Black Cat at Music Education Expo - a visitor's view

Music Education Expo 2015

"Last week I had the opportunity to visit the Barbican Centre and wander the vast halls of this year's Music Education Expo 2015.

This is the first year that I had attended and I wasn’t too sure what to expect."

 Read the full story here 

"My first stop was a seminar from Blackcat Music (www.blackcatmusic.com).
The session was called “Acoustics For Dummies”.
Now, I’m not an expert in this field by any means, but I found this a very clear and useful seminar.

The information was put into every day terms and showed ways of combating reverberations (echoes) in both rooms and theatres.
The highlight of the seminar was a short demonstration, showing the team constructing one of their sound isolating practice rooms in under 10 minutes!
To say I was impressed with the product would be an understatement!
The whole design was brilliant, there were even ports built in, to allow cables through without letting noise in or out as well as a completely silent fan for fresh air. Perhaps the most impressive detail though, is that the booths can be made into any size you wish and because its a modular design, its entirely portable!"

Richard Morris wins Black Cat Music Lifetime Achievement Award at gala event

Richard Morris was named as the winner of the Lifetime Achievement Awards sponsored jointly by Black Cat Music and MusicPracticeRooms.com at a gala ceremony in London during the Music Education Expo event last week. 

Consultant and Chairman of the Yehudi Menuhin School, Richard Morris is also the co-founder and acting Chairman of the Mayor of London’s Fund for Young Musicians and a governor of Kent Music. 

In an interview with Classic Music, Richard said, “I am both honoured and very touched to receive this award. I have had the joy of working in music education for the past 23 years and much of this time has been spent trying to promote the provision of sustained musical tuition for all young people who show commitment and eagerness. My sole condition on receiving this award is that I should be allowed to continue, since there’s so much more to do.” 

The Music Teacher Awards, was hosted by Classic FM’s Margherita Taylor and attended by 230 guests from music education. The Lifetime Achievement Award was one of eleven awards in total. The Music Teacher Awards for Excellence are organised by Rhinegold Media & Events Ltd in conjunction with Music Education Expo and supported by Music Teacher magazine and Rhinegold Publishing Ltd.

Today at Music Education Expo

Today at the Barbican

Platinum sponsors - Black Cat Music & MusicPracticeRooms.com

New! Acousticabins Express sound isolation cabins

Establish favourites - gold block customised music folders

Busy exhibition hall today.

The Sound of Silence

Today at Music Education Expo - the Barbican, London

See the video

Mark Rasmussen gives a seminar - Acoustics for Dummies

10 Minute challenge! Can the team put up a sound isolating cabin in under 10 minutes?

See the video

The flat pack awaiting assembly

The Acousticabin Express takes shape

7 minutes 29 seconds and the door goes on

The final stages ... the clock is counting down!

All ready for the sound check!

LED music stand light no wires, no fuss - it just clips on

A great offer from Black Cat Music throughout March is a 10 per cent discount on LED music stand lights. 

Black Cat Music’s popular dual-headed, bright white LED light simply clips on to any music stand to provide even illumination of sheet music. The standard version is battery powered, so no trailing wires to trip over in the orchestra pit. 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. But if you want to plug in, there is an alternative option of using the included USB power cable supplied in the pack. Ideal for rehearsal or performance these LED music stand lights are bright, light and versatile and very affordably priced. 

Music Folders Offer Closing Soon

If you were thinking of buying a set of music folders for your musicians or choir, then February is the time to take action. Black Cat Music are offering up to 30% off selected folders and 10 per cent discount on all the rest. But hurry - offers like this can’t last forever. You have until the end of February!

Imagine the visual impact created by a set of smart new matching music folders to give a great identity to your orchestra, chorus, band or choir. The hard-wearing leatherette covers enhanced by hand stitching and brass-bound corners are sure of a long life protecting your music and keeping it together. Choose your style and size, whether for orchestra or choir, some with options such as expanding pockets or retaining strings, pencil pockets and windows.

And there is a choice of colour – Concert Black, Royal Blue or Cardinal Red. Check out the February deal now!

Moscow musical theatre opts for Diva Acoustical Shell system

Nazarov Musical Theatre

Black Cat Music recently installed a Diva Acoustical Shell system in Moscow’s Nazarov Musical Theatre.

In a competitive tender, Black Cat Music’s Berlin based team won the contract in the face of tough international competition. Originally built for the Moscow Olympic Games of 1980, the Nazarov Musical Theatre has recently under gone a major refurbishment. The revival in fortunes for the theatre, located within the Olympic Games legacy site, began when it became part of the legendary Moscow State Philharmony in 2014. A requirement of the building overhaul was an upgrade for the auditorium acoustics, with an acoustic shell being specified by Moscow State Philharmony. 

With the contract awarded, the Berlin based project team of Paula Ulrich and Tim Ehrlich worked to increasingly tight time scales while also accommodating client changes to the final dimensions of the Diva shell. Thanks to support from Wenger Corporation in facing these challenges the Diva Acoustical Shells were delivered to site right on time and ready for the installation to go ahead on schedule. Wenger flew in Jim Smith and Larry Werner from America to ensure the installation went smoothly.

Diva is a system of tower and ceiling panels designed to enhance the aesthetics and acoustics of a theatre dramatically. Rigid honeycomb composite construction provides a strong acoustically reflective surface that projects a maximum range of audible frequencies. Each tower consists of Three sections – a centre panel and two adjustable wing panels. Diva ceiling panels are suspended from the facility’s rigging system and balanced for ease of adjustment.

And a final word from the musicians rehearsing ahead of the official opening night – “the acoustics are fantastic!”

Discover more about Diva.