Tag: music

Edinburgh goes Dutch: free concert

KJO_flyerEdinburgh30April2013

An outstanding youth orchestra from the Netherlands – the KJO – will perform a varied and entertaining programme of popular, classical and film music in Edinburgh next Tuesday (30 April). The orchestra will be joined by young talented soloists from China, Azerbaijan and The Netherlands at the free concert.

The Kennemer Youth Orchestra (Kennemer Jeugd Orkest / KJO), directed by Matthijs Broers, ranks high amongst youth symphony orchestras in The Netherlands. Rooted in the Classic/Romantic repertoire, the orchestra is also known for its more adventurous programming including film music as well as participating in crossover projects incorporating ballet, the visual arts and pop music. Currently seventy young people from the Haarlem area, between the ages of fourteen and twenty-two, join together to perform in an orchestra of exceptional musical quality and youthful exuberance.

Each Spring the orchestra goes on concert tour to a foreign destination – the highlight of the season for the young musicians; performing in front of these audiences but also coming into contact with the local musicians is both memorable and educational. Social interaction through the universal medium of music is essential in the development of young people. These concerts are well attended and appreciated by audiences and critics. The tour destination for 2012 was the Loire and Bordeaux regions of France. This year, from 27 April to 1 May 2013, the orchestra will perform in Newcastle, Glasgow and Edinburgh. The programme includes:

• Nabucco, Overture | Giuseppe Verdi
• Piano Concerto No. 25 in C major, KV 503 | Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
• Finders Keepers Suite | John Treherne
• Ballade Opus 4 for Cello and Orchestra | Reinhold Glière
• Pezzo Capriccioso for Cello and Orchestra | Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky
• Pirates of the Caribbean 3: At World’s End | Hans Zimmer

The Edinburgh performance – at the Reid Concert Hall – is a FREE CONCERT.
Free tickets are available on the door or book via EventBrite.

For more information visit www.kennemerjeugdorkest.nl

orchestra

Love music? Sing out at community choir!

Edinburgh’s largest community choir is about to take shape in a new collaboration between Love Music Productions and the Usher Hall. Love Music Community Choir hopes to attract 250 enthusiastic singers to Edinburgh’s premier concert hall. The first choir session takes place on Tuesday 5 February.

The choir is open to anyone who wants and loves to sing. There are no auditions and no age restrictions (although anyone under 16 must be accompanied by an adult). Everyone is welcome, whether complete beginners or regular crooners.

A range of music will be enjoyed and programming will reflect the broad presentation of concerts at the Usher Hall. World, jazz, classical, rock and indie, folk, gospel, opera and all things in-between.

Councillor Richard Lewis, Convenor of Culture & Leisure commented: “I’m sure there are lots of would-be singers in Edinburgh who would really enjoy this opportunity to come out and join in. So I hope they won’t be shy but take the first step and get in touch”.

Love Music Director and the choir’s conductor, Stephen Deazley said: “We’re delighted that the Usher Hall is joining with us in this exciting new project, opening up this wonderful venue to the people of Edinburgh so that we can sing together and inspire each other with amazing music”.

The choir will meet every Tuesday with the first meeting taking place on Tuesday 5 February from 7pm – 9pm.

For further details and to register, visit www.choir.lovemusic.org.uk

12.12.12 The Twelve Songs of Christmas Quiz

Get into the Christmas spirit with our seasonal song quiz!

Below you’ll find the initials to the words in the first lines of twelve popular Christmas songs. Can you work out the first line and the song title? There’s a possibly half-eaten selection box for one lucky winner – you’ve got twelve days to get your entries in. Good luck!

  1. I D O A W C
  2. O L T O B
  3. A R O H F I T S
  4. O T F D O C
  5. T S T B S A C
  6. O C A Y F
  7. Y B W O
  8. W W I T A
  9. T M I R
  10. T T I A H T N A H
  11. L T A I B
  12. W T S B T S
'I think I know number four ...'
‘I think I know number four …’

 

 

Choirs to sing out at Sainsbury’s!

seasonsgreetingsFancy some seasonal sounds while you do your Christmas shopping? Sainsbury’s Blackhall will ring out with all your festive favourites with visits planned by three different choirs in the run-up to Christmas!

A spokesperson said: “We are delighted to welcome some members of the congregation of our local Church, Blackhall St Columba’s, to our store on Sunday (9 December) at 2pm to sing carols for our customers and colleagues. We are also looking forward to a visit from Stockbridge Primary School choir, who will be singing for us on Wednesday 12 December at 4pm, and the Edinburgh Jubilio Choir on Tuesday 18 December at 6pm.”

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Anti-fascism festival at Summerhall this Saturday

Edinburgh Unite Against Fascism proudly presents this Saturday (24 November):

the Love Multiculture Hate Racism Festival

celebrating our multi-cultural society with music, song, dance and comedy.

The festival line-up just gets better and better. In the last week we have confirmed: Bollywood dancers, award winning singer Penny Stone, an Indian Stick Dancer, acoustic sets from James Campbell & Scottish folk singer Eileen Penman.

The daytime cultural event will start at 3pm with jazz from Alistair McDonald backed by “Quatro Macjazz”! Between 3 and 7pm we will squeeze in a packed lineup including an African choir, Indian and Kurdish dance workshops, Indian head massage, drummers, Henna Hand painting and speeches by Show Racism the Red Card and Martin Smith from Unite Against Fascism.

Asian and Turkish food, tea and coffee and entry is by donation.

The comedy packed evening will start with the BAFTA nominated rapper Northern Xposure who has performed with Dizzee Rascal and Amy Winehouse. Then Scottish Comedian of the Year runner up Rick Molland will MC a night of four rowdy
comedians, headlined by “the lord of filth” Richard Coughlan. Your entry fee of £5 includes a free curry courtesy of the Kasbah restaurant and there will be an all-night bar. Doors open at 7.30pm, the event starts at 8pm.

Both these events will be hosted at the Summerhall Art Gallery which is showing a great exhibition of anti-racist posters. Entry from Hope Park Terrace – we apologise but there is no wheelchair access.

Facebook event: please invite your friends!: http://www.facebook.com/events/482507955105412/

United Against Fascism Edinburgh

City of Edinburgh Music School Open Day this Saturday

The City of Edinburgh Music School at Broughton High School, East Fettes Avenue will throw open it’s doors on Saturday (3 November) to welcome people in to see for themselves what makes this renowned school so popular and successful. Between 10.30 and 12.30 students, staff and parents will be on hand to answer questions and demonstrate various activities that take place throughout a normal week.

The City of Edinburgh Music School is unique. It is the only specialist Music School that covers the whole age range from 4 to 19 and is totally funded by the Scottish Government, so it does not charge any fees. Entry is by audition and the gifted children selected receive specialist tuition in all aspects of music while based full-time at newly built state-of-the-art facilities in Flora Stevenson Primary and Broughton High Schools.

The school was selected to become the first UK All Steinway School of Excellence in the UK and has 25 Steinway pianos – at least one in every teaching space. There are also professional standard recording studios, rehearsal rooms and performance spaces seating up to 500.

Students from the school were recently invited to perform at the 2012 Olympic Celebrations in London, accompany the National Youth Orchestra of Iraq’s first British tour with Julian Lloyd Webber, take part in both the International and Fringe Festival and have also been featured on national radio and television programmes!

Sir Simon Rattle, CBE is the patron of the Music School. Financial assistance is given for travel if students live further afield, and there is also a trust fund to provide scholarships and resources for specialist music students.

With all the advantages of expert individual tuition and the social mix of a large, successful state school – each child’s gift for music is developed in a well-balanced and happy environment.

 

For more information contact:

Tudor Morris (Director) 0131 332 7805

www.edinburghmusicschool.co.uk

musicschool@broughton.edin.sch.uk

Mela’s G-Code crew launch album

Edinburgh Mela is based at North Edinburgh Arts Centre, and the organisation has been working with young people in North Edinburgh on various projects that were first performed at the Mela festival in September. The Mela’s G-Code project has been running on Thursday evenings, working with young local musicians on developing new music.

The G-Code project has flourished over the past few months with the young people taking part in a variety of performances including performing alongside Tinderbox Orchestra at the Dalai Lama’s World Peace event.

The participants also wrote and produced two tracks – ‘Inner Peace’ and ‘Journey’ – and the young musicians showcased their musical achievements at North Edinburgh Arts Centre last Friday where they hosted an album launch, music event and exhibition before being interviewed by young people from Muirhouse Youth Development Group.

For more information about the Mela G-Code project contact Angela on 0131 315 2151.

Peking University Orchestra visits Botanics

The Peking University Chinese Music Institute Chinese Orchestra is visiting Scotland this month, under the auspices of the Confucius Institute for Scotland. As well as educational events, the orchestra will be giving two FREE public concerts tonight and tomorrow.

Monday 10 September – Chamber Concert at Reid Hall 8pm

The first formal concert takes place on tonight in the Reid Concert Hall, Bristo Place. This will be a concert of traditional Chinese chamber music performed by musicians from the Chinese Music Institute within Peking University in association with the Reid School of Music, University of Edinburgh.

Tuesday 11 September – Orchestral Concert in Canongate Kirk 7pm

Taking place in the Canongate Kirk, this concert ‘The Sound of China’ will see the 60 strong Chinese Orchestra joined by a children’s choir, pipers and traditional musicians from North and East Ayrshire and North Lanarkshire schools.

For information about ticket availabilty go to www.confuciusinstitute.ac.uk/silk/director.php

The group is pictured during a visit to the Botanic Gardens earlier today

Broughton welcomes Iraqi Youth Orchestra

Broughton High School welcomed the National Youth Orchestra of Iraq yesterday.

Tudor Morris, who is Director of The City of Edinburgh Music School based at Broughton, explained: “This is the orchestra’s first ever visit to the UK, where they are performing at the  Edinburgh Festival with Julian Lloyd Webber, Khyam Allami and players from the Edinburgh Youth Orchestra, conducted by Paul MacAlindin.

“The National Youth Orchestra of Iraq is a remarkable project set up by a brave 17-year-old Iraqi, Zuhal Sultan, just four years ago. Although many musicians had fled the country during the war, Zuhal was determined to create a national youth orchestra, which has since enjoyed great success in Iraq and abroad.

They were featured in a Channel 4 documentary last week and have been on several news programmes this week, and we are delighted to welcome them to Broughton.”

The Iraqis are spending three weeks working with the Edinburgh Youth Orchestra
before the 26 August concert at Greyfriars Kirk. They will join cellist
Julian Lloyd Webber and their repertoire will include a concerto by Scottish composer Gordon McPherson.

Find out more at www.nyoiraq.com.