Season of Concerts

More than a thousand children and young people from Schools, Academies and Colleges from across Portsmouth have been performing a series of concerts as part of Portsmouth Music Hub's end of term season of events.

It started with more than 250 singers, dancers and musicians, aged from 11 to 18, taking to Portsmouth's Guildhall stage on Wednesday 9 March for the concert Soundsational. There was a wide range of acts on offer for the hundreds of families and members of public who filled the Guildhall. Portsmouth Music Hub's own Rock Band performed tracks from Coldplay and The Beatles, and in a tribute to David Bowie they played his legendary hit Starman. The concert came to an end with more than 150 students filling the stage for a Massed Choir performance of Bob Marley's One Love and Take That's Rule the World.

A few days later, on Thursday 17 March, more than 500 children, aged from 4 to 6, were at the Kings Theatre in Southsea for the Infant Voices concert. Singing songs about well-known fairytales, the stage was packed with colourful costumes from every character imaginable, including the Mad Hatter, Puss in Boots, the Big Bad Wolf and of course his arch rival, Little Red Riding Hood.

Portsmouth Music Hub returned to the Guildhall on Monday 21 March for the final concert of the term, Songscape. The concert was performed by more than 400 children, aged 6 to 11, and the songs were taken from the Music Hub's award-winning series of songbooks. Shark With a Heart, Moon Rock Boogie and Portsmouth By the Sea were just some of the songs performed by the children.

Sue Beckett, CEO of Portsmouth Music Hub said: "The past few weeks have been exciting, with lots of hard work, but fulfilling for all those involved. The teachers, the parents and the team at the Music Hub have worked exceptionally hard to give so many children and young people the opportunity to perform at the best venues in Portsmouth. The children have done an amazing job, and Portsmouth should be proud to know that we have such dedicated and enthusiastic young singers, dancers and musicians."

Happy Birthday New Theatre Royal

The New Theatre Royal in Portsmouth was 160 years old on Friday 11 March, and Portsmouth Music Hub was there to be part of the birthday celebrations.

At a special anniversary show there were performances from actors, singers, dancers and musicians from across Portsmouth and Hampshire.

Portsmouth Music Hub brought together 100 children from local primary schools who performed two songs, My Time and Look at Us, at the opening of the show.

The songs were composed by Iain Gilmour, Headteacher of Isambard Brunel Junior School in Portsmouth. Iain is one of the Music Hub’s award-winning composition team, and the songs were commissioned by the New Theatre Royal, making the children’s performances world premieres.

Sue Beckett, CEO of Portsmouth Music Hub said after the show: “The New Theatre Royal is one of more than 40 Hub Partners who work with us to provide cultural opportunities to children and young people in Portsmouth. We were delighted to be part of the celebration show, and the children couldn’t have performed better. My Time was beautiful, a real tear jerker, and Look at Us had the audience tapping their toes. It was a wonderful night of entertainment and we look forward to the next 160 years of music, theatre and entertainment at the New Theatre Royal.”

Children from Milton Park Primary School, Cottage Grove Primary School, Court Lane Junior School, St. John's Catholic Cathedral Primary School, College Park Infant School and Westover Primary School took part in the celebration show.

Soundsational!

More than 250 young singers, dancers and musicians took to the Guildhall stage on Wednesday 9 March for a night of music and entertainment.

Soundsational, was produced by Portsmouth Music Hub, and brought together students, aged from 11 to 18, from nine local Schools, Colleges and Academies.

There was a wide range of acts on offer for the hundreds of families and members of public who filled the Guildhall.

Portsmouth Music Hub's own Rock Band performed tracks from Coldplay and The Beatles, and in a tribute to David Bowie they played his legendary hit Starman.

South Downs College danced and sang to Cy Coleman's The Rhythm of Life, and Charter Academy's Swing Band took the audience back to the Big Band era with In the Mood and Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy.

The evening included performances from St. Edmund's Catholic School, Highbury College, Admiral Lord Nelson School, Portsmouth Academy for Girls, Springfield School and Portsmouth College. The night included an unforgettable performance from Lionel Bart's musical Oliver, with Trafalgar School students singing and dancing to Oom Pah Pah!

The concert came to an end with more than 150 students filling the stage for a Massed Choir performance of Bob Marley's One Love and Take That's Rule the World.

Sue Beckett, CEO of Portsmouth Music Hub said after the concert: "It's been a stunning night. With the support of Portsmouth Guildhall we've been able to give hundreds of young people the chance to experience live performance in one of the biggest and most exciting venues. Seeing the dedication, the commitment, a few nerves but plenty of talent from so many young people has been has been truly inspirational."

Portsmouth University Joins 'Live Music Portsmouth'

Live Music Portsmouth came to Cottage Grove Primary School in Portsmouth on Wednesday 9 March.

Live Music Portsmouth brings cultural opportunities to schools in the city, and Portsmouth Music Hub, working together with its Hub Partners, aims to enrich the lives of children and young people with new, exciting and unforgettable workshops and performances.

The children enjoyed some wonderful performances on Wednesday from Portsmouth University Wind Band, with music including Pirates of the Caribbean, Homage to Shakespeare Fanfare, a Medley from Frozen and a stunning rendition of the theme music from Iron Man 3.

Colin Jagger, Director of Music at Portsmouth University said: "This has been a wonderful experience, not only for the University musicians, but for the hundreds of children who have had the chance to enjoy live music close up. We're delighted to be part of 'Live Music Portsmouth', and to be one of the many Hub Partners who are committed to the important work of bringing cultural opportunities into schools."

300 children packed the school hall to watch the Wind band perform. Polly Honeychurch, Headteacher at Cottage Grove said: "Today has been truly inspirational. Music has an important place in all our lives, whether young or old, and giving so many of our children the opportunity see an exciting and enthusiastic band perform adds enormous value to their wider education. Music speaks to everyone, it connects us and broadens our minds, and Portsmouth Music Hub's 'Live Music Portsmouth' campaign will make a real difference to the cultural and educational lives of all the City's children."

Spring Ceilidh in Schools

On Friday 4 March children from Moorings Way Infant School experienced traditional dance, at the start of the Spring Ceilidh project.

The event was run by Portsmouth Music and its Hub Partner FolkActive, and is part of 'Live Music Portsmouth' which takes music and the arts into Portsmouth schools.

A ceilidh is a social gathering which can include music, dancing, song and storytelling and the Spring Ceilidh project is a chance to bring history to life, and for children to experience the fun and diversity of traditional dance.

Over the next few weeks FolkActive wil be visiting 7 schools across the City.

Jo Harmer from FolkActive said: "Today has been a brilliant example of the way music and dance can bring communities together. We have children from many cultures in our schools and dance is a universal language, and a way of making connections between traditions. It's been wonderful to see so many children working together so enthusiastically, and in collaboration with Portsmouth Music Hub, we can reach hundreds of children across the City."

Wind Band Wins Award

Portsmouth Wind Band, run by Portsmouth Music Hub, has won the Solent Youth Band Trophy at a competition held at Crookhorn College, in Waterlooville. The competition took place on Thursday 28 February in front of a packed audience.

The young Band of 18 musicians received an exceptionally high distinction mark for their performance, and received accolades in all areas of musicianship, from balance of sound, to use of dynamics, and good attention to detail.

Paul Archibald, who adjudicated the competition said: "Portsmouth Wind Band is an excellent band with some very talented young players. They produce a lovely sound throughout with an excellent blend of textures. There was some superb direction from the conductor who is clearly offering some inspirational leadership."

On hearing the news Sue Beckett, CEO of Portsmouth Music Hub said: "Winning this award is down to the hard work and enthusiasm of the musicians, the Band's Director of Music Steve Tanner and Assistant Director of Music Lara Jelliff, and the continuing support of the families. Portsmouth Wind Band really is going from strength to strength."

Portsmouth Wind Band meets once a week (term time only). New members are always welcome. To find out more visit the Ensemble section of the website or call Portsmouth Music Hub on 023 9237 5655.

Hub Wins Top Award

Portsmouth Music Hub has won the Music Education Council's Major Award at a ceremony in London.

The Music Teachers Award for Excellence, which took place on Thursday 25th February at London's Carlton Tower Hotel, was hosted by Classic FM's Margherita Taylor, and attended by 280 music industry guests.

The Music Education Council is a national organisation which brings together music professionals, businesses and educational providers. There are over 120 Music Hubs around the country and this year Portsmouth Music Hub was recognised by the Music Education Council for its high-quality music provision and its imaginative approach to engaging with thousands of children and young people from all walks of life and from all parts of the City.

Sue Beckett, CEO of Portsmouth Music Hub, who received the Award in London said: "This is excellent news for the Hub and it proves that Portsmouth is firmly on the national cultural map. We are very lucky to have so many people in the City who have a passion for delivering the best music education and cultural experience.  This Award really is shared with teachers, venues, our Hub Partners and of course the Music Hub team."

Portsmouth Music Hub was set up in 2011. Since then it has been working closely with schools, colleges and academies across Portsmouth to make music education available to all young people. The Hub has more than 40 partner organisations, including the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, The Guildhall and the Royal Marines Band Service, who work together to create opportunities for children and young people to perform with professional musicians and to experience Portsmouth's diverse culture.

This year Portsmouth Music Hub shared the Major Award with SoundStorm Music Education Agency based in Bournemouth.

Alison Jeffery, Director of Children Services at Portsmouth City Council said: "Portsmouth Music Hub has brought together individuals, groups and partners who share a common vision; to bring creative and musical opportunity to our City's children and young people. Winning the MEC's Major Award is a fantastic achievement, and testimony to the hard work, enthusiasm and dedication of the Hub team, the schools, colleges and academies, and the many Hub partners who collaborate so effectively for the benefit of Portsmouth's wider culture."

Solent Cultural Conference 2016

Educational professionals and music teachers from all over the country came to Portsmouth on Friday 5th February 2016 for the annual Solent Cultural Conference held at Portsmouth’s Guildhall.

The all-day event, which has been running for the past 15 years, was organised by Portsmouth and Southampton Music Hubs. Workshops led by organisations including the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, Folkactive and Artswork, the regional Bridge Organisation, gave over 100 delegates the chance to explore new ways to deliver music and cultural education to children and young people.

Laura Gander-Howe, Director for Children, Young People and Learning, from Arts Council England opened the conference. She discussed the value of culture in developing motivation, discipline and drive in young people, and she encouraged all the teachers and educational providers at the conference to seek support with other agencies, to collaborate and to find the best ways and the best services to engage young people. Understanding the challenges that lay ahead for educational providers she said: “We’re in a strong position to promote cultural education in our country. We know that culture can transform the lives of young people. It should be a birthright, not a privilege.”

There were over 25 workshops taking place at the Guildhall, and it was a chance for the delegates to share ideas, to explore new ways of working and to have some fun. At the end of the day the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, performing at the Guildhall that night, gave free tickets to the concert for all those attending the conference.

Sue Beckett, CEO of Portsmouth Music Hub, who helped organise the day said: “This year we have focussed the Solent Conference on Culture. It’s not just about music, it’s about drawing together all art forms, using both new technologies and traditional tried and tested methods to find the best way to communicate and engage with children and young people. Teachers, educational professionals, even a Head of a Music Hub, we must never stop learning new methods to bring out the best in young people and to offer them all the cultural opportunities we can.”