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We announced that visitors to the MusicPracticeRooms.com stand at Music Education Expo last week, would not only see a fully functioning sound isolating music practice room, but be able to try it out and even buy the very same room at a special ex-demo price. And first in line were Surrey Arts, eager to make the purchase on opening day.

The facility to dismantle and reassemble the sound isolating room in a new location proved interesting to a number of visitors to the show, including Surrey Arts and we shall be following the story as the room heads off to Surrey.

MusicPracticeRooms.com specialise in the supply and installation of sound-isolating rooms which provide the ideal rehearsal space for musicians and singers and also make excellent recording studios. The modular design allows for a wide range of sizes, suitable for a solo singer up to a room large enough to accommodate a choir or a band. As the ability to set up an example room at the show demonstrated, the rooms can be relocated as space requirements and priorities change.

Peter Dunkley was the winner of the Music Teacher Lifetime Achievement Awards, sponsored jointly by Black Cat Music and MusicPracticeRooms.com

Peter, retired Chief Executive of Northamptonshire Music and Performing Arts Service told Black Cat Music that he was very honoured to receive the award presented by Guy Dagger, managing director of the sponsoring companies. He went on to pay tribute to the two other nominees – Adrian Brown and Atarah Ben-Tovim – and explained that the award was not the work of just one person, but thanks were due to all the support he had received in a lifetime in music. An interest that continues into retirement in working to continue to provide “opportunities in music for young people.”

The first ever Music Teacher Awards for Excellence were created by Rhinegold Publishing and Music Teacher magazine to celebrate excellence in the UK’s music education sector and to recognise the projects, organisations and products that are contributing the most to the development of music education in the UK. The Lifetime Award was for the individual who has made a seminal contribution to music education. The winners were selected from a pre-announced shortlist by an experienced panel of music educators, chaired by Christopher Walters, editor of Music Teacher magazine.

The awards ceremony and gala evening was hosted by Classic FM presenter Margherita Taylor, and attended by 180 guests from across the music education sector.

The winner of this year's Sevenoaks Young Musician of the Year Competition is 13 years old local boy, Lou Warnett. Both Black Cat Music and MusicPracticeRooms.com are delighted to once again be sponsors for the prestigious event.

The Sevenoaks Young Musician of the Year Competition has become a prestigious event since its launch in 1966 attracting performers aged 12-21 from the local area and around the country. Talented young musicians each give a short recital in front of two distinguished judges with results announced and awards presented at the end of the day. Competition Secretary Tim Daniell told Black Cat Music, “Lou Warnett’s playing of Beethoven and Chopin left the judges in no doubt about both his musicianship and promise. In a day of sixteen recitals given by young players from all over the country the overall standard was even higher than in previous years.”

Tim continued, "It was a wonderful day of music. In their summaries both judges congratulated performers and their teachers, as well as the performers' parents for providing such a high level of playing on piano, trumpet, harp, violin and marimba."

The awards were presented by the Town Mayor, Cllr Richard Parry, Cllr Dee Morris is Chairman of Sevenoaks District Council and Charles Hebert, Chairman Sevenoaks Music Club. The judges were Ruth Gerald and William Bruce and those who were awarded prizes were:

1st Prize Lou Warnett age 13 (Sevenoaks)

2nd Prize Charlie Lovell-Jones age 14 (Cardiff)

3dr Prize George Harliono age 12 (Saffron Walden)

Meet the team from Black Cat Music and MusicPracticeRooms.com who dealt with a very busy exhibition stand at the inaugural Music Education Expo ovr the last two days.

Reporting on the highlights of the first day, 20th March at Music Education Expo from the Barbican in London.

Event Platinum sponsors Black Cat Music exhibited on stand E19 a wide range of music performance equipment including music stands, staging, choral risers, music folders and conductors' equipment. Black Cat Music has exclusive distributorship of Wenger Corporation’s extensive product range - acknowledged as the largest manufacturer of fully-guaranteed staging and music performance equipment in the world. Commenting on the opening day, manager of Black Cat Music, Teresa Rogers said, ”the show has generated a lot of enquiries about our products - even the Royal Marines have visited us.”

Meanwhile fellow Platinum sponsors MusicPracticeRooms.com had installed a fully functioning sound isolating music practice room at the show which visitors were quick to experience for themselves. "We announced this room will be sold after the show at a special ex-demo price'. Marketing Manager, Alice Dagger said, “In fact it has already been sold!.”

in Seminar Theatre 1, Wednesday 20th March at 10.15 am it was Black Cat Acoustics in the spotlight when Martin and Mark Rasmussen spoke to the subject of 'Simple solutions to noise problems'. Delegates to the seminar session were able to enjoy complimentary coffee and pastries courtesy of Black Cat Music and leave with a free conductor's baton.

At the inaugural Music Teacher Awards & Gala evening organized by the publishers of Music Teacher magazine to celebrate excellence within the UK’s music education scene and staged in the Barbican’s Conservatory and Garden Room Black Cat Music sponsored The Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to Peter Dunkley(retired chief executive, Northamptonshire Music and Performing Arts Service) by Guy Dagger

Already a top seller, the popular Classic 50 Music Stand does not compromise on a design that is tough enough to handle the hardships of regular classroom use. Thanks to a formula of advanced polymers offering inherent tensile strength, it will not bend or dent like metal stands - a design that also makes it quiet and rattle-free during performances. And the scratch resistant desk surface also incorporates a unique recess for keeping pencils in place.

It might only be a music stand but the Classic 50 is feature-rich.
• Rounded edges for safe and comfortable handling
• Scratch-resistant, elegant concert black finish
• 340mm x 510mm desk – large enough for orchestral scores
• Recessed ledge that stops pencils interfering with turning music
• Desk rotates full circle and tilts up to half circle
• Tough – almost unbreakable
• Bolt-through desk attachment holds tight and secure – Always!
• Adjustable for desk stiffness.
• Quiet patented Teflon coated slider
• Quiet patented Teflon coated slider means no fiddly knobs and screws
• A virtually unbreakable tripod base with shaped feet to avoid damage to the floor

And when the performance, rehearsal or class is over, stands can be stacked on the easy to load Move & Store Cart for transport and convenient, compact storage.

Just over one week to go to Music Education Expo and Black Cat Music and partner company MusicPracticeRooms.com - Platinum Sponsors of the event at London’s Barbican venue, 20/21 March 2013 - are counting down the days.

Talking about the sponsorship tie in, Black Cat Music’s marketing manager Alice Dagger said, “We are delighted to be involved as Platinum Sponsors of this exciting new event and to also be providing the Lifetime Achievement Award.”

Black Cat Music will be exhibiting a wide range of its music performance equipment including music stands, staging, choral risers, music folders and conductors' equipment at the show. Black Cat Music has exclusive distributorship of Wenger Corporation’s extensive product range - acknowledged as the largest manufacturer of fully-guaranteed staging and music performance equipment in the world.

When you visit the Black Cat Music/MusicPracticeRooms.com stand (E19) not only can you see a fully functioning sound isolating music practice room and try it out for yourself, but you can buy this very same room for a special ex-demo price after the show. While you are thinking about acoustics, make sure you attend the Black Cat Acoustics presentation in Seminar Theatre 1, Wednesday 20th March at 10.15 am on the subject of 'Simple solutions to noise problems'. Enjoy our free coffee and pastries, served to everyone who attends the seminar and don’t forget to collect your free conductor's baton.

The Lifetime Achievement Award will be presented at the inaugural Music Teacher Awards & Gala evening which is organized by the publishers of Music Teacher magazine to celebrate excellence within the UK’s music education scene and takes place on the evening of the 20th March in the Barbican’s Conservatory and Garden Room.

Described as “the largest gathering of music education professionals in the UK,” organisers Rhinegold promise, “The UK’s most comprehensive music education event. Comprising a major exhibition, a dynamic educational programme and exceptional networking opportunities. This two-day event offers music educational professionals a highly rewarding experience - both professionally and personally.” And it is not too late to register for Music Expo.