Here is the gerontius newsletter for October 2005.

This newsletter contains a number of items of interest to singers and choirs. Please feel free to send this newsletter on to your choir committee, to other members of your choir and to friends.

We’re pleased to include details of an exciting opportunity for choirs to take part in a different sort of pre-Christmas event from the traditional carols, and to earn some money for the choir at the same time. Details are below under “CHOIRS NEEDED!”.

Making Music do an enormous amount to encourage music making around the UK, and much of their work involves singers and choirs. We’re pleased to include a message from Andrew Potter, the new chairman of Making Music, and details of Making Music's latest commission.  

Also news of some forthcoming courses run by the Association of British Choral Directors (ABCD) and workshops offered by Tim Knight, the “Choral Doctor”.

Finally news of some recent changes on the gerontius site : the launch of the Gerontius Directory of choral suppliers. 

1.   CHOIRS NEEDED in Aberdeen, Belfast, Birmingham, Bournemouth, Brighton, Bristol, Dundee, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Leeds, Leicester, Liverpool, London, Manchester Newcastle and Nottingham
2.   message from Andrew Potter, Chairman of Making Music
3.   news from the Association of British Choral Directors  (ABCD)
4.	Tim Knight the Choral Doctor – workshops for choirs and a book
5.	Gerontius Directory : Choral Suppliers
6.	Site Sponsors
7. Making Music Commission

********************

1. CHOIRS NEEDED!

Key Events is an experiential marketing company, specialising in staging events and promotional campaigns for brands around the country. We have been established for 10 years and are based in London.

A leading spirit brand wishes to recruit choirs for an exciting promotion being run throughout Great Britain during the middle two weekends of December.

This is a Christmas promotion – with a twist! 

We are looking for groups of singers to join our brand ambassadors on the streets of major towns and cities, where we will invite members of the general public to join our roving street-based choirs in singing a range of contemporary songs – in a choral style

We’re looking for choirs ranging in number from 4 to 15 who don’t mind experimenting with popular tunes and adding their own twist – in harmony!

We’re offering a donation to your choir fund to cover rehearsal time, performing time and travel expenses where necessary

We’re looking for groups in the following areas:

Aberdeen, Belfast, Birmingham, Bournemouth, Brighton, Bristol, Dundee, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Leeds, Leicester, Liverpool, London, Manchester Newcastle and Nottingham
 
The dates of the promotion are: 9th and 10th and 16th and 17th December (one night per city, 5 areas within London)

The evening will run from 7pm until 11pm with breaks and will be based outdoors in central areas of each city.

10 songs to learn will be provided. 

Please contact us immediately if you are interested to find out more:

Key Events: 020 7434 4433 – Steve, Lucy or Mandy
info@keyevents.net

****************

2.	message from Andrew Potter, Chairman of Making Music

Making Music has a new Chairperson. Andrew Potter was appointed at the recent Conference in York and writes about his aspirations for the organisation:

It is a pleasure and a privilege to have been appointed to the Chair of Making Music. It is a strong, well-established organisation that represents an important element of people's lives. It combines amateur and professional skills in a unique way. Participating in a musical event is becoming more and more important in the enrichment not just of our individual lives but also of whole communities. 

I hope that my combined experience as a lifelong music maker together with my career in the music business will prove useful to Making Music. As an amateur musician I have conducted and sung in choirs of all kinds. My main career was as Director of Music at Oxford University Press. I am currently Chair of the Association of British Choral Directors (abcd) and hope to encourage increased cooperation between the two bodies to their mutual benefit. I am currently leading an initiative to devise a National Vocal Strategy which will set out how the enjoyment of singing of all kinds should become an entitlement for everyone from cradle to grave.

My chief immediate task as Chair will be to facilitate the achievement of five aspirations. These are to continue to help amateur music groups achieve their aims as successfully as possible and to ensure that we can work towards adequate funding. We hope also to form appropriate partnerships with funding and other arts and community organisations. We need to improve our communication and we want to look at what shape we shall need to be in to face the future with confidence. Finally, we intend to step up our lobbying government about the strengths and needs of amateur music making, and I want to play a significant part in this.

 ‘We are the music makers; we are the dreamers of dreams’. Let us all realise our dreams through Making Music!

http://www.makingmusic.org.uk

****************

3.	News from the ABCD

abcd is the only UK organisation devoted entirely to supporting those leading choral music, both amateur and professional.  We welcome anyone who leads singers or sings in choirs, whatever their experience or qualifications and our 600+ members represent over 1,000 choral groups. abcd is committed to training and development at all levels and runs an extensive programme of national and regional courses, workshops and seminars as well as publishing a regular journal. 

Details are now available regarding abcd’s extended conducting courses for 2006. The courses are designed for anyone leading choral music of any kind, whatever their experience. They cater for a broad range of styles and aim to develop confidence and practical skills which can be used with any type of choir and age group. The courses consist of several sessions over an extended period, giving everyone the chance to put into practice what they have learned at each session. The students act as the choir and everyone has ample opportunity to conduct and observe. The emphasis is on a supportive and encouraging environment, with teaching in small groups by a team of experienced conducting and vocal tutors.

There are three course levels: 

Initial Level One, designed to lay firm foundations for anyone who has an interest in learning to conduct choral music, or who has recently started to lead choral music. No previous experience is necessary. Initial Level Two, aimed at those who would like to develop their conducting and vocal technique and who have either completed the Initial Level One course, or have some experience in leading choral music. Intermediate: an accredited course is designed to provide guidance and motivation for anyone with some experience or musical training who regularly conducts a choir. The sessions incorporate masterclasses, individual conducting and vocal lessons and specific pieces to prepare. 

For further details about all our courses and events, please contact Rachel Greaves, email rachel.greaves@abcd.org.uk or see our website at www.abcd.org.uk.

**************

4. Wanted...Choirs that need new members and larger audiences

If your choir is in need of help, call in the “Choir Doctor” for a workshop!  Covering topics including repertoire, recruitment, publicity, audience building and funding, a day’s workshop, tailor made to your choir’s needs, is now on offer at only £125.00.

Tim Knight, described by “British Choirs on the Net” as the Choir Doctor, is also the writer of the successful “Survival of your Choir” book – the last few books in stock are now just £4.95 each.

For further information, just ring or email.

Tim Knight Music
email: tim.knight.music@ntlworld.com
07887 960813

********************

5 Gerontius Directory : Choral Suppliers

We’ve recently launched the Gerontius Directory. Our aim is for the gerontius directory to grow to be a comprehensive and useful guide to organisations and individuals providing services to choirs in the UK. 
We welcome submissions from organisations who provide services to choirs in the UK. Please mention the directory to your suppliers and encourage them to submit an entry.
http://www.gerontius.net/directory/

********************

6. Sponsors 
Many thanks to the following for their generous sponsorship of the gerontius site.

Chameleon Arts Management
http://www.chameleon-arts.co.uk/

National Association of Choirs
http://www.ukchoirsassoc.co.uk/

Our sponsors and advertisers enable us to keep the site running. We’re currently looking for a new sponsor for the forum.

For further information on sponsorship / advertising options on gerontius please visit
http://www.gerontius.net/advertising.shtml

*************************************
 
7. Making Music Commission

Following the success of The Kestrel Road commission in 2005, with Sir Peter Maxwell Davies, Making Music are offering members the opportunity to take part in a major new commission. 

To celebrate his 70th birthday, leading UK composer David Bedford has agreed to write a new choral work which will be promoted nationwide by Making Music. David will be happy to personally attend a number of rehearsals of the 20 minute piece, and tailor the orchestration to suit accompaniment by various instrumentations. 

Involvement costs from as little as £260 and for more details on David and the commission please visit http://www.makingmusic.org.uk/html/141.shtml or contact Evan Dawson, Head of Support and Development at Making Music on evan@makingmusic.org.uk or 0870 909 2615.

*************************************

We always welcome feedback about the site.

Please feel free to send this newsletter on to other members of your choir and to friends.

Please let us know if you have an item for inclusion in a future newsletter. Our next newsletter will be in January 2006.

If you would prefer not to receive future newsletters, please reply to this message with subject "no news". You can also opt not to receive the newsletter by changing the option in your choir details screen on the site.

best wishes

Tim and Rob Ault

gerontius website
http://www.gerontius.net

Gerontius is an Alberon Systems web site
Alberon Systems : Web Solutions, Databases, IT Consultancy
http://www.alberonsystems.co.uk/