Category: Community Music
-
48 Hours
Today, my oratorio 48 Hours in Jerusalem premiered at St Gabriel’s Church, Walsall. What’s in the box? Ten new songs, six soloists, and one very nervous piano player brought the Easter story to life in a new way – exploring the lives of Jesus’ followers in the immediate aftermath of his execution. Acknowledgements I must…
-
Do you hear it?
People Sing is an event delivered by St Matthew’s Church, Walsall and friends as part of Walsall MakerFest. The inaugural event in 2024 attracted local choirs to showcase their talents individually before joining in for a final singalong, and this year we’re back. Bigger and bolder for 2025, with more slots of 15-20 minutes for…
-
Melomane!
I’ve enjoyed working with Apollo, the music charity in Birmingham over the last couple of years. The Apollo Academy Youth Orchestra is once again setting forth with a wonderful plan – to gather musicians of all standards and stripes for a play day. You can sign up to join us here. There is plenty of…
-
New music for Easter
I’m finishing up a presentation piece for Holy Saturday (April 19th, 2025) in conjunction with my employers at St Matthew’s Church, Walsall and St Gabriel’s Church, Fulbrook just down the road. Fr. Mark has been wonderful in supporting the project, and development has been partly funded by a generous grant from St Peter’s Saltley Trust.…
-
Brass Band Play Day
Join Steve Pritchard-Jones and the wonderful West Midlands Police Band as they lead an open day of playing a selection of band pieces at St Matthew’s Church this May. Members of my band, Great Barr Brass, also play with the police band, and there’s an outside chance I’ll be picking up a trombone and playing…
-
Brass Band Carols
Didn’t we have a wonderful time this evening at The Avion, where Great Barr Brass led carolling for a packed pub. Thank you to everybody who came out to join in, and to the staff and management of the pub for hosting us. On another note, thanks too to Steve Pritchard-Jones who sat in with…
-
New Year Resolutions?
I’m 10% into the “new” year, and not yet set on anything I want to change so badly I’ll make it a special focus. I guess I need to make more good music, lead more sung worship in the churches that ask me to, work harder with some of my friends on our collaborative efforts,…
-
Deck the Mall
The Saddlers Centre is our local shopping destination. They have a public piano. Last month I was honoured to be asked to play the public piano at its post-lockdown re-launch, and when Becki the lovely person who manages the centre asked me if I did any Christmas music. Evidently, the answer is “yes”… and so…
-
Hold very tight please
Brass bands clearly have something in common with brass monkeys – an aversion to low temperatures. So it was last Sunday we found ourselves stomping our feet to keep warm and wearing more than the usual number of layers at Aldridge Transport Museum in Aldridge. Great Barr Brass performed two sets of traditional carols, Christmas…
-
Civic Carolling
Just a quick note to say how much I enjoyed the Civic Carols last Sunday at St Matthew’s Church. The Christmas Choir were stunning, and it was a privilege to lead them from the organ, wearing what can only be described as my new favourite jacket. Thanks to everybody in the choir. You are all…