Latest PMZ News
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MERRY CHRISTMAS PMZers!!! - 06/12/2011
There's already a lovely Christmas message on our download page from our first ever patron Seth Lakeman but everyone at PMZ would also like to take this opportunity on the website to say we hope you all have a fabulous festive season and a fantastically Happy New Year! A huge thanks to all our Music Leaders who work so incredibly hard because they absolutely love what they do - and we love them for doing it. A mega thanks to all the children, young people and adults we work with - who're the reason we all get up in the morning. And an enormous thanks to all our supporters and partners in the city, old and young - without you this project wouldn't exist. It's been a truly cracking year and that's thanks to all of you...So, let the merriment and melodic Christmas carol singing begin. May you find music under every bit of mistletoe and may you use music to make yourself and everyone around you very happy indeed...Merry Christmas x PS Remember our after school activities are back the week of 9th January and watch out for the launch of our new website in the New Year too!
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SETH LAKEMAN IS PMZ's FIRST EVER PATRON! - 21/11/2011
PMZ is proud to announce that the multi-award winning musician and singer songwriter Seth Lakeman is to be Plymouth Music Zone’s first patron. Seth is considered one of the hottest talents to have emerged from the British folk scene and is famed for creating powerful music inspired by local folklore and legends around his Dartmoor home. Now he’s making history of his own at Plymouth Music Zone with the launch of the new PMZ Patron Programme that aims to help highlight the impact of the work the charity does. Seth Lakeman says: “I’m really happy to be Plymouth Music Zone’s first patron. The work the charity does to develop the confidence, skills and aspirations of its participants is fantastic and is clearly making a significant difference. Music education has always been really important to me and as someone from Devon, I’m delighted to be associated with Plymouth Music Zone and to offer my help where I can. I wish them continued success in the future.” Seth has already made a name for himself having won 2 BBC Folk awards and been a surprise Mercury Prize nominee in 2005. He’s likely to be thrown back into the spotlight again following the release of his latest album only a few days ago. The PMZ Patron Programme has been launched to provide a real way for successful musicians in the industry to engage with PMZ to see and support how music transforms lives at a grassroots level. Seth will now be advocating on PMZ’s behalf and is keen to get involved and play some great music with us too. To find out more check out the Media release in the press section of our website and you can find some fantastic videos of Seth on his website on www.sethlakeman.co.uk
Official Royal Harpist Plays at PMZ - 17/11/2011
Plymouth Music Zone participants are to get the red carpet treatment from the former official harpist to the Royal family. We've invited the Welsh harpist Claire Jones to take part in special workshops with PMZers. Claire is more used to personal invitations to play at the Royal Palaces than places like Plymouth Music Zone. She was invited earlier this year to play at the Royal Wedding at Buckingham Palace for the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, but the children from a local Devonport school are all set to give her a reception at PMZ to rival any other. Claire Jones’s journey to becoming the official harpist to HRH The Prince of Wales began at the age of seven with the start of her musical education. Claire soon excelled in three instruments, Harp, Violin, and Piano and achieved three grade 8 distinctions at the age of 14. Claire then studied harp and entered the Royal College of Music at 18 years old graduating with 1st class honours in 2007 before further graduating as an M.A. scholar from the Royal Academy of Music in
2009. Claire is certainly used to playing larger audiences than PMZ. The opening of the international rugby game, Wales V South Africa, Prince William Cup, saw Claire play to a sell out
crowd of 75,000 fans and 4 million viewers on BBC. But Claire also hugely values the education work she does in many schools with organisations like “Superact!” that joins up talented musicians with local communities. Local children from Mount Wise Primary school and adults from the Life Skills programme at City College will be taking part in the workshops at PMZ on Fri 18 Sept from 10am-1pm.
TONALITY CHOIR CHAMPS - 15/11/2011
Plymouth Music Zone's award winning choir Tonality is continuing its winning streak against all odds. Tonality have just been awarded overall winners in the City of Plymouth Music Festival 2011 despite being the only youth choir in the competition. The 15 strong group of girls and accompanist Ben Tucker were led to victory by music leader Laura Ilsley with their stand out renditions of 'One Big Family' by Embrace and 'Rehab' by Amy Winehouse. As a result, Tonality have also received the honour of being invited to be the final act in the upcoming City of Plymouth Festival Gala Concert on Dec 2. Music Leader Laura says "I am thrilled with Tonality's performance and all the hard work they've shown. Thank you to the Plymouth Festival for all their support and we look forward to defending our title next year!" If you're aged 14-19 yrs and wish to join Tonality then please call us on 01752 213690 to set up an informal audition. Come and join the fun!
What do you want to be when you grow up?! - 04/11/2011
Around a hundred budding doctors, lawyers, artists and astronauts will be creating music together at Plymouth Music Zone in an annual project that proves the world really is your oyster...The children from Primary Schools in Stonehouse will take centre stage at PMZ as part of a careers advice initiative that aims to open a hundred 10 year old’s eyes to what they really want to be when they grow up. The ‘Widening Horizons’ project is the first of its kind to take place in primary schools and believes catching them sooner rather than later can help children set their sights higher and wider. As part of the project, children take part in activities designed to promote their confidence and self-esteem to raise their aspirations and motivation when back in school. The programme starts with a ‘launch’ event hosted by Plymouth Music Zone where a hundred year 5 students will be using music to make friends beyond their own school gates. The day itself focuses on group cohesion, team work and student participation through fun and enjoyable music activities. The singing and music-making workshops are being recorded onto CD and the tracks will then be ‘mixed’ with the help of some aspiring 10 year old music producers before being presented to every participant when they return to school. The project is run by a regeneration agency called the Millfields Trust and is in its second year following last year's resounding success.
