Blog

The Black Cat Music team is looking forward to attending the forthcoming Deutscher Orchestertag 2014.

The goal of the 12th annual conference for German orchestra managers is to promote the exchange of ideas and articulate the interests of more than 150 German orchestras. Opportunities for discussion and information on the latest developments and strategies for pricing are encompassed in the conference sessions. Cultural and political issues will also be up for discussion.

The central theme of this year’s conference will be concert promotion and how to grow audiences. The Director of the Konzerthaus Dortmund, Mr. Benedikt Stampa, will phone in live from Dortmund to talk about marketing strategies.

Delegates will also have an opportunity to improve their leadership skills. And, as before, Mr. Rolf Bolwin the German Stage Association will update attendees on the latest developments within the German orchestra scene.

Black Cat Music will exhibit a wide range of high quality performance equipment including ergonomic orchestra chairs, stage systems, music stands, stand lights and instrument and music storage systems. Black Cat Music is the central distributor in Europe and Russia for Wenger Corporation. Wenger is world-renowned for the quality and durability of its music equipment, and all Wenger products carry a minimum 5-year warranty.

Announced today are details of the Music Teacher Awards for Excellence and once again Black Cat Music and MusicPracticeRooms.com are sponsoring the Lifetime Achievement Award.

“Created to celebrate excellence in music education, the Music Teacher Awards for Excellence are now in their third year, and accepting nominations for 10 award categories.

The 2015 Awards will be presented at a gala evening at The Grange St Pauls Hotel in London, on the first night of Music Education Expo (12 March 2015).

2014 winners include Vivienne Price, In Harmony Opera North, Singing Playgrounds from Ex Cathedra, Baden-Powell and St Peter’s Junior School and Drake Music Scotland.

This year there are 11 award categories, 10 of which will be accepting nominations. Short video clips outlining the criteria for each award can be found online, as well as written explanations.

Nominations are encouraged from all sections of the public, and will be accepted until Friday 24 October 2014.

The shortlist will be announced online in mid-November and in the December issue of Music Teacher magazine.

The categories

For which nominations are accepted:

· Best Musical Initiative Award, sponsored by the Royal Marines Band Service
· Best Print Resource Award, sponsored by Rhinegold Publishing Ltd
· Best Digital/Technological Resource Award
· Best SEN Resource Award
· Excellence in Primary/Early Years Music Award
· Best School Music Department Award, sponsored by the MMA (Music Masters Association)
· Musicians’ Union Inspiration Award, sponsored by the Musicians’ Union – NEW
· Best Music Education Product Award – NEW
· Best Classical Music Education Initiative Award, sponsored by Classic FM
· Lifetime Achievement Award, sponsored by Black Cat Music and MusicPracticeRooms.com

For which nominations are not accepted:

· Music Teacher Magazine Editor’s Award, sponsored by Hiddledy Piggledy Jazz

More information about the categories, including judging criteria, can be found and nominations can be made at www.musiceducationexpo.co.uk/awards

The judges

The winners of each category (save for the Music Teacher Magazine Editor’s Award, decided by Thomas Lydon & the Best Classical Music Education Initiative Award, decided by a public vote on classicfm.com) will be selected by an experienced panel of judges, chaired by Thomas Lydon, editor of Music Teacher magazine:

· Professor David Saint, principal, Birmingham Conservatoire
· Lucy Johnstone-McCarthy, head of music, Baden-Powell and St Peter’s C of E Junior School
· Paul McManus, chief executive, Music Industries Association
· Judith Webster, chief executive, Music For Youth

- Ends –

NOTES FOR EDITORS
Black Cat Music and sister company MusicPracticeRooms.com are both Platinum Sponsors of Music Education Expo and will be exhibiting and also participating in the associated conference.

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. They are sponsored by Classic FM and Yamaha.

Time is fast running out to buy a Wenger Conductor’s Upper Podium complete with a safety handrail at our special discounted end of term price. But hurry. This offer must close at the end of July.

Stable, stylish and sturdy the Conductor’s Upper Podium is ideally suited for use in an auditorium or performance venue and is equally at home in the rehearsal room. Designed for use with a companion base podium to which it locks securely it includes a detachable safety rail finished with black, scratch resistant powder coated paint. The platform surface enjoys the benefit of a hard wearing but stylish grey carpet, while the one-piece steel framework provides strength and rigidity. Rubber pads ensure stability and thanks to in-built wheels mobility when moving the podium from one location to another is made easy.



Take a look at the video demonstration on the Black Cat Music YouTube channel or go straight to our online offer page

For limitless configuration flexibility and multi-level staging, it’s all about the legs. That’s the StageTek story from Wenger. Staging that redefines the standard for strength, durability, ease of use, safety and flexibility.

Based on over fifty years of developing staging for events, performance and music and arts education, Wenger has developed StagTek which can be configured to different shapes and heights to suit the application and venue. By making the legs, ‘plug and play’, intuitive to install and affordable, a variety of heights and configurations are possible that folding stage systems simply cannot do.

Decks are lighter and faster to set up too, easy to lift and handle and what’s more significantly exceed the industry standards for loadings and stability. Lighter and safer to lift and carry StageTek is also easy to move on carts and store away when not in used. All this and the best warranty on the market today. Take a look at the video.

- Ends –