News
PORTSMOUTH'S GOT TALENT FOR BBC MUSIC DAY
Children from across Portsmouth will come together to celebrate BBC Music Day in style when they join The Jive Aces Swing Band for a special performance of Bring Me Sunshine on the steps of the Guildhall.
BBC Music Day, on Thursday 26 September, is a national day of music-making with concerts and special events taking place across the country, and this year the children of Portsmouth will bring their own magical performance to the heart of the city.
Sue Beckett, CEO of Portsmouth Music Hub, said: "BBC Music Day is going to be an amazing occasion for the children of Portsmouth. Not only will they have the opportunity to see Jive Aces on stage inside the Guildhall, but they'll be joining them outside for a spectacular performance. It will also mark the moment when the Music Hub launches a new initiative called Musicing Around, which aims to inspire very young children to enjoy and participate in music and cultural activities. This will be the start of an exciting year."
The Jive Aces came to national attention in 2012, performing on Britain's Got Talent before taking to the stage in front of Her Majesty the Queen at a special Jubilee concert the same year. Their unbeatable brand of music and entertainment, and their unforgettable yellow suits have made them a 'must-see' musical moment for concert-goers across the country.
Be part of the magic and enjoy Jive Aces and more than 1200 young singers for a performance of Bring Me Sunshine for BBC Music Day on the Guildhall steps at 11.15am on Thursday 26 September.
THE FINAL CONCERT
Portsmouth Music Hub's young musicians brought the curtain down on another year of exceptional music-making during a special Ensembles concert which took place at Castle Primary School last night (16 July).
For the many young performers, at different ages and musical abilities, it was an opportunity to come together and showcase their developing skills and their passion for music. There was an exciting mix of music, ranging from Amy Winehouse to the Beatles to Schubert, and the packed auditorium of friends, families and members of the public had a night to remember with performances from the Music Hub's rock bands, orchestra and concert band.
The final song of the night was performed by the entire cast of children and young people. One World has become the anthem for a unique environmental campaign which has been running since September 2018. The One World campaign has harnessed the power of music and the arts to inspire thousands of children from across the city to take action to save and protect the environment. This final performance, with the sound of enthusiastic young voices raising the roof, was a fitting way to an end a sensational year of music education and creative opportunities for children and young people in Portsmouth.
Sue Beckett, CEO of Portsmouth Music Hub said after the concert: "The dedication and the pride of the young musicians performing tonight is a reminder to us all that creativity and culture makes a huge impact on children and young people. Music plays a part in all our lives, it breaks down barriers and brings people together, it fires up the imagination and helps us learn, grow and develop the skills and confidence to step out into the world and make a positive contribution. Tonight has been a celebration of all that is best in a new generation of musicians."
Portsmouth Music Hub offers a range of exciting ensembles throughout the academic year. With professional tuition in an engaging, friendly environment the ensembles offer children and young people the chance to meet, play and perform. To find out more email portsmouthmusichub@portsmouthcc.gov.uk
PERCUSSION AND PLAY!
It may have been a long year for the team at Portsmouth Music Hub, with concerts, events, ensembles, and a city-wide environmental campaign, but in the final few weeks of term the Music Hub have been out and about, taking a series of exciting workshops to more than 1500 children from schools across the city.
Junk Percussion workshops have been taking place at 10 schools, reaching children at various stages of education and musical appreciation. Using a range of household items, including empty water cooler bottles, broom handles and buckets, children have been encouraged to develop musical skills, appreciate beat and rhythm, and have fun making sounds in a relaxed environment at the end of a long summer term.
Supported by the teachers from the Music Hub Catherine Brentnall who led the workshops said: "Children from across the city have had a wonderful time experimenting with sounds and they've been endlessly surprised by what can be created with nothing more than a broom handle or bucket. Junk percussion brings down barriers, everyone can do it, and for many children musical instruments and creativity suddenly don't feel so intimidating. Junk percussion is a less than traditional approach, but it gives children the freedom to play, perform and develop a connection with sound and creativity that may lead them to traditional music-making."
With funding from Hornpipe Theatre Company the Music Hub team have also been holding a series of workshops for Early Years, Nursery and Reception aged children.
'Play Clap and Sing' brought an exciting range of songs to young children. The songs included games and actions, and the aim of the workshops has been to inspire children to work together, to develop communication skills, counting skills for maths, and to socialise positively and effectively with each other. 'Play, Clap and Sing' has been created to be fun, to be engaging and to inspire the very youngest to begin a journey with music that will continue throughout their education and beyond.
The 'Play, Clap and Sing' workshops have been filmed for future use by teachers across the UK. To find out more about the film please e-mail portsmouthmusichub@portsmouthcc.gov.uk.
Born to be wild!
Rock is unbeatable. It's more than a passing fashion, and it's not a quiet night out. Rock is rebellion. Rock is passion. Rock is the heart pounding sound of a guitar solo. It's a sense of belonging to something; a community much larger than you think. Rock is emotion. Rock is dynamic, and Rock is the twist, the shout and the thrill of being part of a moment you'll never forget.
On Wednesday (3 July) Rock the Rooms lived up to its name as young people from across the city came together with guitars, bass and drums, powerful voices and unforgettable performances that shook the room and left the audience wanting more.
With music from the Beatles, Ed Sheeran, the Artic Monkeys and Nirvana, Rock the Rooms is a regular feature at Portsmouth's Wedgewood Rooms, and a chance for a new generation of young performers to take the stage.
Musicians from Portsmouth Grammar School, Castle View Academy, Admiral Lord Nelson School, Charter Academy, Trafalgar School and Portsmouth Music Hub's very own Warrior and Victory Rock Bands gave electric performances to an audience that danced the night away.
To find out more about Portsmouth Music Hub's Rock Bands click here
MUSIC FOR CLEAN AIR DAY
Portsmouth Music Hub is playing its part in the UK's Clean Air Day with two new songs that put an 'energy-saving' spotlight on the perils of indoor and outdoor pollution.
The songs have been written by the award-winning team of composers at the Music Hub, and they draw attention to the changes we can all make to create a safer and healthier environment to live, work and play in. The songs form part of the One World environmental campaign which has been running since September 2018.
Over the past 10 months beach cleans, art and poetry competitions, performances in schools, together with concerts, events and a special performance for BBC Music Day 2018 have inspired thousands of local children and young people to take action to protect and save our environment.
On Clean Air Day (20 June) the Music Hub will be releasing footage on Twitter of children singing the Clean Air Day song during their rehearsals for the One World Showcase.
The Showcase, which will be performed at Portsmouth's Guildhall on Thursday 4 July, is an evening of music and entertainment that highlights local environmental issues that may have a global impact, and children from schools across the city will take to the stage to encourage us all to take action to help save our world.
Sue Beckett continued: ‘Children understand how important it is to change behaviours and they've responded with so much energy, with clarity and a real determination. Children really care, and when you fire up their imagination, they really can change the world!"
To see the Clean Air Day song rehearsal footage follow the Music Hub on Twitter @portsmouthmusic.
Sue Beckett, CEO of Portsmouth Music Hub has led the One World campaign. She said: "In the past year the One World campaign has received overwhelming support from so many people and organisations. People really care about the environment and the impact our actions are having on the planet. However, the enthusiasm of thousands of local children and young people really has been inspirational.’
YOUNG POETS CHANGING THE WORLD
Why would a Music Hub, which is committed to providing musical opportunities for children and young people, start dabbling in poetry?
It's not that Portsmouth Music Hub has run out of ideas, or that the staff have nothing better to do, quite the opposite, the award-winning team are busy developing new programmes, planning shows, composing music, visiting schools and inspiring thousands of local children and young people to pick up an instrument, to sing and take part in music-making.
However, since September 2018 Portsmouth Music Hub has been working hard to highlight a range of environmental issues that may have an impact on our planet, and poetry has played its part.
Portsmouth Music Hub's One World campaign harnesses the power of music and the arts to engage children and young people, to challenge their thinking and inspire them to change behaviours. The message is simple; how we interact with our environment and how we sustain our planet's precious resources really will shape our future, and the future of generations to come.
Music lies at the heart of One World, but the campaign has included art competitions, short films, story-telling in schools and an extensive use of web-based media, and on Thursday 23 May, at a special prize-giving ceremony at Milton Park Primary School in Portsmouth, poetry was in the spotlight. Children and young people of all ages put pen to paper, fingers to keyboards, and described their feelings for the environment. Deforestation, ocean pollution and recycling plastics were just some of the many aspects of environmental awareness on display.
Sue Beckett, CEO of Portsmouth Music Hub who attended the prize-giving, said: "Creativity knows no bounds and from the very start of our One World campaign we wanted to ensure that we communicated an environmental message utilising as many art forms as possible. Tapping into the creativity of young minds with music, words and art, has fired up the imagination of children and young people, engaged a wider community of people and made the messages of One World far more compelling and, we hope, enduring."
D-DAY TO BE REMEMBERED WITH THE ROYAL MARINES
On Friday 7 June military musicians and children from across Portsmouth will be taking part in the D-Day 75 commemorations, performing a special open-air concert and a song composed especially for the national event.
Portsmouth Music Hub and more than 40 young musicians from the Portsmouth-based Royal Marines School of Music have joined forces to stage an hour-long concert that conjures up the words and music of the war-time period, and more than 1,000 primary aged children will be watching, singing and joining in.
The finale of the concert will see 30 children take to the stage to perform alongside the Royal Marines. The children will be singing '6 June 1944', a new song which remembers the courage and commitment made by so many on D-Day.
Sue Beckett, CEO of Portsmouth Music Hub said: 'It's difficult to imagine a more poignant way to commemorate D-Day 75 than by bringing together musicians from the Royal Marines School of Music and hundreds of local children. We'll conjure up the unforgettable music, the memories and the irrepressible humour of the war-time period, and the children will be encouraged to take part and have fun! However, for everyone involved it will be a time to reflect on the bravery and the sacrifices of an incredible generation, and a moment for us all to celebrate the freedoms we enjoy today.
BRINGING FAIRY TALES TO LIFE
Hundreds of infant children dressed as fairy tale characters took to the Guildhall Stage at the Infant Voices Showcase on Wednesday 20 March. From Goldilocks and Puss in Boots, to the Big Bad Wolf and the Gingerbread Man, the children brought the characters and stories to life with their vibrant costumes and enthusiastic and expressive singing.
The songs were composed by Portsmouth Music Hub's award-winning team of composers and the children delighted a packed Guildhall with their captivating performance.
“The blue lights and the smoke were amazing. I was so excited when the audience cheered. I love singing!”
Children from fifteen schools across the city took part in the showcase which was the culmination of a city-wide singing festival involving over 1500 infant children.
“The music festival was so good, I looked that we had to sing it was so much fun. I wish we had to go again.”
Sue Beckett, CEO of Portsmouth Music Hub and one of the show's conductors said, "Enabling young children to perform at such a prestigious venue as the Guildhall is an excellent opportunity for children to develop their self-confidence, self-esteem and performance skills through singing. Pre-show nerves were transformed into focused concentration and beaming smiles as soon as the show started."