First Taste of Opera

On Wednesday 8th June children from primary schools across Portsmouth had their first taste of opera at the New Theatre Royal, with the internationally-acclaimed vocalist Melanie Gall and ‘Tilly the opera mouse’.

30 children, aged between 7 and 11 years old, took part in workshops exploring a range of singing and performance skills, before Melanie Gall took to the stage to perform her one-woman show.

Using glove puppets, she told the story of Tilly Mouse who lives under an opera house. Tilly’s dream is to perform on stage, but whenever anybody sees her they scream and run away. With determination, imagination, and help from her friends, Tilly proves that even a mouse can be a star.

The children, who share a passion for singing, heard songs and arias from several operas during the performance, including Gianni Schicchi, Carmen and The Magic Flute.

Sue Beckett, CEO of Portsmouth Music Hub which organised the event, said: “The children’s confidence grew throughout the workshops, where they had the chance to develop their performance and singing skills, and it’s been a really exciting opportunity for the children to experience opera for the first time. Seeing the children’s enthusiasm and confidence proves that the arts have an important part to play in our young people’s education.”

After the event Ethan Maniebo, aged 11 from St. Paul’s Primary School, said: “It was a good experience and I learnt a lot of new things. I really like the acting and singing. It was brilliant and I didn’t realise I could sing opera.”

Inspirational Young Choir for Lord Mayor

On Tuesday 17 May the city of Portsmouth said goodbye to one Lord Mayor and welcomed another, and Portsmouth Music Hub was there to be part of the prestigious Mayor Making Ceremony which took place at Portsmouth's Guildhall.

In front of dignitaries, council leaders and the new Lord Mayor of Portsmouth, Councillor David Fuller, the Music Hub brought together a hundred children from six local primary schools to sing My Time, written by Hub composer Iain Gilmore.

It was a moving experience for everyone as the song describes the apprehension, the exhilaration and the sense of achievement which comes from taking to the stage and performing successfully; and as the new Lord Mayor began his first day of official duties it seemed an appropriate song for the occasion, performed by enthusiastic young voices wishing him well.

Sue Beckett, CEO of Portsmouth Music Hub, who conducted the young choir, said: "The children were very excited to be part of the ceremony, and they gave an unforgettable performance of a beautiful song which captured everyone's heart and imagination. We were delighted to be there, because children and young people are so important to our city, they represent the future, and it was fitting to have them perform for the new Lord Mayor." 

Portsmouth Chorister Sings With Aled Jones

On Wednesday 27th April choristers representing 60 choirs, churches, and cathedrals from across the country will come together with the choir of St Paul’s Cathedral to perform some of Britain’s best-loved choral music.  One of Portsmouth Cathedral’s own choristers will feature in this special celebration.

Eleanor Matthews, a student at Portsmouth Grammar School and chorister with the Portsmouth Cathedral Youth Choir, ‘Cantate’, was selected to be a member of this specially assembled choir and concert in support of cathedral music by the Friends of Cathedral Music. 

The Classic FM and ‘Pointless’ presenter Alexander Armstrong will also be speaking at the concert and celebration hosted by fellow Classic FM presenter, and former cathedral chorister, Aled Jones.

Recently, The Friends of Cathedral have cited that it costs £250,000 on average to run a cathedral choir for a year, and that across the United Kingdom, cathedrals spend around £15m per annum. These costs are rising while financial support is shrinking.  The Friends of Cathedral Music have been supporting cathedral choirs for the last 60 years. This special concert supporting FCM is sponsored by the Genesis Foundation, which plays an active role in nurturing and developing the careers of outstanding young artists, and Classic FM. 

“This is an extraordinary opportunity for Eleanor, to sing in this special concert in such an amazing setting”, said Dr. David Price, Director of Music at Portsmouth Cathedral, “It is wonderful that Portsmouth Cathedral will be represented, but most of all that this concert will support choristers and their families.”

The concert will take place in the presence of HRH The Duchess of Gloucester. It also launches the Friends of Cathedral Music’s new Diamond Fund for Choristers in this, FCM’s diamond jubilee year.

Launch of Portsmouth Jazz Band

Have you ever wanted to play jazz like Miles Davis, Dizzy Gillespie or Louis Armstrong? Portsmouth Music Hub is giving young people in Portsmouth the opportunity to join a new jazz group.

The newly formed Portsmouth Jazz Band launches on Thursday 28 April, running from 6pm to 7pm, and will bring together young musicians who have a passion for jazz. There will be regular rehearsals, opportunities to improve skills under expert tuition, plus the chance to give public performances in venues across the City.

The Jazz Band will rehearse Thursday evenings at Portsmouth's Guildhall, and is open to anyone up to the age of 25. It's free to join and the only requirement is that musicians must be a minimum of Grade 5 standard on their instrument.

So, if you play the saxophone, trumpet, trombone, clarinet, drums, keyboard, bass or guitar now's your chance to join the newest and most exciting Jazz Band in the City.

To find out more and to sign up just call Portsmouth Music Hub on 023 9237 5655 or email portsmouthmusichub@portsmouthcc.gov.uk.

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."