Breaking into Television, Special Guests + Q&A

Tuesday 26 January 2010
6.30pm: Doors & Bar
7.00pm: Event start
At: Lighthouse, 28 Kensington St, Brighton BN1 4AJ
Entry: £3.50/£3 concs.

Spaces are limited. To book tickets in advance please go to: https://express.iristickets.co.uk/k?lighthouse

Have you got a cracking drama series concept but aren‘t sure of the first steps to get your idea realised?

Come and join writer Philip Palmer in conversation with BBC Commissioning Editor Esther Springer.

Listen to experienced voices as they discuss the journey from two viewpoints.

For more information about the event and panellists please visit: http://www.lighthouse.org.uk/whatson/breakingintotv.htm

Look out for Holst scholar & tutor Raymond Head on BBC's The One Show tonight !

Tune in from 7-8pm on Tuesday 19 January - programme features composer, teacher and Holst scholar Raymond Head + the Holst Birthplace Museum.

1934: Re-assessing Elgar, Delius and Holst - Music Appreciation

BBC Radio 4 Today programme to feature amateur choirs

The musician Robert Wyatt, formerly of the rock band Soft Machine, will be guest editing an edition of the BBC Radio 4’s Today programme on New Year's Day, in which he will be promoting the singing of amateur choirs. Robert says that he prefers them to professional choirs because there's a greater sense of commitment and meaning in their singing. ‘Amateur means somebody who does something for love and I can't think of a better reason to doing anything,’ he says. ‘You can hear in people's voice that they're not doing it because they have to but they are doing it because they want… There's a sense of commitment and meaning in that I really like.’ Robert would like any Today listeners who are involved in amateur choirs to send in recordings of their work which he will play on the programme on New Year's Day. If you think the choir you sing in deserves a public hearing, you will need a two-minute recording of your choir in a digital format which you can then either upload to the BBC website at http://bbcnewsupload.streamuk.com/ or email to yourpics@bbc.co.uk with ‘Today Church Choir’ as the title. The files need to be under 50MB in size and make sure you provide details of choir and the music being sung, along with email contact details. Alternatively you can post the recording on CD to the following address: Today Programme Church ChoirRoom G630, Stage 6, Television Centre, London, W12 7RJ.

Britain's High Street Wants You!

Maverick TV is producing a major new series for the BBC, looking for new products that should be sold in high street shops, but have yet to find their market. The company has unique access to the buying departments of some of the biggest names on the high street, who have committed to stocking the best of what they see. All will be overseen by Theo Paphitis of Dragon’s Den.

Maverick TV would love to hear from anyone with a product, whether it be clothing, food, jewellery or the new Dyson, who would like the chance to pitch to a current major retailer. Open days will be held, and subsequent filming beginning early next year.

If people are selected open days will be happening in February at locations yet to be assigned - but for the time being if anyone interested could contact highstreet@mavericktv.co.uk with information on their product.

BBC music magazine free downloads

Great News! BBC Music now offer readers the opportunity to download a free track every week via the website: http://www.bbcmusicmagazine.com/. Simply register your details online and you will be sent an email every week notifying you of the week's new download.

Who Do You Think You Are? LIVE - family history event 2010

Who Do You Think You Are? LIVE is excited to announce two of it’s celebrity guests, respected actor, author and historian Tony Robinson plus the much loved BBC wildlife presenter, Kate Humble! Both will be appearing at the 2010 event, where they will be discussing their own experiences in researching their family history.

The 2010 event, taking place on the 26th-28th February 2010 at the National Hall, Olympia, will attract around 15,000 family history enthusiasts and is set to be the biggest family history event in the UK.

www.whodoyouthinkyouarelive.co.uk

Farncombe Estate has recently joined the Associated Teachers of Singing as a Corporate Member

The Association of Teachers of Singing (AOTOS) was founded in 1975 to promote a wider understanding of all aspects of the teaching of singing. They create opportunities which bring together teachers from all over the world. All AOTOS activities and services are open to members specialising in teaching any expression of song: from classical, through music theatre and folk, to jazz, rock and gospel, either privately or in school, college or conservatoire.
http://aotos.org.uk/directory/

Help set a brand new Guinness World Record - Plant a Tree

Plant a Tree and help break a World Record
Be part of the biggest tree planting attempt in the UK ever
Saturday 5th December
11am - 12noon

Are you ready to grow something seriously groundbreaking? Help celebrate National Tree Week by teaming up with the BBC for an amazing one-off event. Tree O'Clock is a nationwide challenge to plant more than 600,000 trees within a single hour (11am - 12 noon on 5th December).
That's a heck of a lot of trees in just one little hour. Which is why Tree O'Clock needs as many people, schools, workplaces and community groups as possible to muck in. You can either plant a tree in your garden or join in one of the organised events at various locations locally.
Every tree must be planted between 11am - 12 noon. So grab your wellies, roll up your sleeves and help set a brand new Guinness World Record.

Log onto the website for full details, planting tips and how to make your tree count, http://www.bbc.co.uk/breathingplaces/partners/

The search for the greatest real life stories never told

The BBC is inviting you to enter a new competition and share your untold real life stories. The best will be published and also featured in a BBC One programme called 'My Story'.
Anyone with an interesting experience from work, home, hobbies or holidays can submit it to the 'My Story' website. Entries only have to be between 300 and 1,500 words. Up to fifteen of the most compelling storytellers will get the chance to appear in a major TV series in 2010. There will also be the chance for five people to have their book published which could see the story of their lives available to buy in shops alongside their favourite authors.
BBC Arts Commissioner, Mark Bell, commented: "My Story aims to get people reading, writing and telling some remarkable stories. The BBC believes that the arts should be accessible to all and we're proud as a publicly funded broadcaster to be at the heart of storytelling."
The website is www.bbc.co.uk/mystory and it contains videos and interactive tools to help people plan and structure their story as well as tips on writing styles and skills. In addition, short videos presented by 'EastEnders' actress Nina Wadia and comedian Lenny Henry show you how easy it is to get started and explore simple ideas to get the creative juices flowing. There are also cameo appearances from Peter Duncan, Tara Palmer Tomkinson, Stephen K Amos and Roland Rivron.

VILLAGE SOS

Do you want the chance to be one of six villages in England to be featured on a reality BBC TV programme?

Does your village have a population of under 3,000 people?

Do you have a great idea for a business enterprise which will bring energy and life back to your community?

Could the project be started by August 2010 and finished by August 2011?

Do you want to be eligible for between £100,000 and £400,000 of funding from BIG (Lottery)?

Do you want to work with an enterprising ‘Village Champion’ who will move in to your community and support you to achieve your ambition?

If you answered ‘yes’ to these questions, you may be interested in the new initiative from the Big Lottery Fund and the BBC ‘Village SOS’. Find out more by following this link.

http://www.biglotteryfund.org.uk/prog_village_sos.htm

The Urban Folk Quartet – Debut Gig!

This Friday, 12th June 2009



With support from BBC Folk Award finalists Jack McNeill and Charlie Heys.



8pm, upstairs at The Cross,
Moseley,
Birmingham,
B13 8JP



£6 on the door, party bags for people who arrive early!



Born from the unique melting pot of the Birmingham Folk Music scene, The Urban Folk Quartet is virtuosic not just in feel and technical ability but in musical concept as well, it is a coming together of four of the most inspired and experienced young people working in World Music today. Members of the band have played with The Chieftains, The Albion Band, Carlos Nunez, The Destroyers, The Conservatoire Folk Ensemble, The Old Dance School, Chris While and Bellowhead amongst others. Don’t miss the launch of this brand new band, playing for one night only in the UK before summer festivals in Italy, Belgium and Spain.



Joe Broughton – Guitar, Fiddle and Mandolin

Tom Chapman – Cajon and Percussion

Frank Moon – Oud, Guitar and percussion

Paloma Trigas – Fiddle

www.theurbanfolkquartet.com

2009 Haydn, Mendelssohn Handel & Purcell Anniversary Events

Choirs are invited to register in performing Mendelssohn’s “O for the Wings of a Dove” as part of a nationwide Mendelssohn celebration from Friday 8 May to Sunday 10 May. Choirs may schedule their performance in any chosen location during the weekend in question. For more information visit www.choirs.org.uk/mendelssohn.html and for details of BBC Radio 3 Composers of the Year visit www.bbc.co.uk/composers/

BBC Radio 3 Composers of the Year

British Choirs on the Net (www.choirs.org.uk)

British Choirs on the Net is working closely with the BBC Radio 3 Composers of the Year (Radio 3) and The Birth of British Music (BBC 2).

Composer of the Year is a celebration of the lives of four magnificent composers throughout 2009. The year marks the 350th anniversary of Henry Purcell's birth, the 250th anniversary of G F Handel's death, the 200th anniversary of Joseph Haydn's death and the 200th anniversary of Felix Mendelssohn's birth.

As part of the Nationwide Mendelssohn Celebration, choirs are invited to register their interest in performing Mendelssohn's 'O for the Wings of a Dove' from Friday 8 May to Sunday 10 May. Choirs may schedule their performances in any chosen location during the course of the weekend in question. Registration is by email to composers@bbc.co.uk Putting 'Wings Choir Registration' in the subject line, email us details of your choir, with the name, postal address, and email address of a primary contact, together with the URL of your choir's website, where applicable. Tell us about your choir and why you're keen to take part. We will acknowledge receipt of your registration; within four weeks we will send you a link to a branded, customisable poster tor you to advertise your performance.

BBC Radio 3 will offer a downloadable poster which you can customise to advertise your performance. If your choir has its own website, we invite you to record your performance and post it on your site - the Radio 3 Composers of the Year website will link to it. In addition, choirs will be invited to send recordings to Radio 3, for possible broadcast, in part, during future editions of The Choir. Choirs are also invited to email digital photographs of the performance to Radio 3 for publication on the Composers of the Year website.

About the music:
Mendelssohn's 'O for the Wings of a Dove' is part of a larger motet, Hear My Prayer; choirs with sufficient resources are encouraged to perform the whole work. Mendelssohn's motet, Hör' mein Bitten (Hear My Prayer) was completed on January 25, 1844, and was first performed for Bartholomew's concerts in Crosby Hall, London, a year later. The piece is arranged for soprano solo with four-part mixed chorus and organ accompaniment. The English words, by W Bartholomew, are a paraphrase of Psalm 55, in which the petitioner calls upon his Lord to protect him from his enemies. The second half of the motet, often performed separately, is 'O for the Wings of a Dove.'

Registering your Concert on http://www.concertfinder.co.uk/
To register your concert on the Online Choral Concert Diary send details including time/date; choir name; venue and ticket cost to British Choirs on the net by email to philliptolley@colcanto.co.uk

For more information on BBC Radio 3 Composers of the Year visit http://www.bbc.co.uk/composers/

Dragons' Den Online

An exciting new opportunity from the makers of the award-winning BBC series Dragons’ Den. Harnessing the accessibility and reach of the internet, the ‘Online Dragon’ offers entrepreneurs from across the country the chance to make their business dreams come true.

Dragon is an opportunity for entrepreneurs to pitch their ideas to two new ‘Dragons’ chosen for their business expertise, and also provides a platform for wider debate and discussion around these ideas before they appear in the online ‘Den.’

The investment will be limited to less than £50,000. The BBC are interested in great ideas, which may range from innovative blue-sky thinking to investment-ready products. So if you have an idea for a great new textile product but need some help to get it off the ground then this may be the ideal opportunity for you. Please be aware that all applications must include a video pitch.

Entrepreneurs wanting to apply can do so via email to dragonsden@bbc.co.uk or by visiting the website www.bbc.co.uk/dragonsden.

If you have a product selected for the series then don’t forget to tell us about it!

BBC Writers Room

BBC writersroom champions new writing talent in film, television, radio, and theatre, working in partnership with theatres, writers’ organisations, screen agencies, and the wider cultural industries. It helps new writers develop their craft through its website and in open sessions around the country with the UK's best writing talent. It holds open competitions for writers, and detail other industry opportunities.

BBC writersroom is constantly on the lookout for writers of any age and experience who have exceptional talent, an original voice, and great stories to tell.

Visit www.bbc.co.uk/writersroom to find out more.