New brighter music stand lights from Black Cat Music

During November Black Cat Music is offering a special 10% discount on the top selling Mighty Bright Duet 2 music stand lights. Dual LEDs provide smooth illumination across two sheets of music and the good news is these light bulbs never need replacement. Cool to touch and battery powered with no trailing wires, they are very safe to use. 

Utilising two fully adjustable LED head units, the Duet 2 can evenly light two pages of music thanks to optical grade lenses that avoid any hot spots. The new Duet 2 is twice as bright as the previous model and offers four selectable light levels. Sensor switch operation allows, one, or both LEDs to be turned on with just a gentle tap. An extra strong clip attaches the Duet 2 to any music stand and with two flexible arms, the lighting heads can be fully adjusted as required, or bent to a compact position for ease of storage. 

Three AAA size batteries offer up to 20 hours continuous operation. Alternatively an optional AC adaptor additionally allows a series of Duet 2 units to be connected together for lighting control for band or orchestral users. 

Full details of this offer are published on the Black Cat Music web site.

Black Cat Music will be in Berlin for Deutscher Orchestertag

Black Cat Music will be exhibiting a comprehensive range of equipment for professional orchestras at the 9th German Orchestra Conference taking place in Berlin, 13th & 14th November. 

Dirk Rueter, Black Cat Music’s representative in Germany, will be attending the conference again this year. Dirk reports: “I’m looking forward to saying hello to some familiar faces from last year’s conference. We will again be demonstrating our range of superb quality equipment including the world-renowned Wenger orchestra seating and the Tempo musician’s chair, which has proved extremely popular with orchestra managers.” 

Examples of performance equipment from the range of music stands, orchestral chairs, staging, choral risers, conductor’s equipment and music folders will be on show. In addition Black Cat Music offers a range of theatre products embracing staging, tiered audience seating, make-up stations, costume racks and instrument storage cabinets. Black Cat Music Europe is the Master Distributor in Europe and Russia for Wenger Corporation - a company widely recognised as world leaders in fully guaranteed staging and music performance equipment. 

Also being presented at the show are Music Practice Rooms offering an affordable and flexible solution to noise problems in schools. Music Practice Rooms allow professional musicians to rehearse within a controlled environment that minimises the acoustic impact upon those around them. The flexibility of the modular design permits Music Practice Rooms to be configured to fit available spaces. 

Dirk Rueter will be available on the stand to demonstrate products and provide advice. Whether looking for musical performance equipment, event staging, audience and performance seating, theatre equipment or acoustic solutions, Black Cat Music can provide high-quality equipment, which is as durable as it is elegant and easy to use. 

Music Folders discounted in October

Music education and performance equipment specialist Black Cat Music is currently offering Music Folders at a discounted price. This offer only applies during October, so anyone looking to take advantage of this money saving opportunity to kit out their choir or orchestra with a matching set of music folders before the festive concert season, is urged to act promptly.

The elegant music folders benefit from hardwearing leatherette covers, brass bound corners and hand-stitching, designed to provide protection for music as well as looking smart during concerts. At a modest extra charge music folders can be customised with gold-blocking with the name and crest of the choir, band or orchestra, to further enhance the group identity. There is a choice of styles with expanding pockets or retaining strings for choirs and expanding pockets, pencil pockets and windows for orchestral use. Music folders are available in a choice of three colours – Concert Black, Royal Blue and Cardinal Red.

Full details of this offer are published on the Black Cat Music web site. Black Cat Music web site.

Choral folders are the smart option for The Carice Singers

The Oxfordshire and South Warwickshire based Carice Singers have recently added a smart new touch to their concert performances with the introduction of a matched set of Choral Folders purchased from Black Cat Music. 

The elegant, high-quality blue folders with brass-bound corners now add an additional sense of identity to the choir. Conductor George Parris enthused, “as well as looking smart, the folders from Black Cat Music are light and have brilliant pockets for the amount of music we have to store in them.' 

George continued, 'The folders are brilliant, were robust enough to withstand our outdoor recital and meant the singers could carry lots of music with ease - meaning very little rustling between items!'

Black Cat Music offer a range of Choral and Orchestral folders in a choice of colours and the option to customize the cover with gold blocking of the name and crest of the choir or orchestra. Further details can be viewed online. viewed online.

Black Cat Music attend abcd Convention

Members of the Black Cat Music team attended the abcd 25th Anniversary Annual Convention that took place at the Birmingham Conservatoire over the August Bank Holiday weekend. 

The organizers explained, “We're celebrating not only our quarter century, but also our place in the world, our country and our region. We will be experiencing Birmingham's own contribution to choral music … including the first performance of renowned composer Kerry Andrew's new choral work, commissioned specially for this anniversary.

Robert Dagger, Chairman of Black Cat Music said, "It was great to meet so many choral directors who are really passionate about inspiring good singing and getting the best out of their choirs. We were particularly delighted to receive so much positive feedback on our products, such as the Wenger Tourmaster choral risers and the Jazz Music Stand, from people who really care about the quality of their musical performance." The easiest-to-move, easiest-to-set-up riser on the market, the Tourmaster goes anywhere and now Wenger are so confident of the quality of both Tourmaster and Signature choral risers they come with an impressive 15 year warranty. 

"We enjoyed the weekend and were even able to take part in one or two of the singing sessions. It was good to meet so many talented musicians under one roof. There was a real buzz about the event" said Alice Dagger, Marketing Manager, Black Cat Music, summing up the convention. 

We are more campaign

Have you already signed the We are more campaign Manifesto? If not, now is the time to do so! The presentation of the European Commission's budget proposal formally launched the negotiation process. The fight continues for a decent share of the budget, a strong presence of culture in the Structural Funds, and for the many dimensions of culture, and not only the economic ones, to be recognised in the next budget cycle. Join the 17,000 people who have already signed the manifesto. Sign now!

Music therapy may offer help for depression

“Music may engage people in ways that words cannot” according to British experts commenting on a study in Finland on the benefits of music therapy in treating patients with depression. Read more at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-14345808