A NOISY NATIVITY!

The magic of Christmas came to Portsmouth on Wednesday (4 Dec) when primary-aged children from across the city came together for Portsmouth Music Hub's Special Christmas Concert; but it wasn't a quiet affair. 

To celebrate the festive season children performed a production of the Noisy Nativity. This musical adaptation of the traditional story included all the familiar characters, with Mary and Joseph, the Angel Gabriel and the wise men making an appearance, but the Noisy Nativity also included bumpy camels, knocking on doors, a deafening donkey, excited sheep, chattering shepherds and of course a famous crying baby. For all the teachers, parents and guests the Schools Special Christmas Concert was most definitely not a 'silent night'.

Jane Smith, aged 6, from Cottage Grove Primary School, said after the concert: "Christmas is my favourite time of the year and I loved being part of the Noisy Nativity. I loved the costumes and the singing, I loved all the noisy animals, and it was amazing to have a band playing when we sang."

The children from Cliffdale Primary Academy, College Park Infant School, Corpus Christi Primary School, Cottage Grove Primary School, Mary Rose Academy, Northern Parade Infant School

St. Paul's Primary School were joined by members of the Citadel Salvation Army Band. The musicians gave up their time to perform Christmas favourites including Deck the Halls with Boughs of Holly and We Wish You a Merry Christmas. 

The Music Hub's Christmas Concert has been running for the past 16 years, giving children from mainstream and special schools the opportunity to work together and share their passion for music, dancing, drama and Christmas! 

Sue Beckett, CEO of Portsmouth Music Hub said: "It really is impossible not to enjoy the special Christmas Concert, everyone leaves the Cathedral with a smile on their face. This concert is an annual highlight for everyone involved, and it's heart-warming to see so many children with many different needs and backgrounds coming together to perform, to celebrate and sing their hearts out. Children don't see barriers, they don't make judgements, and the purity of their joy and enthusiasm, working together, having fun together and being inspired by music, lies at the heart of everything we do at the Hub. The Schools Special Christmas Concert is Christmas, all wrapped up."

MUSIC HUB WINS GLOBAL AWARD

Portsmouth Music Hub has been recognised for its contribution to education at an awards ceremony in London.

Musicians and composers from the Hub, accompanied by teachers and a choir of 30 primary-aged children, took centre stage at The Green Apple Environmental Awards on Tuesday (25 Nov). The ceremony took place at the Houses of Parliament and the Music Hub was there to be recognised for its One World environmental campaign, which since September 2018, has been harnessing the power of music and the arts to highlight local and global environmental problems and solutions.

The Green Apple Environmental Awards recognises environmental best practices around the world. Winners for 2019 included Lloyds Banking Group, The Environment Agency and Network Rail.

Portsmouth Music Hub won two awards, the Green Champion for Innovation in Education and the Champion of Champions Award.

Sue Beckett, CEO of Portsmouth Music Hub said: "Tens of thousands of children, their teachers and parents have all played a part in our One World campaign. In the past year we've held beach cleans, art and poetry competitions, we have produced concerts and workshops in schools, and our composers have created a songbook that addresses a range of environmental issues. We've worked with environmental organisations and charities and even performed our One World song for the BBC. Music and the Arts have been a springboard to communicate important messages to children and young people, who are enthusiastically making the changes needed to save and protect our planet."

At the Awards Ceremony children from St. John's Cathedral Catholic Primary School and St. Edmunds Catholic School performed the One World Anthem, filling the corridors of power with the sound of 'planet-saving' voices.

Roger Wolens, the founder of the Green Apple Awards said: "I'm delighted by Portsmouth Music Hub's great success at The Green Apple Environmental Awards. The judges were hugely impressed by the Music Hub's One World campaign which has powerfully combined musicality and creativity, whilst highlighting important environmental issues with children and young people. Children are the next generation, they will inherit our planet and its precious resources, and the creativity of the Music Hub has asked them to stop and think and change behaviours."

Organised by The Green Organisation, The Green Apple Environmental Awards are part of the global Green World Awards, with entries from Governments, Ministries and Regional Authorities as well as companies and communities from across the private and public sectors.

BAND AND BUGLES OF THE RIFLES INSPIRE PORTSMOUTH'S YOUNG MUSICIANS

Musicians from the Band of Bugles of the Rifles inspired young musicians from Portsmouth Music Hub's wind bands by forming a joint ensemble for a day.

The event, which took place on Saturday 16 November, was created to motivate and inspire young musicians, enabling them to perform with professional musicians and experience the thrill of playing as part of a professional band.

Ellie aged 17, said "it was a fantastic day and I learnt so much playing alongside the professional oboist. I even got to conduct the band which was rather daunting, but the conductor was great and really helped me, so I felt very proud of myself."

From the Avengers, Deep Purple and the Greatest Showman to Pastyme with Good Company, the young musicians enjoyed a challenging and diverse repertoire that enabled them all to shine.

The army bands have been excellent supporters of the Hub and were in fact the very first partner to sign up to support Portsmouth's young people over eight years ago.  The Band and Bugles of the Rifles perform at events around the world in a variety of settings including Sounding Retreats, Freedom Parades, Tattoos and community events.

Sue Beckett, CEO of Portsmouth Music Hub said: "Playing alongside the Band and Bugles of the rifles was an excellent opportunity for the Hub's young musicians. As the children's confidence increased, so did the standards and great progress was made throughout the day. We are very grateful to the Band and their conductor for supporting our young musicians and inspiring them on their musical journey."  

AN EXPLOSION OF CREATIVITY

There was a touch of Strictly Come Dancing at the Kings Theatre on Wednesday (20 November) when professional and amateur dancers from across the region joined hundreds of local children for the very first production of Dance Explosion!

 A thousand primary-aged children packed the Kings Theatre in Southsea, and for many of them this was the first time they had the chance to watch a range of dance performances live on stage. Dance Explosion! didn't disappoint, and the children were treated to tap, tango and street dance, musical theatre, jazz and ballroom, Indian dance and the mesmerising beauty of Chinese classical dance.

 Dance Explosion was a collaboration between Portsmouth Music Hub and the Kings Theatre, with both organisations committed to developing cultural awareness and opportunities for children and young people in the city.

 Sue Beckett, CEO of Portsmouth Music Hub said: "Children love to express themselves creatively, whether with music, art, or drama and most children love to dance. Engaging this creativity, harnessing it and offering opportunities for young people to watch, learn and develop, lies at the heart of everything we do. The challenge is to offer surprising, exciting and inspiring cultural opportunities that ignite a life-long passion for music and culture; and Dance Explosion! has, we hope, done just that."

 Over the past 8 years Portsmouth Music Hub has been providing high-quality musical services for children and young people in Portsmouth. The Music Hub's goal is to transform lives with cultural opportunities, and to give young people the freedom to play, perform, participate and grow in confidence.

 Sue Beckett continued: "This is the first time that the Music Hub has co-produced a dance show, and we have been delighted by the range of exciting performances, and encouraged by the positive responses from schools, parents and their children. The fusion of music and movement has been compelling to watch, and we hope that Dance Explosion! will unlock the imaginations and the creative potential of every child that came and danced along."

BIG CEILIDH WEEK!

As part of Portsmouth Music Hub's Musicing Around campaign, which aims to inspire the very youngest in our community to enjoy a life-long passion for music and the arts, Portsmouth Music Hub and FolkActive have come together to bring live music and dance to hundreds of primary-aged children.

FolkActive specialises in traditional dance and they are taking their own very special brand of music, education and inspiration to schools across Portsmouth.

Each year the Ceildh programme raises children's awareness and appreciation of British traditional dance. It gives young musicians the opportunity to perform alongside a professional Band, and it encourages everyone, children and teachers alike, to take part, to laugh, make mistakes and have lots of fun.

Sue Beckett, CEO of Portsmouth Music Hub said: "Ceilidh week is always a firm favourite with schools and with all the children that take part. Working with a live band that includes some of the city's young musicians makes the programme particularly successful."

This year, to mark One World Week and Portsmouth Music Hub's One World campaign which aims to raise environmental awareness, the children danced and the band performed Sea Level Hornpipe. The song, composed by one of the Hub's award-winning team of composers, reminds us all to think about the impact our actions have on the climate,

Sue Beckett continued: "Ceilidh Week is a wonderful mix of music, dance and most importantly, fun. It reminds children that team work matters, and when they perform together you can see the exuberance, the inspiration and the growing confidence. Music, dance and creativity lasts a lifetime and these first exciting steps into a world of culture for the very youngest children can make a lasting impression."

INSPIRATIONAL SINGING

There are many health benefits that come from singing. It strengthens the immune system, it improves posture, it helps with sleep. Singing is a natural anti-depressant and it lowers stress levels. Singing improves mental alertness, it widens your circle of friends and, simply put, singing is really good fun!

On Thursday 17 October, as part of its Live Music Portsmouth campaign, the team at Portsmouth Music Hub brought together young people from ARK Charter Academy and St. Edmund's Catholic School for a day of workshops that focussed on vocal technique and singing in harmony. The day included wonderful voices, lots of laughter, and perhaps most importantly it united young people from a diverse range of backgrounds, all of them celebrating their passion for singing and music-making.

The children, aged between 11 and 16 had the opportunity to work with David Lawrence, a renowned vocal leader and conductor with a national reputation.

David Lawrence is Associate Conductor with the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra Chorus, conductor of the London Symphony Orchestra's Community Choir and Senior Youth Choir, and Principal Conductor of Young Voices UK.

With such an impressive track record the children were in safe hands as they tackled some challenging pieces of music including Oliver Cromwell by Benjamin Britten, Weeping by Dan Heymann and David's own arrangement of the classic hit You Raise Me Up.

Sue Beckett, CEO of Portsmouth Music Hub said: "Music and singing makes a positive difference in all our lives, it's with us every day, wherever we go, and not only does it bring pleasure and much needed colour to life, but evidence suggests that it has an impact on our physical and emotional wellbeing. Everyone at Portsmouth Music Hub is committed to bringing young people together, to give them a platform to learn, perform and enjoy the wealth of experiences that comes from the art of singing, and having the opportunity to work alongside David Lawrence and to share in his expertise and his passion for singing has made this day completely unforgettable. Live music and singing matters and it unquestionably educates, inspires and enriches us all."

YOUNG MUSICIAN WINS AWARD

A talented young musician from Portsmouth Music Hub's Wind Bands has received a special financial award from the Milton Glee Club to help advance his musical studies.

Ethan Bailey, aged 14, attends Priory School in Southsea and plays the saxophone. He's been learning the instrument since the age of 7, and has performed in concerts at school and with the Music Hub's Wind Band.

Ethan, who also sings and plays the drums, has developed an interest in musicals, with all their excitement and variety, and his current inspiration is the American jazz musician and entertainer Fats Waller. He hopes to go on and enjoy a career in musical theatre and performance.

On hearing the news of the Award Sue Beckett, CEO of Portsmouth Music Hub said: "We're delighted that Ethan has been recognised for his outstanding efforts; this Award really is inspirational, and we're grateful to the Milton Glee Club, who are making such an incredible contribution to the future of our young musicians. They are paving the way for a generation of talented performers who will contribute so much to the cultural fabric of our community."

A CHANCE TO PLAY WITH A MILITARY BAND!

Portsmouth Music Hub are working in partnership with The Band and Bugles of the Rifles, to offer students in the city Grade 2 +, the chance to play alongside first class military musicians.

The day will consist of presentations, demonstrations and workshops with the band, with this opportunity for parents to watch an open rehearsal at the end of the day.