24 hours across the Pennines!

There is a banter between Lancastrians and Yorkshiremen that has been going on forever: God's own county versus the land where it never stops raining! In both counties, people talk funny, so they say!

Yet these are two of the North's biggest counties, and if we include Cumbria, then the whole of the North of England (save the wonderful county of Northumberland) has been covered. Whichever county you are in, though, there is much music making - from brass bands to male voice choirs, orchestras, numerous other choirs and folk groups.

Recently, I popped over the Pennines, firstly to Preston, home of Katy Bradley and KTB Music. A one-woman dynamo, Katy runs concerts, choirs, teaches and other events and had asked for a choir workshop.

Having been a couple of years ago, I knew what to expect from her singers, and we had a fine evening of music-making with pieces by David Barton, Randall Stroope, John Rutter and some rhythm exercises.

Booking a choir workshop with me is easy - just click on this link. Workshops can be tailor-made to your needs, or you can see what's in my surprise box when I arrive!!

Onwards into the deep lakes!!

The following day, I was in Millom, a small seaside town in the Western Lake District. Having suffered a huge blow to its industry some years ago, it is a town going through rough times. However, it was the town's Ladies choir, the Phoenix Singers, who won our free Christmas carol commission competition this year. Knowing that I wouldn't be able to get to the first performance around Christmas, I visited to hand over the scores - what was to be a simple handover in a car park turned into a wonderful event with the Lady Mayor in attendance, the choir singing, a wonderful buffet spread and a very joyous occasion. The whole event was held in the railway station (which has become a museum to Millom as well as still being an active station), and was captured by the local paper as the choir wanted to share their good news and joy with the rest of the town.

Commissioning new music is so much more than just having a piece written for you - it can, as this event shows, revitalise a choir and give a renewed sense of purpose, provide an excellent news story or mark a milestone in a choir's life. In fact, it can be whatever you want it to be - events so wonderful as this don't come along very often and it was a great honour to be there !

Commissioning is also easy - simply click on this link!

Maybe we will see you soon at a music handover!!

Best wishes

Tim