Music for Teachers

The sixty-piece orchestra performed a charity concert for Hope House children’s hospice this afternoon at Meole Brace School. A magnificent sum of £1000 was presented to support the music room at Hope House.

The concert programme, performed by senior players and staff from the County orchestras and band, included music from current and classic cinema and theatre scores.

Performers who would like to join us for the 2008/9 season programme should please contact me.

I attended an end of year concert on June 22nd, for the seven primary schools who are taking part in the shole class violin tuition through the Shropshire Music Service.  It was a magnificent event with over 150 students showing what progress thet had made - they performed with enthusiasm and style to a full house at the Shrewsbury Music Hall.

This has been a very successful initiative and has been developed as a scheme for woodwind and brass as well in other primary schools in Shropshire.  Further details from the Shropshire Music Service.

Congratulations to Sue Anne Lim who won the Shropshire Concerto Competition last night in the thirtieth year of the competition.

The adjudicator, Mr John Stephens O.B.E. spoke about the high quality of all four young musicians but after four contrasting but engaging performances Sue Anne was presented with the BBC Radio Shropshire Trophy.

This year the four performances were:

Concerto for Violin (No.3) by Saint-Saens, performed by Sarah Greaney, Concerto for Oboe by Mozart, performed by Sarah Lee, Concerto for Horn (No.3) by Mozart, performed by Robin Kearney and Concerto for Piano (No.3) performed by Sue Ann Lim.

The young musicians were accompanied by the Shropshire Sinfonia, the orchestra of the staff and students of the Shropshire Music Service and their director was Mr Robert Wysome.

Stokesay Primary School presented an excellent concert this week which surely shows them to be in the forefront of muscial inclusion as they showcased a policy of opportunity for all.

With the support of colleagues from the Shropshire Music Service, Dot Atkins, David Glossop and Glenn Pollard, the staff and children of the school presented a programme listing over 90 children sharing with parents their progress over the last few terms in vocal and instrumental music.
Children sang and played trumpets, tormbones, cornets, recorders, flutes, clarinets and guitars showing off their achievements since beginning lessons in September 2006 or for some, 2005.

Musical materials had been carefully selected for the instrumentalists to show the progress made from beginners to more experienced ensemble work. The children who performed are just a representative sample of musicians in the school. While all the performers gave of their best and performed with enthusiasm, i must single out Daniel Meikle who sang and accompanied himself on the guitar. He showed great confidence and musical control as, alone, he faced the audience armed only with an acoustic guitar. Well done, Daniel.

The choir sang some excerpts from a musical they have prepared for an area musical collaboration. Again a wonderful opportunity for small rural schools to get together to provide opportunities for creativity for their children.

Congratualations to all children and staff.

The Shropshire County Council charity evening will this year be held on Friday March 16th at 7pm at the Albrighton Hall Hotel.

The Shropshire Music Service Pops orchestra will be performing a variety of film scores and theatre music including Dances with Wolves, The Big Country, Galdiator, Miss Saigon, Les Miserables and Mission Impossible.

The proceeds are for Hope House. Further details and tickets are available from Eileen.Hail@shropshire-cc.gov.uk