Surrey Arts snap up sound isolating room at Music Expo

The sound isolation room at Music Expo

We announced that visitors to the MusicPracticeRooms.com stand at Music Education Expo last week, would not only see a fully functioning sound isolating music practice room, but be able to try it out and even buy the very same room at a special ex-demo price. And first in line were Surrey Arts, eager to make the purchase on opening day. 

The facility to dismantle and reassemble the sound isolating room in a new location proved interesting to a number of visitors to the show, including Surrey Arts and we shall be following the story as the room heads off to Surrey. 

MusicPracticeRooms.com specialise in the supply and installation of sound-isolating rooms which provide the ideal rehearsal space for musicians and singers and also make excellent recording studios. The modular design allows for a wide range of sizes, suitable for a solo singer up to a room large enough to accommodate a choir or a band. As the ability to set up an example room at the show demonstrated, the rooms can be relocated as space requirements and priorities change. 

Peter Dunkley honoured to receive Lifetime Achievement Award at Music Expo

Peter Dunkley with Guy Dagger

Peter Dunkley was the winner of the Music Teacher Lifetime Achievement Awards, sponsored jointly by Black Cat Music and MusicPracticeRooms.com 

Peter, retired Chief Executive of Northamptonshire Music and Performing Arts Service told Black Cat Music that he was very honoured to receive the award presented by Guy Dagger, managing director of the sponsoring companies. He went on to pay tribute to the two other nominees – Adrian Brown and Atarah Ben-Tovim – and explained that the award was not the work of just one person, but thanks were due to all the support he had received in a lifetime in music. An interest that continues into retirement in working to continue to provide “opportunities in music for young people.”

The first ever Music Teacher Awards for Excellence were created by Rhinegold Publishing and Music Teacher magazine to celebrate excellence in the UK’s music education sector and to recognise the projects, organisations and products that are contributing the most to the development of music education in the UK. The Lifetime Award was for the individual who has made a seminal contribution to music education. The winners were selected from a pre-announced shortlist by an experienced panel of music educators, chaired by Christopher Walters, editor of Music Teacher magazine. 

The awards ceremony and gala evening was hosted by Classic FM presenter Margherita Taylor, and attended by 180 guests from across the music education sector. 

Thirteen years old Lou Warnett is Sevenoaks Young Musician of the Year

Some of the performers in this year's competition

The winner of this year's Sevenoaks Young Musician of the Year Competition is 13 years old local boy, Lou Warnett. Both Black Cat Music and MusicPracticeRooms.com are delighted to once again be sponsors for the prestigious event. 

The Sevenoaks Young Musician of the Year Competition has become a prestigious event since its launch in 1966 attracting performers aged 12-21 from the local area and around the country. Talented young musicians each give a short recital in front of two distinguished judges with results announced and awards presented at the end of the day. Competition Secretary Tim Daniell told Black Cat Music, “Lou Warnett’s playing of Beethoven and Chopin left the judges in no doubt about both his musicianship and promise. In a day of sixteen recitals given by young players from all over the country the overall standard was even higher than in previous years.” 

Tim continued, "It was a wonderful day of music. In their summaries both judges congratulated performers and their teachers, as well as the performers' parents for providing such a high level of playing on piano, trumpet, harp, violin and marimba." 

The awards were presented by the Town Mayor, Cllr Richard Parry, Cllr Dee Morris is Chairman of Sevenoaks District Council and Charles Hebert, Chairman Sevenoaks Music Club. The judges were Ruth Gerald and William Bruce and those who were awarded prizes were: 

1st Prize Lou Warnett age 13 (Sevenoaks) 

2nd Prize Charlie Lovell-Jones age 14 (Cardiff) 

3dr Prize George Harliono age 12 (Saffron Walden) 

Royal Marines join forces with Black Cat Music at Music Education Expo

 Reporting on the highlights of Music Education Expo from the Barbican in London. 

Event Platinum sponsors Black Cat Musicexhibited on stand E19 a wide range of music performance equipment including music stands, staging, choral risers, music folders and conductors' equipment. Black Cat Music has exclusive distributorship of Wenger Corporation’s extensive product range - acknowledged as the largest manufacturer of fully-guaranteed staging and music performance equipment in the world. Commenting on the opening day, manager of Black Cat Music, Teresa Rogers said, ”the show has generated a lot of enquiries about our products - even the Royal Marines have visited us.” 

Meanwhile fellow Platinum sponsors MusicPracticeRooms.com had installed a fully functioning sound isolating music practice room at the show which visitors were quick to experience for themselves. "We announced this room will be sold after the show at a special ex-demo price'. Marketing Manager, Alice Dagger said, “In fact it has already been sold!.” 

in Seminar Theatre 1, Wednesday 20th March at 10.15 am it was Black Cat Acoustics in the spotlight when Martin and Mark Rasmussen spoke to the subject of 'Simple solutions to noise problems'. Delegates to the seminar session were able to enjoy complimentary coffee and pastries courtesy of Black Cat Music and leave with a free conductor's baton. 

At the inaugural Music Teacher Awards & Galaevening organized by the publishers of Music Teacher magazine to celebrate excellence within the UK’s music education scene and staged in the Barbican’s Conservatory and Garden Room. The Black Cat Music sponsored The Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to Peter Dunkley (retired chief executive, Northamptonshire Music and Performing Arts Service) by Guy Dagger.

Members of the Black Cat Music and MusicPracticeRooms.com team - below - who were on the stand at Music Education Expo this week.

Teresa

Alice

Brigitte

Mark

Martin

Don’t miss Simple Solutions to Noise Problems Seminar at Music Education Expo

Black Cat Acoustics will be providing a seminar at the Music Education Expo 2013 event being staged at London’s Barbican venue, 20/21 March, on the topic of ‘Simple Solutions to Noise Problems'. 

The session will address common noise problems and their solutions and will offer an opportunity for members of the audience to put their noise problems to our specialists, who can suggest some practical and simple to implement solutions. Make sure you attend the Black Cat Acoustics presentation in Seminar Theatre 1, Weds 20th March, 10.15 am and enjoy our free coffee and pastries, served to everyone who attends and don’t forget to collect your free conductor's baton as well. 

Black Cat Music and partner company MusicPracticeRooms.com are proud to be Platinum Sponsors of Music Education Expo. Delegates' tickets are free if you register in advance. 

Head of Music Technology at Eastbourne College opts for Wenger products from Black Cat Music

When Joe Hughes, Head of Music Technology at Eastbourne College was busy procuring equipment for their new music building, his research quickly moved in the direction of Black Cat Music and the range of Wenger products they supply. 

“In preparing for the opening, we had to go round various music schools to see what the best options were for us and we were able to see that Black Cat had an excellent reputation, the build quality was excellent and that is what we decided to go for.” Joe explained. Instrument storage lockers were one such item on the procurement list. He continued, “Prior to installing the lockers we had to make sure we had the right sizes for the various different instruments we have and Black Cat were able to provide us with a range of sizes that suited our needs. It was also important they had the right look, the build quality was there and in a brand new, crisp looking building, the lockers reflected that and fitted in with our style. I would definitely recommend Black Cat and Wenger to other schools.” 

Musicians chairs were also on the list of requirements, “It was very important to us that these matched the auditorium … Black Cat were able to supply samples to match fixed auditorium seating and that attention to detail was very important. Being a music school where pupils are sitting down for quite a few hours playing their instruments, it is very important that their posture is looked after which is what these chairs are able to do. The trolleys make it easy to move chairs from room to room as we need them.“ 

Joe Hughes summed up, “It is good we have Black Cat to supply lockers, chairs, music stands and everything we need in a professional way.” 

The full interview with Joe Hughes talking about the products at Eastbourne College can be viewed on the Black Cat Music YouTube channel. 

March discount on LED clip-on music stand light

Subject to a special 10 per cent discount only during March is a recently introduced dual-headed, bright white LED light that simply clips on to any music stand to provide even illumination of sheet music. 

The adjustable twin goose-neck lighting heads pack the illuminating power of 4 bright white LEDs that thanks to economic operation give extra long battery life. Supplied complete with 3 x AAA batteries the stand light is ready to use straight out of the box. And there is also the alternative option of using the included USB power cable supplied in the pack. 

Normally sold at £11.99 plus VAT, as a special offer for March only, Black Cat Music currently has these brilliant LED music stand lights on offer at just £10.79 plus VAT and delivery. A great opportunity to brighten up the orchestra at an affordable price.