In the second of our short series of interviews with our fabulous freelance musicians, we chat to King’s Singer Edward Button who has been involved in several of Armonico Consort’s new streamed concerts featuring some of our favourite early music repertoire, from Byrd to Bach.
The recent launch of our streamed concerts On Demand has not only brought enjoyment to our audiences, but valuable work for our fabulous freelance musicians. A full year after concert-giving came to a shuddering halt, we’ve been asking some of them what life has been like.
Armonico Consort is launching a brand new series of streamed concerts to enjoy at home, anywhere in the world, with a collection of filmed performances released from Monday 8 March 2021. Conducted by Artistic Director, Christopher Monks, the concerts have been beautifully filmed and feature some of the critically-acclaimed choir’s favourite early music repertoire.
WATCH VIDEO: Christopher Monks looks forward to Armonico Consort’s 20th anniversary We’ll be celebrating in style as any 20-year old would! Do keep in touch and join the party. A Happy New Year to all our friends and supporters. 2021 is a particularly exciting one for Armonico Consort as we celebrate our 20th anniversary. Artistic Director,
Armonico Consort’s musicians brought the power of music to residents living with dementia at a Warwick care home and helped launch a search for permanent musicians of their own.
Wine expert and TV broadcaster Oz Clarke is to get on his bike (again) to help us raise awareness of the benefits of music therapy for older people and those living with dementia and launch our partnership with the Alzheimer’s Society.
Over the past few years Armonico Consort has been busy developing a whole range of musical activity specially designed to support the mental health and well-being of older people and those living with dementia, in care homes or in their own homes.
Hilary Eldridge first came across Armonico Consort thanks to Dame Emma Kirkby and has been a loyal friend and supporter ever since, most recently enabling us to put on our first post-lockdown concert, Dido and Aeneas. Our Relationship Manager, Patrons and Sponsors, Eva Williams, chatted to the Conductor’s Circle member.
Thanks to a grant from Warwickshire County Council, we’re running weekly online singing sessions for Over 60s, vulnerable older people and those with dementia, this summer. They’re completely free and easy to access via YouTube.
Conductor’s Circle member, David Phillips MBE, has a passion for music of the Renaissance and Baroque eras and for running marathons – 500 of them! Our Relationship Manager, Patrons and Sponsors, Eva Williams, chatted to the Kenilworth-based accountant about his 19-year involvement with Armonico Consort and the personal fundraising projects that have earned him the MBE.
For our final flourish of the summer term, we’re waving goodbye to lockdown with ‘Armonico Consort’s Unlocked Festival’ (15-17 July). Join us for three fabulous days of live recorded concerts, interviews, singing workshops, musical recollections, a virtual choir and more, all via Facebook and YouTube.
We are delighted to announce the first of a new series of live, recorded concerts – Purcell’s Dido and Aeneas – and look forward to a mini festival from 15-17 July.
We’re thrilled to launch Unlocking Baroque Memories – live music therapy, tailor-made for dementia sufferers, brought to you by Armonico Consort’s specialist baroque musicians and guest artists.
As part of our Virtual Royal Albert Hall Festival Week next week we’ll be hosting twice-daily Sing with Simon workshops, devised with the Over 60s in mind.
Never one to shy away from a crafty pint, our Artistic Director Christopher Monks has rounded up some of the wonderful world class artists Armonico Consort frequently works with and chats to them over a beer (or beverage of their choice).
Over 2,500 singers from our AC Academy projects will miss performing together at the Royal Albert Hall on Wednesday 3 June but that’s not going to stop us singing! We’re creating our very own version of AC Academy Does the Royal Albert Hall – virtually – so we can all get together and sing our hearts out from our own living rooms.
Mental Health Awareness Week is a great opportunity to remind ourselves of the extraordinary ability of music to benefit our mental and physical well-being. From reducing stress among employees and improving self-esteem in young people, adding to the quality of life for care home residents to reducing anxiety and depression amongst people with dementia, it’s official SINGING IS GOOD FOR YOU!
In response to Coronavirus restrictions, at the end of March Armonico Consort’s founder and Artistic Director, Christopher Monks, outlined how we were adapting our work and moving our tried-and-tested singing workshops into the virtual world to enable us to support schools, children at home, care homes and those caring for dementia sufferers.
The final part of their Kenya Diary from March sees Christopher Monks and Toby Young lead a workshop at a Maasai school, join the incredible Juakali Drummers, and visit a haven for girls caught up in drugs and prostitution. Along the way, they attempt to the learn the drums and are made honorary Maasai warriors
In the second of a three-part diary of their Choir Creation visit to Kenya, Christopher Monks and Toby Young experience two very contrasting situations – the first a centre for young boys rescued from the street, many of whom were orphans. The second, a school set in the middle of nowhere, almost tribal, and their first experience of the Kenyan Maasai heritage.
In Kenya, singing and culture is at the heart of the education system but there is little support and training. In an action-packed visit in March, Artistic Director, Christopher Monks, and Composer in Residence, Toby Young, piloted a choir creation programme, learned songs and music, became honorary Maasai warriors and made an emergency evacuation before coronavirus lockdown.
An update from our Artistic Director, Christopher Monks on short-term changes to re-focus Armonico Consort’s work to deliver some of our most valuable projects – our tried-and-tested singing workshops – in schools and care homes where they are most needed, and to create an emergency fund to support our freelance musicians.
Read our fascinating interview with our President Roger Medwell MBE, DL – a former engineer and captain of industry now helping to steer Armonico Consort in its concert and charitable missions.
We’re inviting talented teenage singers from the Warwick, Coventry and Solihull areas to audition to become AC Academy Scholars with free tuition and coaching from top professionals, high-level performance opportunities and mentoring for Oxbridge and university choral scholarships.
INTERVIEW: Royal wedding soprano Elin Manahan Thomas tells Christopher Morley about singing for billions and touring “my very favourite thing to sing”, Bach’s B minor mass, which she’ll do – with Armonico Consort – this spring.
Hats off (scarves on) to our Voice Squad workplace choirs at Coventry City Council and University Hospitals Coventry & Warwickshire for warming a very chilly evening at the Coventry Christmas Lights switch-on with their rousing singing.
Gerald Finzi (1901-1956) is one of the most significant figures in British 20th century music, particularly when it comes to choral and vocal music. So we were delighted when the charitable trust set up in his memory agreed to support two of our AC Academy Scholars.
One of the newest members of the world-famous King’s Singers, Edward Button first heard the group at St Mary’s Church, Warwick and never imagined he’d end up joining them. He tells us how his early love of singing, parental encouragement and lots of practice, have led to his dream job.
The bikes are back in the sheds, the saddle sores healing and the pennies have been counted and the fantastic news is that Oz & Armonico’s Great Bike Adventure has raised an incredible £14,000 to date …
We’re thrilled that wine specialist, writer and TV presenter Oz Clarke has agreed to lead a 200-mile, four-day sponsored bike ride to help us raise over £10,000 to set up more children’s choirs across the UK.
