News and general articles from Keiron Andersonhttp://www.keironanderson.co.uk/Tue, 01 May 2007 09:15:30 +0200en-gbhttp://www.keironanderson.co.uk/article.php?id=44http://www.keironanderson.co.uk/article.php?id=44Tue, 01 May 20071st Mayhttp://www.keironanderson.co.uk/article.php?id=43http://www.keironanderson.co.uk/article.php?id=43Mon, 30 Apr 200730th Aprilhttp://www.keironanderson.co.uk/article.php?id=8http://www.keironanderson.co.uk/article.php?id=8Mon, 30 Apr 2007The NCBF Adjudication and Feedbackhttp://www.keironanderson.co.uk/article.php?id=39http://www.keironanderson.co.uk/article.php?id=39Mon, 02 Apr 20072nd Aprilhttp://www.keironanderson.co.uk/article.php?id=42http://www.keironanderson.co.uk/article.php?id=42Mon, 26 Mar 2007Many thanks to PTGraphics for the Photographshttp://www.keironanderson.co.uk/article.php?id=41http://www.keironanderson.co.uk/article.php?id=41Sun, 11 Mar 2007The last four weeks have involved hundreds of hours of working and driving. Many things have happened which I intend to report in full over the next day or two. I have a day off (yes) on Saturday; the first in three weeks and I will be able to put my thoughts into this article. http://www.keironanderson.co.uk/article.php?id=31http://www.keironanderson.co.uk/article.php?id=31Wed, 07 Mar 2007Margaret Frogson - Lady Hilary Groves Prize Lady Hilary Groves Prize 2006 is awarded to Margaret Frogson Through her vision and tireless dedication, Margaret Frogson has made a significant and lasting difference to the musical life of Nottinghamshire and the East Midlands. She has achieved this largely through the success of the musical society Nottingham Symphonic Winds, which is about to enter its twentieth year; and also through support and encouragement she has given to aspiring musicians, especially young musicians, in the community. Her personal warmth and care for those she has contact with has contributed greatly to the lives and aspirations of many musicians and their families in the region.http://www.keironanderson.co.uk/article.php?id=40http://www.keironanderson.co.uk/article.php?id=40Tue, 06 Mar 2007I arrived at around 4.00pm knowing that the NSC had not only been out busking but running a workshop with Nigel Wood and Richard Ingham all afternoon.http://www.keironanderson.co.uk/article.php?id=37http://www.keironanderson.co.uk/article.php?id=37Thu, 01 Mar 2007http://www.keironanderson.co.uk/article.php?id=38http://www.keironanderson.co.uk/article.php?id=38Mon, 05 Feb 2007 NSWO 3rd Feb 2007 Concerthttp://www.keironanderson.co.uk/article.php?id=36http://www.keironanderson.co.uk/article.php?id=36Thu, 01 Feb 20071st Janhttp://www.keironanderson.co.uk/article.php?id=29http://www.keironanderson.co.uk/article.php?id=29Tue, 23 Jan 2007I recently had a call from Malcolm Murray, an old friend of mine from my RNCM days. He has made a habit of keeping up with the recent whereabouts of some of the musicians I studied with in Manchester.http://www.keironanderson.co.uk/article.php?id=27http://www.keironanderson.co.uk/article.php?id=27Tue, 09 Jan 2007If you browse the site you can find a range of articles covering all sorts of issues pertaining to the conducting and rehearsing of ensembles of all types.http://www.keironanderson.co.uk/article.php?id=32http://www.keironanderson.co.uk/article.php?id=32Tue, 02 Jan 2007I am going to attempt to place on this site an ongoing record of what is happening with my ensembles in terms of progress, rehearsals, players and whatever seems important at the time. I hope will not be too boring. Or perhaps I hope it won’t be too interesting as well because that sometimes means trouble!http://www.keironanderson.co.uk/article.php?id=35http://www.keironanderson.co.uk/article.php?id=35Fri, 29 Dec 2006Or was that the title of a Star Wars Film?http://www.keironanderson.co.uk/article.php?id=34http://www.keironanderson.co.uk/article.php?id=34Mon, 11 Dec 2006Every year, conductors find themselves faced with the scenario of another Christmas Concert to prepare. The people running the groups like these concerts as they can be a good opportunity to pull in an audience.http://www.keironanderson.co.uk/article.php?id=33http://www.keironanderson.co.uk/article.php?id=33Sun, 22 Oct 2006The National Saxophone Choir of Great Britain produced their best performance to date on Saturday. The wonderful setting of St John's in Smith Square Westminster provided a warm and clear acoustic which the players exploited in the varied programme of music by living composers.http://www.keironanderson.co.uk/article.php?id=4http://www.keironanderson.co.uk/article.php?id=4Sat, 16 Sep 2006The picture is of the movers and shakers in Scotland. Charlie Maynes is far right and Brian Duguid is 3rd from the right.http://www.keironanderson.co.uk/article.php?id=15http://www.keironanderson.co.uk/article.php?id=15Wed, 30 Aug 2006The First of a series of articles on rehearsal methods.http://www.keironanderson.co.uk/article.php?id=3http://www.keironanderson.co.uk/article.php?id=3Thu, 24 Aug 2006Music is an unbelievably powerful communicative medium. Wow, did I say that? Well, it is! It is so powerful as to bypass words and pictures, going directly to the soul. Yes, the soul. The emotional receptor to all things artistic.http://www.keironanderson.co.uk/article.php?id=28http://www.keironanderson.co.uk/article.php?id=28Sat, 19 Aug 2006As I write this, I've only been to six shows so far, but I don't think I'll be experiencing many better than this one. This saxophone choir (conducted by Kieron Anderson, who is a humorous and engaging presence) is the height of professionalism, and the sound, when I closed my eyes during the 'Danse Macabre', was truly orchestral. There were virtuoso performances from more than one of the choristers and, as was shown during the impromptu round-robin demonstration of the differing sounds of the various saxes, there is a further pot full of virtuosity simmering away on the back burner. Fans of any kind of good music, or just of good anything, should splash out on a ticket for this kind of performance. Underbelly's Cow Barn, Aug 7 - 12, 5:20pm , £11.50 (£9.00), fpp 129http://www.keironanderson.co.uk/article.php?id=25http://www.keironanderson.co.uk/article.php?id=25Fri, 11 Aug 2006From the date of Harlequin's Chesterfield concert onwards things have been extremely hectic.http://www.keironanderson.co.uk/article.php?id=26http://www.keironanderson.co.uk/article.php?id=26Thu, 20 Jul 2006This week I have been conducting groups that for one reason or another have had to add new players to the ensemble. These are players who have not had the rehearsal time with me during the year and are, as a result, not always able to blend in with the ethos of the group.http://www.keironanderson.co.uk/article.php?id=22http://www.keironanderson.co.uk/article.php?id=22Sun, 04 Jun 2006Players and Keyshttp://www.keironanderson.co.uk/article.php?id=21http://www.keironanderson.co.uk/article.php?id=21Fri, 26 May 2006 I have worked in most areas of music and the issue of choosing repertoire has always been a key one where those choices have been mine to make.http://www.keironanderson.co.uk/article.php?id=18http://www.keironanderson.co.uk/article.php?id=18Mon, 15 May 2006Phoenix Concert Bandhttp://www.keironanderson.co.uk/article.php?id=16http://www.keironanderson.co.uk/article.php?id=16Thu, 11 May 2006Radio Days Movement 3 is now complete. The first and second movements are already in rehearsal. Inquiries by email.http://www.keironanderson.co.uk/article.php?id=12http://www.keironanderson.co.uk/article.php?id=12Sun, 07 May 2006I took over as Musical Director of this excellent orchestra in January 2006. They are one of the best-organised amateur musical groups in the country and that is largely because of their founder and organiser, Margaret Frogson. Watching her in action is a real treat and the musicians know that they are all very fortunate to have Margaret and her team looking after them.http://www.keironanderson.co.uk/article.php?id=10http://www.keironanderson.co.uk/article.php?id=10Sat, 06 May 2006The NSC has a fantastic, informative website which contains virtually everything you need to know about the group. I will not try to give a historical or promotional account of the group here as their site does it better and I would recommend the format to any musical group looking for a web presence. The site doubles as a hub for all the players to log on to for sheet music and parts to practise, dates to note and commit to, news, communication and interaction.http://www.keironanderson.co.uk/article.php?id=7http://www.keironanderson.co.uk/article.php?id=7Sat, 06 May 2006Live at the Empire is a musical, written for the pupils of Ilkley Grammar School. It was premiered in March 2006 and was very well received.http://www.keironanderson.co.uk/article.php?id=6http://www.keironanderson.co.uk/article.php?id=6Sat, 06 May 2006I was invited to conduct this group by Brian Duguid who ran the 5 day courses in St Andrews in Scotland. I knew Brian when we were teenagers in the same brass band. We had met at a few conferences and competitions and of course we were from the same background. As I write this, everyone who loved and respected Brian is still mourning his sad and untimely death in December 2005. He had been ill for a long time but no one expected this and we were all shocked and saddened by the loss of such a warm and caring individual. His influence on music making in Scotland was immense. He had great interpersonal skills and was a motivator, innovator, organiser and he always had a great team of hard working people who supported and loved him. He had a terrific sense of humour and loved the company of his fellow musicians. I have many happy memories of drinks and laughter with Brian and Charlie Maynes, which will remain with me forever.http://www.keironanderson.co.uk/article.php?id=5http://www.keironanderson.co.uk/article.php?id=5Fri, 05 May 2006I took over this group in September 2005 having been invited to take over the group by John Anderson. John conducts the Symphony Orchestra and Brass Group at the college and he is very keen to see the whole institution go from strength to strength. There is a buzz about the place since the new building came into use and I have to say that facilities are good. The Venue is a terrific space with good acoustics and a pleasant, comfortable auditorium. Although the band has some gaps in the line up, the students are keen and attentive, playing better each week.http://www.keironanderson.co.uk/article.php?id=2http://www.keironanderson.co.uk/article.php?id=2Fri, 05 May 2006Harlequin have been in existence since 1995 and I got involved with them when trumpeter Brian Winter asked me, during a Yorkshire Youth Wind Orchestra course, if I would take an evening rehearsal for them.http://www.keironanderson.co.uk/article.php?id=1http://www.keironanderson.co.uk/article.php?id=1Sat, 28 Apr 2007A period with 5 concerts in 10 days in Sheffield, Nottingham Leeds and Germany. A huge variety of repertoire and musical styles are involved and some lovely venues. The Albert Hall Nottingham, St John's in Ranmoor, and the lovely concert hall in Thanheim. Some great music too by Grainger, Ellerby, Holst, Tomlinson, Arnold, Monteverdi, Gabrieli, to name but a few. Five different groups and probably a total of 150 players. I hope that one thing will connect them all; good, musical ensemble playing!