WildKat PR are pleased to be hosting Noted’s ‘Music Management Undressed’ event on Wednesday 12th June 2013. A rare and inspiring event, bringing together opposite corners of the music industry, which seldom collide, at the heart of Business and Creativity in Clerkenwell, London.

Our speakers are Mark Newbanks, Head of Fidelio Arts and Manager to classical music greats Gustavo Dudamel and Esa-Pekka Salonen; as well as Simon Burke-Kennedy of Bitter & Twisted Management, who represent UK chart-topper Professor Green and O Children, amongst others. The event will offer two different takes on the role of management in the music industry; from how they come to work with their artists, to tips on working with managers, to collaborating with personalities and brands. There will also be a Q&A session when all of your burning questions can be answered by these masters of their trade!

This is the first event in a newly curated event series by Noted, who aim to open up debates on interesting topics within a variety of creative industries by bringing together a network of passionate and informed professionals. The series will include talks, presentations, panel debates, Q&A sessions, networking and in-house performances. All events are free, but request a £5 donation to a charity chosen by our invited speakers. ‘Music Management Undressed’ will be raising money for Live Music Now.

Click here to reserve your place, and learn all you can about management in music on Wednesday 12th June 2013.

(Written on May 24, 2013 )

WildKat PR is pleased to welcome three new clients to the WildKat PR roster: National Geographic London Store’s new cultural calendar, lyric soprano Melinda Hughes, and Qanas Productions’ Qatar UK 2013 Year of Culture.

National Geographic London Store have launched their cultural calendar comprising of concerts, talks and photographic exhibitions to celebrate the 125th anniversary of the National Geographic Society, and turning the adventure store into a cultural hub in Central London. Events include a performance by flautist Katherine Bryan launching her new album, artist Alexa Meade and Born Free Foundation CEO Will Travers.

Melinda Hughes is an operatic soprano whose roles have included Cio Cio San in Madame Butterfly, Mimi in La Boheme, Countess in The Marriage of Figaro and many more. In 2013, Melinda will be performing her new satirical show, ‘French Kiss’ at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.

The Qatar 2013 Year of Culture celebrates creativity, diversity and mutual cultural understanding through an exciting and varied musical programme. The cultural collaboration can be experienced at a concert at London’s Cadogan Hall on May 27th and Edinburgh’s Usher Hall on June 14th. Performers will include Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and Royal National Scottish Orchestras with soloists Chloë Hanslip, Guy Johnston and Amira Fouad performing music by British and Qatari composers.

(Written on May 20, 2013 )

The WildKat PR team are delighted to announce the launch of our Open Sessions. The free, quick-fire consultancy scheme invites music industry individuals to come and chat to members of the team, where we will offer free advice in a broad range of areas, such as PR, social media, performances and events, sponsorship, budgets, branding, your image, websites, photography and videography, marketing and consultancy.

With over 25 years of experience in the music industry and an extensive range of consultancies to offer, the WildKat PR team are keen to help individuals in areas where they may not have much knowledge and experience, or are perhaps hesitant due to costs, as well as expanding and developing our relationships even further into the music industry. With the free Open Sessions, WildKat PR welcomes you to our offices in Central London through a quick and easy online booking, where you can choose your area of query and the best time for you.

Visit the website here to find out a little more, and to book your slot.

We look forward to meeting you, and helping you wherever we can!

(Written on May 17, 2013 )

Ms. Davidson, who will begin her tenure on July 1, 2013, succeeds Norma Hurlburt, who is stepping down after serving in the position since 2000.  Having worked for the last forty-five years in the field of chamber music, Ms. Hurlburt is forming her own business for executive and personal consulting for non-profit organizations.

Suzanne Davidson has enjoyed a long career as a leader of important arts, education, and entertainment institutions.  She is the former President of the School of American Ballet at Lincoln Center, and before that was Producing Director of Second Stage Theatre.  She came to Second Stage Theatre after producing on- and off- Broadway for her own production company for a number of years.  Her producing career began with the original production of “Evita”, which she oversaw for Robert Stigwood on Broadway and throughout the US and Canada, as Co-Chief Operating Officer for Stigwood Group, Ltd., producer of such classic movies and soundtrack recordings as Saturday Night Fever and Grease.  Ms. Davidson began her career as an associate in the Entertainment department of Paul Weiss, and most recently has been Associate Dean and Vice President of New York Law School.

On behalf of the Chamber Music Society, Peter Frelinghuysen, Chairman of the Board, commented on the appointment of Ms. Davidson:

As the Chamber Music Society enters an ambitious new phase of growth and innovation, Suzanne Davidson is the ideal person to lead the organization. Her prior experience of leadership at Lincoln Center, and her impressive career-long record of institution building, marketing, and fundraising will be tremendous assets as CMS develops exciting new ways to make chamber music an important part of our everyday culture; grows to meet escalating demand from consistently sold-out concerts; builds a diverse audience of all ages and nationalities; increases its performance schedule at our Lincoln Center home; and expands its presence around the country and abroad.

CMS Artistic Directors David Finckel and Wu Han responded:

The Chamber Music Society could not be more fortunate to welcome Suzanne Davidson as its new Executive Director. Her broad expertise in the performing arts and entertainment, and her passion for chamber music, bring a wealth of exciting new ideas to our partnership.  We are deeply respectful of the leadership position that CMS holds as the Lincoln Center constituent committed to producing and presenting the highest quality chamber music, from classical to new music, with the finest musicians, and together we already have lots of plans to expand the horizons of the art form, artists and audiences.

On accepting the position, Ms. Davidson remarked:

There is nothing more exhilarating than hearing great musicians create uniquely intimate, thrilling musical experiences in the most beautiful living room in the world – Alice Tully Hall, the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center’s home – and in warm and wonderful spaces around the world.  It is a great honor to have this opportunity to join with world-renowned Artistic Directors David Finckel and Wu Han, a powerful, dedicated board and growing Global Council, and a wonderful staff, to lead CMS as it heads towards its 50^th Anniversary.  I can’t wait to begin.

The Chamber Music Society is also pleased to announce the signing of a third-term contract for Artistic Directors David Finckel and Wu Han through the 2018-19 season. The extension of their contract affords them the longest tenure since that of founding Artistic Director Charles Wadsworth.

Mr. Finckel and Wu Han renew their contract with CMS at a time characterized by acclaimed levels of artistic excellence, innovation, and box office success.

On signing their new contract, they commented:

As we put pen to paper again, at the gracious invitation of our Board of Directors, we are both thrilled by their faith in our vision, and at the same time humbled by the responsibility of guiding this rapidly evolving organization.  Over the past seven years, CMS has become our artistic home.  Our hard-working, inspired staff, our generous and visionary Board, and the incredible artists coming from all over the world to perform, truly make CMS ‘such stuff as dreams are made on.’ We are deeply grateful for the opportunity to continue our work for CMS, and we pledge to the task our lasting commitment and deepest dedication.

(Written on May 14, 2013 )

Accentus Music are pleased to announce to today the release date for the DVD and Blu-Ray of Mahler’s 4th Symphony in the United States of America.

The production label continues its Mahler Cycle, following the success of Mahler Symphonies No. 2 and 8 in 2011. The Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra, with soprano Christina Landshamer, performed the 4^th Symphony under the direction of Riccardo Chailly last year.

The DVD and Blu-Ray discs feature special bonus material including Riccardo Chailly discussing his interpretation of Mahler’s 4^th Symphony. Both versions include two tracks featuring the forgotten technology of the “Welte Mignon” piano device, which allowed piano music to be recorded onto a built-in paper roll in the instrument and for that same recording to be played subsequently, without a pianist. In 1905, Gustav Mahler recorded himself performing the finale of his 4^th Symphony on a Welte Mignon piano. This recording forms part of the DVD / Blu-ray bonus material.

Accentus Music will be continuing its distinct collaboration with world-renowned Leipzig artist Neo Rauch, who created the evocative artwork for the covers of Mahler’s Symphonies No. 2 and 8. Rauch has painted another one-off piece inspired by his experience of Riccardo Chailly and the Gewandhaus Orchestra rehearsing and performing Gustav Mahler’s Symphony No. 4. The painting, entitled “Hohe Zeit” (“Solemn Time”), forms the DVD and Blu-ray cover.

The DVD and Blu-Ray is now available in the United States, United Kingdom and Germany, and can be purchased from most major stores. It will be released in France on 7th May.

For more information on Accentus Music and their productions, visit their Facebook, Twitter and read regular blogs on the WildKat PR website.

(Written on April 30, 2013 )

(Written on April 26, 2013 )

We are thrilled to announce that Accentus Music has been honoured with the Silver Hugo for ‘Best Documentary, Arts/Humanities’ at the Chicago International Film Festival Television Awards for John Cage – Journeys in Sound. 

The documentary, which combines rare archival footage with concert excerpts and a series of interviews with former associates of Cage, has already been awarded three awards in the past four months: the ‘Best Documentary’ award at the Golden Prague Festival, ‘Best Educational Program’ at the FIFA in Montréal, along with an International Classical Music Award in the ‘DVD Documentaries’ category.

Accentus Music’s upcoming release of Bruckner’s 5th Symphony is eagerly awaited, following the success of the first instalment of the symphonic cycle series. Performed by one of the oldest orchestras in the world, under the baton of Daniel Barenboim, The Mature Symphonies was performed in just under a week: an astonishing accomplishment.

Watch the trailer for John Cage – Journeys in Sound below, for an insight into the multi-award winning DVD. Also, keep up to date with Accentus Music news through Facebook, Twitter and regular blogs on the WildKat PR website.

(Written on April 24, 2013 )

(Written on April 19, 2013 )

For those of you who missed our tweets last week, we had a big London office move! Have a look at our video that captured some key moments of the move that occurred in between our busy working days! Just to let you all know, our new address is:

Second Floor,
7-15 Rosebery Avenue,
London,
EC1R 4SP

With thanks to Max Richter’s Recomposed: Vivaldi’s Four Seasons as the accompaniment to our video blog

(Written on April 15, 2013 )

The Hampstead Arts Festival is an annual autumnal event, which enriches Hampstead’s cultural life and benefits the local community through the performance, enjoyment and appreciation of the arts, promoting established and emerging young talent. The Festival this year runs from September to December 2013 with a total of 9 concerts.

Last night saw the official launch of the 2013 Hampstead Arts Festival, with violinist Thomas Gould performing a recital accompanied by Ivana Gavric with the great revealing of this year’s programme. 2013 sees Tai Murray (Violinist) performing Bach Sonatas and Partitas, Brodsky Quartet performing the unique Zemlinsky quartets, as well as performances by Sophie Bevan, North York Moors Festival Musicians and Gwilym Simcock. It was a lovely evening with canopés being served and presented by Villa Bianca and fine wine by Jeroboams

Tickets sales are now live for the 2013 Festival and can be bought here. Have a look at an overview of the performers below – it promises to be a great year!

(Written on April 5, 2013 )