Tomorrow evening at 7.30pm, renowned independent school, Millfield School, will perform its much-anticipated concert at Cadogan Hall, London.

The performance, celebrating Millfield’s impressive 2012-13 concert season, will include the school’s award-winning chamber choir, the Millfield Camerata, performing a world premiere of Jumping the Rhynes for choir and percussion ensemble. The piece was especially written for the school by ‘The Police’ drummer and Millfield School alumnus, Stewart Copeland, having been inspired by his time at the school in the 1960s. The concert will also feature Millfield’s String Consultant, leading violinist So-Ock Kim, whose career has seen her perform at some of London’s most renowned venues including Wigmore Hall, Royal Festival Hall and the Barbican.

‘Millfield at Cadogan’ has been greatly anticipated, being featured in many popular publications including Classic FM, Gramophone and BBC Music Magazine What’s On. Tickets for the event start at £15 and the programme for the concert is as follows:

Stewart Copeland World Premiere of ‘Jumping the Rhynes’ (chorus and percussion ensemble)

Vivaldi Four Seasons

Mozart Piano Quartet No. 1 in G minor

Schumann Piano Quintet

For more information about the concert or to purchase tickets, please click here.

Millfield Camerata

(Written on March 22, 2013 )

The new chair of Arts Council England, Sir Peter Bazalgette, made his inaugural lecture at London’s RSA yesterday. The lecture was the launch of a partnership between RSA and Arts Council England to provide a series of ‘State of the Arts’ seminars, to replace the single annual Arts Council conference. Sir Bazalgette spoke of the need for Councils and businesses to support the Arts, stating ‘there is no city in Britain that does not understand the importance of the arts and culture, both as central to the life of the city and to the local economy’.

Arts Council England ‘champions, develops and invests in artistic and cultural experiences that enrich people’s lives.’ Between now and 2015 Arts Council England will invest £1.4 billion of public money from the government and an estimated £1 billion from the National Lottery to create cultural experiences across England for as many people as possible. Sir Peter Bazalgette became the chair of Arts Council England in January of this year having been appointed by Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport, Jeremy Hunt.

During Sir Bazalgette’s speech, whilst addressing current advances in performance practices in the arts world, he spoke of his visit to see WildKat PR client, Silent Opera, and how art is not just for art’s sake. He stated ‘I didn’t go to Silent Opera’s production of L’Orfeo in Docklands Warehouse to scrutinise who did the excellent lighting and sound design, I went to enjoy an innovative opera format’.

Silent Opera is an innovative new opera company, aiming to ‘bring the action of the music to life without sacrificing the operatic narrative’, by immersing audience members within the opera. Audience members have individual headphones, which high quality, brand new music recordings are broadcast to, whilst the cast of the operas move around the performance space: ‘opera is set loose’. Silent Opera has been highly reviewed by many national press outlets, and has featured on both Channel 4’s Sunday Brunch and BBC News. This new medium of opera performance has been described as “An extraordinary concept that really does work…” (Capriccio Music Blog).

To listen to Sir Peter Bazalgette’s speech please click here, or to find out more about Silent Opera, click here.

Credit: Oliver Hyde-Tetley

(Written on March 21, 2013 )

The Guardian

Tod Machover: how to crowdsource a symphony

Can music repair damaged tissue? Is it possible to hear it through another person’s ears? If anyone knows, it’s Tod Machover. As he prepares to create an innovative symphony for Edinburgh, Charlotte Higgins meets the music professor

The Guardian

Tine Thing Helseth, trumpet player interview: ‘I was a crazy Spice Girls fan

Norwegian trumpet virtuoso Tine Thing Helseth tells Adam Sweeting how she plays everything from Bach to the Beach Boys, and looks at the strange rituals of classical music with an inquiring eye.

The New York Times

A Challenge Grant From Weills to Spur Carnegie Hall Renovation

Carnegie Hall has received a $10 million challenge grant from its chairman, Sanford I. Weill, and his wife, Joan, and their Weill Family Foundation toward the completion of its $230 million renovation.

Classic FM

Mice play lullabies by Mozart, Brahms and Schubert

Lullabies by Mozart, Brahms and Schubert were performed by mice in a performance installation by the experimental musical duo Quiet Ensemble.

Music Week

IFPI slams EU piracy study as ‘flawed and misleading’

The IFPI has slammed the recent report from the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre which concluded that piracy has no effect on legal digital music purchases.

Classical Music Magazine

RSNO announces 2013/14 season

Britten’s War Requiem, Mahler’s Symphony No 8 and Messiaen’s Turangalîla-symphonie are among the musical monoliths that the Royal Scottish National Orchestra has announced for its ambitious 2013/14 season, its second with Peter Oundjian as music director.

Classical Music Magazine

(Written on March 21, 2013 )

The Guardian 

Alex Beard, deputy director of Tate, to succeed Tony Hall as head of Royal Opera House

Alex Beard helped build Tate Modern, but has never worked in opera or dance. Now he is to take on one of Britain’s most prominent arts jobs – boss of the Royal Opera House

The Telegraph

There is no secret formula to music’s mystery

Despite scientists’ best efforts, the magic of harmonic beauty will remain an enigma

New York Times

Record Ticket Sales for Bowie Exhibition in London

‘David Bowie Is’, a major retrospective of the British singer’s career and cultural influence, which opens at the Victoria and Albert Museum on Saturday, has sold over 42,000 advance tickets, more than double the amount generated by any previous exhibition at the museum.

New York Times

Mariinsky Theater Plans Star-Studded Opening of New Opera House

The Mariinsky Theater in Russia announced on Tuesday plans for a three-day celebration to mark the opening of the new Mariinsky II opera house in St. Petersburg in May.

Gramophone

Tine Thing Helseth launches new festival

The Norwegian trumpeter invites renowned artists to the Munch Museum in Oslo

Music Week

UK music revenues will be more than 50% digital this year – BPI’s Wadsworth

BPI chairman Tony Wadsworth CBE has echoed optimistic predictions for the music industry as the digital age develops, saying that the UK will this year move into a majority digital music market.

The Telegraph

(Written on March 20, 2013 )

On Tuesday 26 March, cellist Guy Johnston will feature on a new release of works by E. J. Moeran with Ulster Orchestra conducted by JoAnn Falletta. The album, to be released on record label Naxos, will include Moeran’s Cello Concerto, arguably one of the Anglo-Irishman’s most important works inspired by the landscapes of the Norfolk coast. The CD will also feature Lonely Waters with lyrics sung by soprano Rebekah Coffey, Serenade in G and Whythorne’s Shadow. Moeran’s works are renowned for being influenced by his Irish heritage, often containing fragments of well-known Irish folk tunes.

Following this, on Saturday 30 and Sunday 31 March Guy Johnston will guest-lead the ‘cello section of the London Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Valery Gergiev. The orchestra will perform Brahms’ German Requiem and Szymanowski’s Stabat Mater, and will be joined by the London Symphony Chorus and singers Sally Matthews, Ekaterina Gubanova and Gerald Finley.

(Written on March 19, 2013 )

This week at the Proms we talked to many young Prommers about their thoughts on the link between fashion and classical music. Many of them were attending the Proms for the first time, so had really thought about what to wear to the Royal Albert Hall.

We really enjoyed talking to 17-year-old twins, Shannon and Jo, who visited Prom 32 to see their sister perform Bernstein’s Mass. They normally attend pop or rock music concerts but admitted that the change in musical styles for them that evening meant that they dressed smarter than usual. As both girls are interested in fashion, they said they would be looking out for what the performers were wearing, and hoped it wouldn’t be distracting or inappropriate.

Two musicians, Justin and Joe, had contrasting views on the fashion of performers and the audience. As Joe doesn’t care about the audience’s style when he is on stage, he tends to wear exactly what he likes to a concert. On the other hand, Justin really considered the details of the repertoire when choosing his outfit for the Proms. As he had performed the piece of music before, he thought about the meaning of it and how he could express that himself as a spectator in the Royal Albert Hall.

Read more about the Prommers’ opinions, with many more photos and stories, on our Fashion at the Proms Pinterest Board.

(Written on August 7, 2012 )

This Proms season WildKat PR are visiting the Royal Albert Hall to review the fashion choices of the audience at this world famous Summer event.

After compiling the prommers’ stories and photos from last week on our Pinterest board ‘Fashion at the Proms‘, here is our pick of the week: those prommers who gave us such insightful stories and opinions on the role of fashion in classical music, whilst also looking fabulous.

We talked to a lovely Prom performer who told us of the importance of looking smart when performing classical music, seeing a link between fashion and music that is not be ignored. He also has a strong dislike for those who take away from the formalities of classical music – such as musicians who take their handbags on stage with them!

Bright colours were in abundance, as were those looking cool in sunglasses (thankfully a necessity in last week’s glorious weather), with both of these young prommers who kept the repetoire in mind when selecting their prom outfits. Polly, in bright Orange, sought to brighten up a Rachmaninov prom, whilst Nicole, in floor length black, felt that Debussy gave her Prom a romantic feel that made her want to dress up and look elegant.

By far, the favourite of our prommers this week was Nigel. Having only missed 3 years of proms since 1947, aged 77, Nigel was keen to chat to us about style, classical music, and most importantly his jazzy purple tie.

Check out the rest of our stylish prommers on our Pinterest board. If you are attending the proms over the next coming weeks, you too could be up there soon!

(Written on July 31, 2012 )

British Composer Emily Howard is delighted to announce her debut BBC Prom on August 21st.

‘Calculus of the Nervous system’, is part of the ‘Lovelace Trilogy’.  Howard took her inspiration from Ada Lovelace, the pioneering mathematician and daughter of the famous British poet Lord Bryon.  The piece was commissioned by international contemporary music festival Wien Modern 2011 for the ORF Radio Symphony Orchestra Vienna and premiered in the Wiener Konzerthaus on November 20^th 2011.

Watch the video below to find out more about the composition from Emily herself.

For more information on Emily Howard please visit her website.

(Written on April 19, 2012 )

Congratulations to Music in Offices who were yesterday shortlisted for a RPS Award.

The announcement was made on Radio 3′s In Tune, where Ivan Hewett, Classical Music Critic from the Telegraph pipped the education scheme as his one to watch.

Music in Offices offer instrumental and vocal lessons to offices in and around London, offering employees the chance to learn a new skill, de-stress and socialise within their working environment.

Other nominations include Claudio Abbado, Harrison Birtwhistle and Eva-Maria Westbroek.  For a full list of nominations visit the Royal Philharmonic Society website.

The winners will be announced on May 8th – good luck to all involved!

(Written on April 18, 2012 )

Tonight marks the final of the Office Choir of the Year competition held by music education scheme Music in Offices.

The event, held at St John’s Smith Square, Westminster, marks the end of a year long search to find the best office choir in London.  Entries were made by offices both large and small and across a wide range of professions.  Some of the companies involved included L’Oreal, BBC Worldwide, Channel 4, News International, Norton Rose, UBS, Olswang, Royal Mail, Debenhams and Royal Historical Palaces to name a few.

The four finalists who will be singing tonight are:

Channel 4

Norton Rose

UBS

Olswang

The evening will be presented by Classic FM presenter Jamie Crick and will also have performance from special guests Blossom Street Singers.

The evening promises to be a wonderful celebration of all the hard work achieved by all the choirs involved.  Good luck to all taking part!

For more information about MIO or to find out how you can start your own office choir please visit

www.musicinoffices.com

(Written on March 22, 2012 )