Music & People - The community music podcast: Recent Episodes
Neil Valentine
Its all about music & people. Community musicians across the world know this. We know that the magic happens when music and people interact, when their worlds collide. Join Community Musician, Viola Player, Composer, Performer, Manager and all round gentle giant Neil Valentine as he explores the world of community music alongside other community musicians, directors and performers who are passionate about music & people.
"In 2016 Lisa Tregale (then Head of Participation at BSO) said to me something along the lines of ‘the reason you're an associate of the BSO is that you are bombproof’. This has stuck with me. My first reaction to this was ‘damn right I am!’. And just to be clear, she was damn right, and I am. But the implications have stayed with me since then, churning around my head. What she meant was that I could go into any group, any age, any mix of people and create something meaningful with them using music as the catalyst. That’s quite a statement, and I am proud of it."
Get ready for some honesty!
In this episode Neil confronts some of the anxieties associated with being a 'Bombproof Musician', working as a freelancer and how you balance the anxieties with your authenticity.
He discusses Music for Life with Wigmore Hall: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dKBy50oAPbY&ab_channel=WigmoreHall
and how that led to leading the music and medicine project Music for a While with the BSO: https://www.ahsw.org.uk/projects/music-for-a-while/
Followed by a conversation with amazing music leader and facilitator and fellow BSO Associate Samantha Mason: https://www.samanthamason.co.uk/
Thankyou Sam!
Music Listing:
Theme Music from The Leaves of the Trees. Composition by Neil Valentine, recorded live in Winchester Cathedral.
Performers:
Neil Valentine – Viola, electronics, composer
With: Sophie Raven – Flute, Claire Yates – Viola, Jeremy Leverton – Electronics
The Swan – recorded live at ABC Concerts in Winchester. Pippa Rans – Cello, Duncan Honeybourne - Piano
SGT Peppers & The Apocalyptic Eliminator - Southampton Family Orchestra. Project led by Neil Valentine with Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra and Southampton Music Hub. Recorded live in Turner Sims, Southampton.
Day and Back – Last Light. Composed, performed, produced by Neil Valentine
In this episode Neil goes through how music and people have intertwined for him and why these two aspects of community music have become the pillars of how the magic happens.
He is joined by singer, composer, playwrite, songwriter, music leader and all round genius Aga Serugo-Lugo to discuss how he brings music and people together.
They talk about Aga's work with Britten Pears, Streetwise Opera and much more.
https://twitter.com/lugoaga
Neil discusses what it means to be a Musical Force as a Community Musician, the ups and downs and how he has come to the conclusion that being a positive musical force is one of the most important aspects of being a community musicians.
He then sits down with Voces8 Foundation CEO (and old friend) Paul Smith to talk about how he has helped shape Voces8 into a musical force all over the world, one that doesnt just perform to the highest of standards, but brings people along with them placing participants front and centre.
https://voces8.foundation/paulsmith
https://www.psv8.co.uk/
Instagram @hatchmyideas
Neil and Pauls Reflections Album: https://open.spotify.com/album/1QTt4mZxOxpbwnSOpXds4Q