Welcome to the world of Mini-Mozart!

The Lancashire Sinfonietta’s Mini-Mozart Concerts are a lighthearted introduction to the world of classical music for tiny ears – a fun place where babies and parents/carers can share the joy of music together.

The concerts have been designed to introduce classical music to the tiniest ears and parents learn about how music can help their child's development, nurture a closer relationship and even tackle underachievement in later years.

The sessions are free to attend, thanks to sponsorship from Classic FM and Lancashire County Council, and every baby takes home "My First Classical CD" with games and information about the benefits of music in Early Years.

Concerts quickly fill up and have waiting lists for places, so booking early is advised. Please call your nearest Children's Centre to reserve your place.

Sat.5th July 2008
NEWCHURCH (ROSSENDALE), Staghills Children's Centre
t: 01706 213303

Sat.19th July 2008
THORNTON CLEVELEYS, Thornton Children's Centre
t: 01253 863169

Thurs.31st July 2008
BURNLEY, Padiham Whitegate Children's Centre
t: 01282 772283

Thurs.7th August 2008
SKELMERSDALE, St.John's Children's Centre
t: 01695 559 867

Email us for further details: info@bluefroguk.com

http://www.lancs-sinf.com/concert11.php

Do you know that for just £5 per person, you can go to an amazing Proms concerts AND get a free workshop beforehand for your family?

Anyone who had a quick look through the BBC Proms programme might not have noticed the wonderful events the BBC are putting on for children, but here is the low down....

Before seven of the Proms there will be special events aimed at children from age 7 plus, and these events are FREE to ticket holders of the main Prom. Anyone with Proms tickets can go along to these introductions as long as they have their “entry ticket” of at least one under 16 year old in their party!

For more information click here

English National Opera is delighted to announce its 2008 Summer School - an exhilarating five days of intensive performance work in Westminster leading towards a live show.

Working with professional artists, participants will create their own performance of music, physical theatre and movement. For those interested in working behind the scenes, there will be opportunities to be involved in design, stage management and lighting. If you're aged 12-16 and interested in performing arts, then this course is for you! There is no audition but you should have enthusiasm and some performing experience. Performance on 30 July at the Embassy Theatre in NW3.

Saturday evening sees the return of 'Proms in Hyde Park ' as Manchester Camerata Orchestra once again take centre stage to perform an extensive programme of popular classical music including various Russian ballet favourites and a selection of opera greats. The evening will finish with a spectacular firework display set to some of the traditional 'Last Night of the Proms' flag-waving classics including Jerusalem, Rule Britannia and Pomp and Circumstance.
Tenor Jon Christos returns to the stage, following on from a year of massive success including performances at Manchester's Bridgewater Hall, the Liverpool Philharmonic Hall and The Royal Albert Hall. Jon is delighted to be performing in Hyde again in front of his home crowd!
Jon will be joined on stage by soprano Jenny Williams who will perform at the event for the first time ever. At only 20 years of age, Jenny is one of the most promising up and coming young classical singers in the Country.
Members of the public are invited to bring their own picnics to the event and make themselves at home in the beautiful surroundings of Hyde Park. There will also be food available from a variety of event caterers. This is an outdoor event - please dress appropriately for the weather.

Jazz infuses tonight’s concert programme. Join this Family Orchestra and have a go at the rhythms and melodies that inspired Gershwin, Stravinsky and Gwilym Simcock.

BBC Proms Family Orchestra was launched in 2006, when five people turned up at a primary school in Reading for the first rehearsal. More recent Proms Family Orchestras have become bigger than your average symphony orchestra, featuring a wide range of music, and an even wider range of ages!

The idea is to give family members – whether mums, dads, brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles or grandparents – the chance to play music together. Everyone is welcome, from keen amateurs to those who’ve never played in an orchestra before – and it’s ideal for those who haven’t picked up their instrument in years! Whatever instrument you play, at whatever level, you can come and join in the fun. Age range 5 plus.

To book your place, contact promslearning@bbc.co.uk

Join Ban and Dan on this exciting, magical journey!

Heroes, Monsters, and Misterstourworm - the biggest, most horrible baddie of them all... Will good triumph over evil? Will Ban and Dan finish their story? Weaving its way through enchanting soundscapes and encountering other-worldly creatures this is a journey not to be missed!

This new piece of musical theatre for chidren is written by critcally acclaimed children’s playwright Stuart Paterson, music by Savourna Stevenson, directed by Tony Cownie.

To read a review of the music click here.

For more information visit www.misterstourworm.com

A special extended Family Orchestra event. Join us to perform a new piece specially commissioned from Errollyn Wallen. This Family Orchestra day will begin with a rehearsal at the Royal College of Music before moving over to the Royal Albert Hall for a performance of the world premiere of the piece with Errollyn and her brother, trumpet player Byron Wallen, on the stage at 4.00pm. Bring your friends and family to hear your Royal Albert Hall debut!

BBC Proms Family Orchestra was launched in 2006, when five people turned up at a primary school in Reading for the first rehearsal. More recent Proms Family Orchestras have become bigger than your average symphony orchestra, featuring a wide range of music, and an even wider range of ages!

The idea is to give family members – whether mums, dads, brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles or grandparents – the chance to play music together. Everyone is welcome, from keen amateurs to those who’ve never played in an orchestra before – and it’s ideal for those who haven’t picked up their instrument in years! Whatever instrument you play, at whatever level, you can come and join in the fun.

‘It was the first time my son had played with more than one other person and he was over the moon.The first question he asked on the way out was “Can we do that again?” Many thanks to the “real” musicians, who were great, both with the kids and the adults.’ Proms Family Orchestra member 2007

All Family Orchestra events take place at the Royal College of Music. To book your place contact promslearning@bbc.co.uk

English National Ballet is once again taking part in the Society of London Theatre’s Kids Week in August

GetIn2Ballet – Beginners’ Workshop
Wednesday 27 August, 6.45pm-8.45pm

English National Ballet invites you to learn more about ballet technique and use it to create your own dances. No ballet experience necessary.

Please note the workshop takes place at English National Ballet’s headquarters in Kensington.

Age: 10-16
Cost: Free
Maximum places available: 25

GetIn2Ballet – Ballet Workshop
Thursday 28 August, 6.45pm-8.45pm

Become choreographers for the evening in this fun, creative ballet session with English National Ballet. For ballet dancers studying grade 3 and above.

Please note the workshops take place at English National Ballet’s headquarters in Kensington.

Age: 11-16
Cost: Free
Maximum places available: 50
Booking opens 15th July, details to follow

Classic Cornwall – Harmoniemusik at the Parish Church St Columb Major 28/29/30 August 2008

The classical music group Harmoniemusik will visit the Parish Church of St Columb Major next month to perform three varied and entertaining concerts.

The highlight of Friday 29th August’s varied programme is the first performance at St Columb, (and possibly in the United Kingdom) of Prokoviev’s Peter and the Wolf arranged for wind quintet and narrated by a voice familiar to Radio 3 listeners, that of Paul Guinery. This concert also includes a Trio Sonata by J S Bach and Beethoven’s enchanting Romance in F for Violin and Piano. Accompanied children under 16 are admitted free to all the concerts, and Prokoviev’s classic tale, which is to be performed before the interval, is a perfect story illustrated by music to enchant the younger generation.

Tickets at the door, from Hall for Cornwall.

Join us for the final Proms Family Orchestra of the season and explore the virtuosic world of the piano. Proms Family Orchestra events are aimed at children aged 5-plus and their families.

BBC Proms Family Orchestra was launched in 2006, when five people turned up at a primary school in Reading for the first rehearsal. More recent Proms Family Orchestras have become bigger than your average symphony orchestra, featuring a wide range of music, and an even wider range of ages!

The idea is to give family members – whether mums, dads, brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles or grandparents – the chance to play music together. Everyone is welcome, from keen amateurs to those who’ve never played in an orchestra before – and it’s ideal for those who haven’t picked up their instrument in years! Whatever instrument you play, at whatever level, you can come and join in the fun.

To book your place, contact promslearning@bbc.co.uk

The Opera Group presents
VARJAK PAW

One Small Cat, One Big City

Music Julian Philips
Lyrics Kit Hesketh-Harvey
based on the best-selling books by SF Said

Following the success of their first work for children The Enchanted Pig ("The whole show casts a spell of wonder and delight" Daily Telegraph), The Opera Group returns with another thrilling and action-packed opera for young eyes and ears.

Varjak Paw is a young Mesopotamian Blue cat. He lives high in a house on a hill. No-one in his family has ever set paw outside; not since their legendary ancestor - Jalal. But when the sinister Gentleman and his two black cats come to the house, Varjak must seek help. Alone in a dark and dangerous city, he encounters a world of tough street cats, makes some unexpected allies and discovers in himself an ancient and magical martial art.

In composer Julian Philips’s score there is an exciting diversity of influences, from contemporary opera to ancient Arabic harmonies, from music hall to modern soul. Varjak Paw will certainly offer an exciting variety of sounds and an accessible way into music theatre for young people.

Great fun for ages 8+

2008 Tour Dates
11 – 13 September The Haymarket, Basingstoke
16 September Oxford Playhouse
18 – 20 September Lighthouse, Poole
25 – 28 September Linbury Studio Theatre/Royal Opera House
4 - 5 October Snape Maltings Concert Hall, Aldeburgh
28 October Sherman Theatre, Cardiff
30 October – 1 November Warwick Arts Centre

.........Forget Batman and Robin that was last year - The ‘Dynamic Duo’ of the music world storm into New Walk Museum & Art Gallery for their all banging, all crashing Family Concert. Oliver Cox and Owen Gunnell - the award winning 'O Duo' team bring their battery of instruments - drums, marimbas, xylophones and many more for an hour of exciting music making and bags of audience participation. Fabulous fun, very noisy but always musical. A delight for children (probably 5ish up) and adults!

Windsor Festival is delighted to welcome back the Philharmonia Orchestra after last year's fantastic Princes and Princesses concert.

This time the theme will be an "Invitation to the Circus".

Feel free to come dressed as your favourite circus character!

Heavenly voices. Devilish behaviour. The time is 1700, the place Rome; the Pope has banned women from performing in public. Young boys are sold to the church and castrated to keep their high voices. Consequently, castrati performed the female as well as the male roles, were adored like pop stars and discovered the perfect disguise for visiting a lady’s boudoir. Castradiva weaves a tale of the amazing lives of the castrati around some of the finest arias Handel and Gluck wrote for them. Seven arias and seven scenes tell the story, populated by six characters adorned with costumes, wigs and commedia masks. Ranging from love to murder, subterfuge to stupidity - tragedy and comedy combine in an extraordinary story. Performed by virtuosic opera singer and actress Buddug Verona James - her feel and passion for the music were described simply as "wonderfully expressive singing" in the Sunday Times and "luscious, suave and creamy" in the New York Times. The music is provided live on authentic instruments (harpsichord, viola da gamba and baroque violin)

Opera Today 2008 - Buddug is compared to Bartoli!

Windsor Festival - Family Concert

Sarah and Alex play saxophone and tuba. They are performing a FREE concert at Windsor Royal Station for 50 minutes.

They are dynamic and engaging, award-winning London musicians, who never fail to enthrall.

Come along and hear them play and you will understand why!

Do you play an instrument, sing in the shower, or drum on your desk? Would you like to meet professional musicians and take part in hands-on creative workshops? Then come along to one of Britten Sinfonia’s Family Music Days. There will be plenty of activities on offer, from instrument-making and face-painting to composing your own music and playing with the percussion band. And there will be the opportunity to hear Britten Sinfonia perform, and even perform alongside them!

Workshop leader Natasha Zielazinski and young performers from the Guildhall School of Music and Drama present these popular music workshops for toddlers and their carers. Sessions include a short performance in the Auditorium and an interactive workshop in the Bechstein Room including singing, playing percussion and a chance to meet the musicians and see their instruments close up.

Ages 2 - 5 years.

Dates:
Thursday 16 October 11.00am - 12noon
Wednesday 12 November 2.00 - 3.00pm
Wednesday 19 November 11.00am - 12noon

Calling all heroes...

Join the Philharmonia Orchestra for a trip through history, and meet some of the most famous heroes and heroines ever to have lived. Take a chariot ride through ancient Rome with Julius Caesar; march through Egypt with Cleopatra; gallop through the American Midwest with Billy the Kid; and carry on into the twenty first century with lots more special pieces of music!

Presented by Kevin Hathway, joined by all the heroes and heroines of the Philharmonia Orchestra, this is a morning of fun and excitement not to be missed! Why not join in and come dressed up as your favourite figure from history?

There will be FREE craft and percussion workshops at 10am and 10.30am. Your concert ticket allows you to book for one workshop, but places are limited, so make sure you book at the same time as reserving your concert tickets. There will also be free-for-all craft sessions running all morning, with no ticket required – just turn up and get stuck in!

Saturday October 25th 2008 - Glasgow Royal Concert Hall
Sunday October 26th 2008 - Queen's Hall, Edinburgh

A time vortex has opened over Scotland but fortunately Alasdair “Time Lord” Malloy is on hand with his sonic screwdriver and some musical magic to help us travel safely through it. Prepare for an adventure through time and space with plenty of astral antics and audience participation along the way. Avoid extermination by coming dressed as the Doctor himself or challenge his power by coming as one of his enemies! There’ll be prizes for the best costumes!

The Classic Concerts Orchestra (Glasgow)
The Orchestra of Scottish Opera (Edinburgh)
Conducted by Julian Clayton
Presented and devised by Alasdair Malloy

More details on our website

Every child loves to hear a good story. When these stories are accompanied by music, they can be even more powerful. The RLPO is joined by Irish dancers as a storyteller helps weave a magical spell over our young audiences with thrilling tales of myth and magic.