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The Black Cat Music team is counting down the days to the Independent Schools’ Bursars
Association Annual Conference at Celtic Manor, 13th and 14th May. The Black Cat Music summer 
roadshow will then head to the MMA Conference at Wellington College, Berkshire, May 15th to 
17th. At both events the new AcoustiCabins Express sound isolation cabin will be demonstrated on 
the Black Cat Music exhibition stand.

The AcoustiCabin Express sound-isolation cabin is designed for speedy and easy 
installation, without compromising the booth’s excellent sound-isolating properties. 
Impressive sound isolation is achieved thanks to the use of high performance acoustic 
materials in the slot-together patented panels. The modular, interlocking panel design 
permits considerable flexibility in size and footprint.

The ISBA's popular annual conference brings together many of the independent education sector's 
leading experts offering topical updates for schools plus networking opportunities and an exhibition 
of more than 100 professional advisers and companies dedicated to providing high quality services 
to the education sector.  Held over two days, the event welcomes more than 400 bursars and 
senior management staff from independent schools every year. As the administrative managers of 
schools they are the key decision-makers in sourcing their school's services and supplies.

At the MMA conference, the choices of session are always comprehensive and include over 24 
different speakers with tailored wisdom for all areas of a school music department from music 
administrators and instrumental teachers to heads of department. The Conference always includes 
all meals and refreshments including a black tie dinner with entertainment. The conference trade 
fair is always a lively hub of activity with some thirty corporate members giving in-depth advice and 
showcasing the latest instruments, products and scores. However, networking is one of the key 
reasons that members attend and the opportunity to share good practice and ideas with colleagues 
from a wide range of schools, organisations and corporates is invaluable.

-ENDS -

Issued on behalf of Black Cat Music 
For sales, contracts and product information, contact Teresa Rogers.
Black Cat Music, Bankside House, Vale Road, Tonbridge, Kent TN9 1SJ, England.
Tel . +44 (0)1732 371555. Fax +44 (0)1732 371556.
e-mail:   teresa.rogers@blackcatmusic.co.uk
www.blackcatmusic.co.uk

For further information contact David Brooks
Technical Marketing Ltd., 235A Heath Road, Leighton Buzzard, Beds. LU7 3AG, England.
Tel. +44 (0)1525 854672.   e-mail: dbrooks@technicalmarketingltd.com

Acoustics for Dummies was the title given to one of the conference sessions at Music Education Expo 2015 earlier this year in London.

In a presentation given by Mark Rasmussen from the Black Cat Music marketing team, four common problems of noise in schools were identified and the issues explained and solutions put into simple terms, free of the technical jargon used more formally by acousticians.

For those who missed the event, or who atended and want to take a second look, we have posted a video of the session.

Problem 1 talks about reverberation sound levels – or echoes as most people describe them.

The recently launched AcoustiCabin Express sound isolation rooms are proving ideal for recording purposes in a Stockholm office.

Gustaf Hård af Segerstad in Stockholm told us that they had installed an AcoustiCabin in the office which is proving ideal for educational recordings.

The AcoustiCabin Express sound-isolation cabin is designed for speedy and easy installation, without compromising the booth’s excellent sound-isolating properties. Impressive sound isolation is achieved thanks to the use of high performance acoustic materials in the slot-together patented panels. The modular, interlocking panel design permits considerable flexibility in size and footprint.

The new cabins provide an affordable self-install solution for home studios, school music practice rooms, recording studios, voiceover rooms and vocal booths. They also fit the bill for confidential meeting rooms, language laboratories, examination rooms and medical testing.

Back after a successful debut last year, The River Centre in Tonbridge welcomed the return of the Junior Schools Choir Competition. Staged by Tonbridge Lions Club and sponsored by Tonbridge based Black Cat Music’s AcoustiCabin division, the competition featured seven local choirs numbering two hundred and sixty five children singing in front of sell out audience of three hundred and fifty that included many family and friends.

Tonbridge Lions Club told us, “The judges, Mike Kent-Davies, Nancy Gillio-Terry and Jean Allen, had a difficult task as all the choirs were so good in many different ways. They complimented each choir for the high standard of the performances and said it was wonderful to have so many junior singers in the area. First place was awarded to Slade School; second place went St Margaret Clitherow School and with the judges unable to separate the remaining schools equal third place went to Sussex Road School, Cage Green School, St Stephens School, Woodlands School and Hadlow School. Lion President Neal Charlesworth and his wife Janet presented the prizes. Each school received a cheque to help their music development.”

Alice Dagger, Marketing Manager for Black Cat Music, the leading supplier of music performance equipment for education in the UK, Europe and Russia said, “On behalf of our new AcoustiCabins business, we are delighted to provide sponsorship for this successful local event and congratulate everyone on achieving such a high standard of performance.” AcoustiCabins are affordable sound isolation rooms, recently introduced by the company to provide sound proof practice space in schools or at home without disturbance to others close by while offering a ventillated, acoustically controlled internal room for singers and musicians to practice in comfort.

On behalf of the Lions organising committee, Ken Thomas said, “We were delighted that the event was a great success again with all the choirs performing really well and was enjoyed by all those who attended.” He added, “Tonbridge Lions Club would like to thank AcoustiCabins who provided sponsorship for the event.”

It seems that Black Cat Music’s customers just love our music folders, especially when gold-blocked with the name and crest of their choir, band or orchestra. So much so that many write to tell us how delighted they are when they open the parcel and see their new folders for the first time.

· Jim Jefferson of Barrow Steelworks Band contacted us to say, 'The Band were delighted with the music folders.'
· The Orchestrate Project told us, “Received our shipment of orchestral music folders from Black Cat Music. They look stunning!”
· Kristen Callaway of Wimbledon High School says, “The orchestra folders have arrived safely and are great - thanks so much!”
· “Order arrived today safe and well. The folders look great. Many thanks.” says Chris Stone from Thornden Community Wind Band.
· “Our fabulous performance folders have arrived in time for Friday's concert; thanks, Black Cat Music,” the Cecilian Choir at the University of Kent told us.
· “Just to say thank you for all your help and support with this order which we received last week,” says Frances Belamy of St Peter's Catholic School.
· And a final word from Jo Black, St. Mary's School Calne Opera Ensemble. “The Opera Ensemble was very happy with their music folders, so thank you very much for them.”

The visual impact that can be created by a set of smart new matching music folders offers a cohesive 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.

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.

Platinum sponsoring companies Black Cat Music and MusicPracticeRooms.com were kept busy in the Music Education Expo exhibition hall.

Music Education Expo is the UK’s largest conference and exhibition for music teachers. The event took place at The Barbican, London on 12th an 13th March 2015.

The Black Cat Music exhibition stand offered visitors the opportunity to experience the new AcoustiCabins Express sound isolation booths; plus a range of music education accessory equipment was on display.

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!

Check out the February deal now!

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 at YouTube.com