Don't miss BSO Memorial Concert for John Tatham Sund 16 November at 3pm Clarendon Muse Concert Hall, Rickmansworth Road, Watford WD18 7JA Bizet: Jeux d'enfants Shostakovich: Piano Concerto No 2 (soloist: Annie Yim) Mendelssohn: Symphony No 3 'Scottish' Tickets available online: busheysymphony.org.uk

Listen to the 'Vivace' from Tippett's Piano Concerto - an advance release from my album of British Piano Concertos with the BBC Symphony Orchestra & @georgevass.bsky.social. The full album goes live on the 10 Oct on BIS Records / Apple Music! 🎉 🎹 bisrecords.lnk.to/2604S03

🔉 Less than one week to go! My album of concertos by Walton, Britten and Tippett with the BBC Symphony Orchestra and @georgevass.bsky.social will be released on Fri 10 October, for BIS Records and Apple Music 🎉 Pre-order at bisrecords.lnk.to/2604

OUT TODAY!! 🎉 My album of concertos by Walton, Britten and Tippett with the BBC Symphony Orchestra & @georgevass.bsky.social is now out on BIS. Praised @thetimes.com for its "crisp artistry" and Video of the Day in Gramophone, listen online bisrecords.lnk.to/2604

Very pleased to announce that I was given the @royalphilsoc.bsky.social Leslie Boosey Award at the opening reception of the 2025 Presteigne Festival. I'm honoured and completely overjoyed to receive this amazing award!

Very sad to say goodbye yesterday to John Tatham (5 Nov 1922 - 4 July 2025), a long-serving member of the BSO's 2nd violin section. At 102, he was still playing at the BSO's 50th Anniversary concert in May. RIP John, you'll be missed by so many

Funerals are sad, but today was a celebration. John Tatham was 102. Was a founder member of @busheysymphony.bsky.social, which I lead. Played violin in their 50th anniversary concert A MONTH before his death. In his 90s he was still putting chairs out for rehearsals. May we all learn from his joy.

Honoured to be premiering Ninfea Crutwell-Reade's 'Scenes from Under Milk Wood' with Nova Music Opera at @spitsmusic.bsky.social on Wed 2 July. Fab cast – Rebecca Afonwy Jones, Thomas Humphreys, Osian Clarke, Madeleine Morgan and narrator David Prince. Info: spitalfieldsmusic.org.uk/events/scene...

The UK Chancellor is reviewing all public spending from scratch. Please sign the @campaignforthearts.org petition to remind the UK Govrenment that the arts make our lives happier and our communities stronger. Now is the moment to invest in them. www.campaignforthearts.org/petitions/sp...

This is the actual current position, please can the UK media stop glorifying the Right? It is extremely misleading.

The truth is finally dawning on Britain: toadying to Trump has got us nowhere | Emma Brockes

Really looking forward to this - just under a month to go!

If you want a better world, you must behave as if you live in one.

hear hear

NEW: Elon Musk’s X has suspended accounts of Turkish opposition groups, suppressing footage of anti-government protests. So, best we share all the footage we can here! This was last night’s massive demo against Erdogan’s government, which follows the arrest of his rival Ekrem İmamoğlu. 🇹🇷 #Turkey

📣 Deadline approaching! Vaughan Williams Scholarships, worth up to £8K, replace the Vaughan Williams Bursaries previously given only for MA studies. Registrations to apply close on March 31. Get your application in now! Details here:

BREAKING: Pianist András Schiff cancels all his US engagements for 2025-26 in response to "the recent and unprecedented political changes in the United States." "Some people might say, 'just shut up and play.' I cannot, in good conscience, do that." www.kirshbaumassociates.com/agency.php?v...

Peer who led government NHS review failed to declare shares in health firms

Fantastic rehearsal with Sarah Bennington last night on Christopher Gunning's Flute Concertino – can't wait for our concert on Sunday 16 March at 3pm Clarendon Muse, Watford WD18 7JA Please come and join us ... Book online here shorturl.at/Ekoc6

Young composers, its time to apply for the 2026 @royalphilsoc.bsky.social composer programme – you may be offered the chance to write a work for the Presteigne Festival, as Electra did two years ago. It really is a fabulous scheme.

Happy 150th Birthday Maurice Ravel!

We are welcoming applications for the RPS Isserlis Scholarship to study abroad until 11am on Tuesday 11 March. We offer support to enable musicians to take life-changing opportunities to study overseas. You can find out more and apply on our website. royalphilharmonicsociety.org.uk/performers/s...

Leaders of the free world stand united in London The United States is not among them

Your dignity honors the bravery of the Ukrainian people. Be strong, be brave, be fearless. You are never alone, dear President Zelenskyy. We will continue working with you for a just and lasting peace.

Unbelievable – money first, planet second

Common sense from the UN

I'm so glad this is being pointed out – it's something I've been banging on about for years. However, better state education in the arts surely has to be the key for future generations.

So good to see this – can't wait to hear it on the radio

This is very welcome news to all of us who are part of the Welsh Arts economy.

Finally!! Great news - congratulations to all who campaigned for this 👏👏Now we need to make it as inclusive as possible eg covering colleges & apprenticeships @europeanmovement.co.uk

Following its call for views, the House of Commons Modernisation Committee announces its next steps as it sets out to make the Commons more effective and accessible to all.

The spinelessness of some of the richest baronies in history is extraordinary. www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...

An extraordinary speech from Meryl Streep, hitting the nail on the head ...

The UK can secure significant growth of 1.7% - 2.2% through a policy of deep alignment with the EU on goods and services, while staying within Starmer's red lines. This is the approach to push for: peak ambition within the constraints Labour has set. www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/...

Tickets now on sale for Bushey Symphony Orchestra's 'Springtime Classics' Concert Sunday 16 March at 3pm Clarendon Muse, Watford WD18 7JA Music by Debussy, Haydn, Frank Bridge, Järnefelt and Christopher Gunning's Flute Concertino with soloist Sarah Bennington Book online here shorturl.at/Ekoc6

Very sad news for the classical music world

Today is Candlemas- which must be the best name in the calendar. Candlemas - a celebration of the return of light Artist: Gerald Witcomb

Cardiff University is at the forefront of music education in the UK – a leader in composition, musicology and performance. Losing the music department would be a terrible loss to the cultural life of Wales and the wider musical world. If you care about music at all, please sign the petition below.

Devastating news – Cardiff University looks set to lose its music department completely, so soon after the closure of the RWCMD Junior Department and significant cuts to WNO. The wholesale destruction of culture in Wales continues – short-sighted in every way.

A paper that understands its responsibility, in a country that knows it when it sees it. Impressive from Die Zeit. Refuses to show the salute, but calls it out for what it so obviously was. Headline: “A Hitler Salute is a Hitler Salute is a Hitler Salute”

If she can do it, we can all do it.

Musk's fascist salutes are a signal, showing how far he intends to go. They point to the destruction of democracy he seeks, the impunity, the violent pursuit of power. They point to the empire he wants to build, and to the degradation of all our lives as he sets out to crush our humanity.

Let’s do it

At home with Simon Rattle: ‘There are still things I feel are beyond me’ www.theguardian.com/music/2025/j...

Why not give Sir New Prime Minister a break? | David Mitchell

This is extremely sad news, but surely Schoenberg's manuscripts are kept at the Library of Congress?

The deadline for applications for Medal y Cyfansoddwr is approaching! Find out more and apply at www.tycerdd.org/medal-y-cyfa... Deadline: 10.00am on Tuesday 7 January

I'm 100% with Jay Rayner on this - Happy New Year everyone!