donkeys Max and Ruby (pictured) to the event to support the Christmas storytelling. Published 04.01.2017 Partnership news & events across Hampshire

Bitesize Hub Highlights The year of the keyboards… Penultimate concert for The Big Band Jazz Project… Masterclass sessions with Anthony CYoM key events… An amazing opportunity for Williams are happening in February.  Sunday 19 March grade/stage 5 - 8 players to Soon there are workshop days for The Anvil, Basingstoke take part in workshops with the beginners to grade/stage 3: County Youth Orchestra London City Big Band and form  Sunday 19 March, and 300 singers - Carl two big bands themselves.  Sunday 30 April, Aldershot Orff’s Carmina Burana Date for the diary: 11.03.17

First and Early Access ensembles for new learners spring up across Hampshire To encourage more instrumental pupils to embark on an ensemble journey new ensembles are being setup in 2016/17. These are for pupils who have been learning for at least one (first access) or two terms (early access). These include string, full orchestral instrument groups and keyboards are welcome in one group. They are a great way of boosting a pupil’s learning, an opportunity to make new friends and have fun. The four new ensembles are:

 Alton First Access Hampshire Music Youth Forum All orchestral instruments Hub Partner Thornden Hall hosted the launch and Tuesdays during term time first meeting of the Hampshire Music Youth Forum 4.30 - 5.30pm, Music dept. on Monday 12 December 2016. Supporting the ‘youth voice’ campaign drive of the Chairman’s  Andover First Access Year of Music the forum will allow improved All orchestral instruments inc. keyboards engagement and feedback from the young people Tuesdays during term time of Hampshire. Nearly 30 founding members 4 - 5pm, Portway Junior Sch nominated by ensemble directors across area and  Basingstoke Early Access Strings county ensembles, seen as role models, will be Strings only involved in tasks and events in 2017 onwards. The Tuesdays during term time Youth Forum will serve as a valuable legacy of the 4.45 - 5.45pm, Queen Mary’s College 2016/17 campaign and will look for the members to shape its direction, supporting events, marketing  Havant First Access themselves and networking with young people to All orchestral instruments Mondays during term time ensure we are ever focussed on what they want 3.45 - 4.45pm, St Alban’s Primary Sch and need. The hard work begins in January!

Endangered Species instruments continue to be supported across Hampshire ensembles for beginners Nearly all the places on the scheme have been successfully taken up in its second year. Instruments include low brass, low strings, orchestral percussion, bassoon and bass guitars. Instrument hire and lessons are free for the first year to encourage uptake, boosting numbers for area and county ensembles. There are eleven sessions in total held by staff from six ensemble pyramids across the county. Last year’s pupils are continuing into their second year with free instrument hire and are regularly taking part in ensemble rehearsals.

Thank you for your interest in Hub activities. Look out for the next newsletter in the Summer term Making Music Together – Participate, Enjoy, Achieve! Tel: 023 8065 2037 Fax: 023 8061 8241 Email: [email protected] www.hants.gov.uk/hms