Take three hundred years of music from around the world, turn it upside down, infuse it with humour, energy, passion and pathos – and you have the recipe with which the Oxford Concert Party, described as ‘one of the most entertaining, ground-breaking groups around’ (Oxford Times) delights their audience wherever they go. Be it Vivaldi or Piazzolla, French café music or Argentinian tango, Irish laments or Finnish polkas, this ‘bunch of superb musicians’ (Daily Telegraph) create a rich, colourful, expressive sound, and their vibrant virtuosity, zany and off-beat humour make for an unforgettable performance. The Oxford Concert Party has made CDs, performed in festivals throughout Britain, on radio and TV, and been ‘Pick of the Fringe’ at the Edinburgh Festival.

OCP have made tours to Holland twice, held a three-week residency at Italy’s premiere festival at Spoleto, by personal invitation of the late Gian Carlo Menotti, toured the southern Mediterranean, and played numerous concerts all over England, Ireland and Scotland. OCP has an extensive ongoing programme of community outreach work which includes concerts and projects in prisons, detention centres, primary schools, for elderly groups, people with dementia and children and adults with learning difficulties. OCP have recently undertaken projects in many primary schools in Oxfordshire, and completed work on major participatory music projects for older people in Aylesbury Vale, Leicestershire, Oxfordshire and in prisons nationally.

Trevor Barton lives near central Oxford and has been painting since 2007. He has participated in ArtWeeks and exhibited at Oxford Library, Art Cafe, Magic Cafe and several other locations in the city. He has had success doing commission work but is presently focussing on finding his own style and joy and painting for fun.

The Choir

Commotio was formed in August 1999 to promote neglected contemporary choral repertoire. The choir draws on the musical talents of Oxford residents and students, selecting members by audition. Although mainly a cappella, Commotio has worked with emerging instrumentalists such as Rosie Banks (cellist). The size of the choir moulds to the repertoire but is usually between 24 and 30 singers.

The Conductor

Matthew Berry was Organ Scholar at University College, Oxford in 1995-1999 after which he completed a postgraduate diploma in choral con-ducting at the Royal Academy of Music under the tutelage of Patrick Russill. His special interest lies in finding music unknown to UK audiences such as works by Ambrož Čopi and Jaakko Mäntyjärvi.

The Repertoire

Recent performances have included Eric Whitacre’s When David Heard and the Première of Cowie’s _Four Seasons_ (commissioned jointly for Commotio and the Choir of the 21st Century).
Commotio also promotes and performs the works of a younger generation of composers, most recently Ruth Byrchmore, Tarik O’Regan, Robert Fokkens, John Duggan and Alexander Campkin. Commotio supports the latest generation of composers, showcasing new works by final year students at the Royal Academy of Music.
Commotio’s recent recordings have met critical and public acclaim. _Ubi Caritas_ by Richard Allain (recorded on _Night_ in 2007) was selected by Classic FM for their compilation album, _Smooth Classics: The Ultimate Collection_ and has been on their playlist for over 3 years. Commotio’s CD of music by James Whitbourn, _Luminosity_, released in 2010 reached No. 2 in the Specialist Classical Chart and has been played on radio stations worldwide. Commotio’s latest recording of works by Francis Pott (including the _Mass for 8 voices_, commissioned for the choir) will be released in February 2012, and has already had great reviews.

“as a supreme choral polyphonist Pott can build up an agitated climax with the best of them - but it is those melting moments of repose which are especially telling and memorable...Grace Davidson floats effortlessly above the Oxford-based choir, adding her seraphic poise to their perfect intonation...this is a powerful disc of important music.” Gramophone Magazine, February 2012

Pegasus is an arts centre established in East Oxford since 1962. It specialises in a range of performing arts for young people in collaboration with professional artists and in parallel with the making and presentation of new work by established and emerging artists and companies.

The venue recently underwent a multi-million pound refurbishment to provide new workshop, dressing room, costume store, dance and rehearsal spaces for participatory activities, visiting and resident companies as well as creating a new foyer and cafe for the public.

The main performance area, the Pullman Stage is named after the venue’s major supporter and patron Philip Pullman.

Since re-opening in September 2010, Pegasus is able to offer a wider range of workshops, projects and course places for up to 3500 young people and adults, up to 20 in-house productions and 70-80 visiting productions including commissions each year.

From November 2011 the organisation will be celebrating 50 years of Oxford Youth Theatre at Pegasus with a year-long programme of events and activities. This will start with a short series of music shows from Pegasus supporter Philip Selway and ends with a special production performed by former and current youth theatre members in November 2012.

The Old Fire Station on George Street opened in November 2011 and houses two separate organisations – Arts at the Old Fire Station, (a professional arts centre offering performance and rehearsal spaces, a gallery, artists’ studios, and a shop) and Crisis Skylight Oxford (a centre offering free education, training and support to people who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless).

Arts at the Old Fire Station believes art is for everyone. Everyone has potential.

What do we do?
The Old Fire Station is a public arts centre
• presenting new work across art forms
• supporting artists
• including people facing tough times

How do we do it?
We do this by focussing on:
• good quality relationships
• encouraging creativity and risk-taking
• offering a public space which is welcoming to all

Essential to delivering our shared mission is the participation of Crisis members (homeless people using Crisis’ services) in our work.

See www.oldfirestation.org.uk for more information

I have been singing professionally for 35 years, and teaching singing for over 30 years, working in many musical styles. I combine a background in professional performance, educational research, and teaching in universities, schools and the performing arts industry.

I train professional singers and singing teachers (as well as musically competent amateurs), and am very experienced in dealing with the psychological aspects of voice development and performance. Lessons include clear explanation of vocal anatomy and function (including vocal acoustics), how to alter the vocal set up for different styles (e.g. opera, music theatre, folk, rock, choral singing etc), and what is healthy for the voice.

On my website - http://www.OxfordSingingLessons.co.uk - you'll find some ideas to get you started straight away on improving your singing voice (free resources, videos, articles and links).

In addition, I am a published songwriter, and I teach songwriting (both music and lyrics) at http://www.OxfordSongwriting.com.

I am an experienced freelance marketing and communications specialist to the arts, leisure and entertainment industries.

Over the past fifteen years I have worked for a number of the UK's most high profile arts organisations including English National Opera, National Theatre, London Philharmonic Orchestra and English National Ballet; as well as UK and international productions of Disney's The Lion Ling, Mamma Mia!, Les Mis and War Horse.

I am based in North Oxfordshire and have local and international clients including Britten in Oxford (a 2013 year-long festival of events celebrating the life of Benjamin Britten) and Europe's largest producer of live theatre, Stage Entertainment.

Services include marketing and communications strategies, content for leaflets and website, social media campaigns, sponsorship, promotions and press.

WOAPA is an award-winning Children’s Theatre School based in Witney for ages 4–16 years.
We are open at weekends during the standard academic term (Friday evenings and Saturdays).
At WOAPA, we take pride in going that extra mile for our students. We have arranged, and assisted our students to appear in local productions, professional stage shows (locally and on tour) and on television programmes and commercials. We regularly invite top industry professionals to our school, to provide master-class sessions.
We also offer opportunities to qualify for 'Arts Awards' in-house - assisted and moderated by our award-winning mentor.
We are also a registered LAMDA exam centre.
Providing quality tuition in the three disciplines of Singing, Dance and Drama, our classes ensure that each child receives the individual attention they deserve.
Our classes are led by experienced and enthusiastic tutors whose skills in working with young people enable our students to develop at their own pace, and encourage them to reach their true potential.
With no entry auditions or previous experience required, whether your child dreams of a career in performing arts or simply wants to make new friends, WOAPA will boost your child’s confidence … and they’ll have loads of fun!
Each week, students attend three, 1hour sessions of drama, singing and dance.
We promote a positive environment - where students have fun as they celebrate their individuality and achievements.
Working as part of a team, students are encouraged to be creative and value the experience of working closely with others towards a common goal.
Skills are developed and refined, enabling students to become multi-disciplined, all-round performers.
For our young performers (aged 4-6) all three elements of singing, dance and drama are combined in a weekly, 1-hour, fun-packed session. We offer the opportunity for kids to stretch their imagination and nurture their social skills including communication and concentration.
Watch as your child develops…
• Increased confidence
• Growing self-esteem
• An expanding imagination
• Creativity
• Co-ordination
AND a whole new set of friends!

In order to share our students’ progress we arrange informal performances for families.
WOAPA provides its own internal awards for achievement in class. For those students wishing to undertake more formal assessments, exams are arranged for both LAMDA and Arts Awards.

If you’re looking for drama activities and youth theatre activities for kids in the Witney area, WOAPA – West Oxfordshire Academy of Performing Arts is for you!
We also run adult singing groups in Witney (choir) with a contemporary repertoire (think 'Glee'!). No auditions or requirement to read music, emphasis is on having fun whilst singing with like-minded people. The groups currently have a total of over 130 members and meet on Wednesday and Thursday evenings

Also - Witney Youth Choir - an, all-singing all-dancing showchoir for ages 7-18. Saturdays 1.10-1.50pm

Take a look at our website – www.woapa.co.uk for more info

West Oxfordshire Academy of Performing Arts covers many areas such as Alvescot, Ascott under wychwood, Asthal and Aston Cote. Also Shifford and Chimney, Bampton, Black Bourton, Bladon and Blenheim with Brize Norton, Broadwell, Bruern, Burford and Carterton.
We also offer drama sessions for kids from Cassington, Chadlington, Charlbury with Chastleton, Chilson, interact through drama sessions as well as Chipping Norton and also Churchill. Also, singing sessions for kids from Clanfield, Combe, Cornbury and Wychwood, Cornwell with Crawley, Curbridge and Ducklington.
We also offer dance sessions for kids from Enstone, Eynsham, Faringdon, Fawler and Fifield as well as areas such as Filkins and Broughton Poggs, Finstock, Freeland and Fulbrook. WOAPA students may also come from Glympton, Grafton and Radcot, Great Tew, Hailey and Hanborough, as well as Hardwick with Yelford, Heythrop and Holwell, with Idbury, Kelmscott, Kencot, Kiddington with Asterleigh.
Our youth Theatre School covers the area including Kingham, Langford, Leafield, Lew, Little Faringdon and Little Tew, alongside lyneham, Milton Under Wychwood, Minster Lovell, North Leigh and Northmoor.
WOAPA provide Dance classes and perform for children from Oxford, Over Norton, Ramsden, Rollright and Rousham. Singing Classes for children from Salford, Sandford St Martin, Sarsden and Shilton, as well as Shipton Under Wychwood, South Leigh and Spelsbury.
Drama classes for children from Standlake, Stanton Harcourt and Steeple Barton, as well as Stonesfield, Swerford, Swinbrook and Widford. WOAPA area also includes Tackley, Taynton, Wescot Barton, as well as Westwell, Witney, Woodstock, Wootton and Worton,

SUPERNORMAL is a surprising new addition to the summer calendar, a spontaneous and experimental artist-led event perfectly located in the magical looking-glass world that is Braziers Park in Oxfordhire. Explore a spectacle of cult live music, performance, discussion and cutting edge contemporary art in the sprawling ramshackle grounds. No ordinary festival, Supernormal returns to the fundamental spirit of utopianism, imagination and adventure that is all too often lost in the financially-driven, artistically nondescript realm of the twenty-first century festival circuit.

_SUPERNORMAL_ is an intimate event for an exclusive audience of five hundred, allowing the exploration of the seventeenth century site of Braziers Park, with its' Strawberry Hill Gothic manor house and Grade II listed wooden barn and out-buildings where a variety of events will take place. Braziers Park also celebrates its' sixty first anniversary in 2011 as a School of Integrative Social Research, a community driven by new ideas of collective action, a unique attempt at social co-existence that points toward a future built upon mutual respect.

This event is co-curated by a network of Artists and Musicians. It is a DIY and non-profit making festival. If Any profits are made through ticket sales after all running costs are settled they go towards paying the expenses of the bands and performers.

"The special character of May Music derives from the fact that is it more than just music.” - Oxford Magazine

The Oxford May Music Festival takes place in the historic centre of the city of Oxford. Based in one of the gems of 18th century architecture, the Holywell Music Room, with one of the best acoustics in the world, the festival brings together some of the finest musicians performing in the UK today and many leading lecturers in their fields.

The 2016 Festival, which is the ninth season, takes place from April 27th - May 2nd. The artistic director is Classical-Brit-winning violinist, Jack Liebeck. The programme can be found at hhttp://www.oxfordmaymusic.co.uk/. Highlights of the festival include a lecture by TV and Radio broadcaster Professor Jim Al Khalili on the new science of Quantum Biology, and two themes "Female composers" and "Darkess". The latter is represented by a full day on May 1st culminating in a Jazz concert in total darkness! We end with our traditional blockbuster Finale with harpist Catrin FInch and Mozart's Clarinet Quintet.