Yorkshire Music: News and Updates

If you're interested in 'an evening of cool tunes and bluesy grooves', and you happen to be around in Bradford on 21st March, then head for the South Square Centre in one of the city's most historic districts. The Nancy Varo Quartet will be playing, followed by various DJ's. It's a case of come along and bring your own booze - 8pm til late. Call 07722 536948 for more details.

South Square is a visual arts resource centre based within a Grade II listed building in Thornton, Bradford, West Yorkshire. It is home to South Square Gallery, a contemporary art gallery with an exciting programme of exhibitions. The square also incorporates a community space, artists' studios, fine art framer, cafe and exhibition spaces for local artists.

Queensbury Music Festival is a new community festival that will present some of the finest folk artists from across the north of England on the Folk Day - Saturday 7th March 2009 - and will celebrate the wide range of music that originates from the village itself on Sunday 8th March 2009. There will also be plenty of opportunity to get involved on both days with workshops, sing-a-rounds and music sessions. Look forward to seeing you there.

As well as the concerts, we're delighted to be featuring workshops hosted by Tom Bliss (Songwriting), Gerry McNeice (Guitar), Tom Napper (Mandolin) and Crucible (Band Arrangement). There will also be all day sing-a-rounds and music sessions and a range of fantastic real ales from local brewery Old Spot to keep those tonsils lubricated.

The Sunday will Consist of, at 2pm a Harmonica Workshop by
Manchester based international Harmonica Player Mat Walklate. Later on
his Band Kitchen Devils will perform at Queensbury Conservative Club.
Happening around this will be performances by local musicians and
bands cuminating in a performance by Joe Public, the nationally renowned
party band at 9pm.

The aim for Sunday is to give local musicians ( from surrounding areas
not just Queensbury) and bands, especially young people, the
opportunity to perform in public. We aim to put on a battle of the
bands, the winner of which will perform before Joe Public in the Sunday
evening concert.

Yesterday's 'Come and Sing' with the Bradford Festival Choral Society went down a treat. Sally Egan was an extremely charismatic and professional conductor who demonstrated outstanding musicality throughout the day, both in her approach to the material and the manner in which she communicated with the choir. It must be said that her choral and vocal expertise was clearly demonstrated in the results of her efforts during the day: she managed to transform the group's early efforts with the Mozart Coronation Mass with wonderful results. The rehearsal sessions and the concert at the end of the afternoon were accompanied at the piano by BFCS's Musical Director, Tom Leech.

Sally Egan will be giving a soprano solo at the BFCS 'Mediaeval to Modern' concert at Bradford Cathedral on October 31st. She was born in Leeds and educated at Notre Dame High School. She read music at Cambridge University and studied singing in Paris with Maria-Grazia Dilluvio and in London with Lillian Watson. She has sung opera and oratorio all over the world under the baton of many leading conductors including Claudio Abbado, Daniel Harding, William Christie and Pierre Boulez. Sally also specialises in training treble voices. Prior to her appointment in Leeds, she worked as a vocal coach with the choristers of Westminster Cathedral and taught singing to the choristers of Westminster Abbey.

Richard Green (ex Ultrasound/ The Somatics) owns an all analogue studio, based in a mill in Bramley. He's wanting to sell it and move on, the whole thing as one and wanting somebody to hopefully step in and take over from where he left off. It's a commercial working studio.
Please get in touch directly with Richard if you're interested in this business and or please send a link to this webpage to anyone who you think may be interested.

*This message originally sent by Karen Lewis - Music Development Officer for the City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council*

This morning, the TES have published an advert for an exciting vacancy at Mount St Mary's College in Spinkhill (Derbyshire): they are looking for an accomplished organist to join their music department. The job will involve playing for school masses and services, and there may be opportunities for teaching.

Go to www.msmcollege.com for further details.

Bradford Festival Choral Society have organised an excellent 'Come & Sing' event that will be taking place this Saturday (21st February) in Victoria Hall, Saltaire.

Led by the former vocal teacher to Westminister Abbey scholars, Sally Egan, the event will feature excerpts from John Rutter's Requiem, Haydn's Creation and the Coronation Mass by Mozart. Registration is at Victoria Hall at 12:30. There'll be a vocal workshop and rehearsal from 1pm until 5pm, then after a thirty minute break there will be a free performance of the music that the group rehearsed during the day.

Bradford Festival Choral Society's leaflet for the event is punctuated by a series of phrases that sum up expectations for the event: "Learn from an Expert", "Perform with Bradford's Premier Choir", "An Unforgettable Experience for just £10". Don't miss it - ring 01274 593672 for more information, or just turn up on the day!