Women in Music congratulates ERROLLYN WALLEN CBE on her award of the ISM (Incorporated Society of Musicians) DISTINGUISHED MUSICIAN AWARD - one of the highest accolades in music. Errollyn is a founder member of Women in Music always making the difference! Well done Errollyn - adding another great award to your brilliant standing.

https://www.ism.org/news/errollyn-wallen-cbe-dma-2020

"Belize-born British composer, pianist and singer-songwriter, Errollyn Wallen CBE has been announced as the recipient of the 2020 ISM Distinguished Musician Award, one of the highest honours within the music industry, for services to music.

Established in 1976, the ISM Distinguished Musician Award recognises outstanding contributions to musical life in the UK. Errollyn joins such esteemed recipients as Dame Sarah Connolly, Sir David Willcocks, Sir Charles Mackerras, Sir Michael Tippett, Jacqueline du Pré OBE and Sir Charles Groves.  The ISM Distinguished Musician Award is selected by the ISM Council and is always dated the year before it is awarded to correspond with the term of the ISM President.

Errollyn’s music is performed regularly in concert halls around the world, and she was the first Black woman to have a work performed at the Proms (1998). Her solo album Errollyn reached even greater heights, as it completed 186 orbits around the Earth on NASA’s STS 115 mission. Her work Jerusalem – our clouded hills, a reimagination of Hubert Parry’s setting, was commissioned for the Last Night of the Proms in 2020, and is dedicated to the Windrush generation. Her EP, Peace on Earth, recorded by The Choir of King’s College, Cambridge, was released last November. 

On learning of her conferral Errollyn Wallen CBE said:
‘I am deeply honoured to receive this award from the ISM, who do so much to promote the vital importance of music for us all. These times have revealed that the making of live music has been under the direst threat and yet the need and longing for it has never been greater.’

ISM President 2020-21, Professor Chris Collins said:
‘Errollyn’s work is truly unique. Both her career and music-making transcend boundaries, and during COVID-19, Errollyn has continued to innovate, explore and challenge. In my term as ISM President, I can think of no one more worthy of receiving this award.’    "

Find out more about Errollyn's work at www.errollynwallen.com

6:30pm - 7:30pm on https://www.resonancefm.com/ Resonance 104.4fm and DAB London Debbie Golt WiM Chair has great guests in her show. Repeated Monday 4am and on Mixcloud - watch out for the link.

The Outerglobe

Debbie Golt takes African music and wider arts and culture as her starting point. This week: Debbie meets Dr Samantha Ege, pianist/musicologist, and Odaline de la Martinez, Cuban-American composer/conductor and director Lorelt Records (and founder member Women in Music) , to discuss and celebrate the release of Fantasie Nègre, The Piano Music of Florence Price (African-American Black Renaissance composer 1887-1953), and its life-changing impact on Ege. Visit outerglobe.co.uk for more information. Tweet to @outerglobe. [Repeated Monday 4am]

On the anniversary of Nina Simone's death Chardine Taylor Stone writes a perceptive analysis and fresh view of her politics in The Tribune - 

https://tribunemag.co.uk/2021/04/the-radical-politics-of-nina-simone?

Women in Music were very sorry to hear of the passing of one of our founder members, Jane Manning, last month. We are very grateful to the composer and WiM founder Nicola LeFanu and the Ivors' Academy for allowing us to share this lovely tribute to Jane on our blog.

Jane Manning was a soprano who put her artistry at the service of the living composer: she was a key figure in new music in Britain for nearly sixty years. Her wonderful voice and superb musicianship – perfect pitch and accurate rhythm – made her the most sought-after singer for all of us in contemporary ‘classical‘ music. She gave hundreds of concert and radio premieres, many being works specially commissioned for her, as well as championing 20^th century classics:  Schonberg and Webern, Dallapiccola and Messaien.

She worked with everyone – famous elderly composers or unknown young ones – and the ease with which she tackled a huge range of repertoire was amazing. Her voice was technically secure, due no doubt to her training in traditional bel canto with Husler and Rodd-Marling. She exploded the myth that singing new music could damage the voice, inspiring a new generation of young singers.

Jane travelled all over the world, touring in Australasia as well as Europe. In 1987-8 she was a Visiting Professor at the University of York. Out of that time came ‘Jane’s Minstrels’, the chamber ensemble she and her husband, the composer Anthony Payne, set up in 1988. Established in London, which was always her base, it drew in many of the gifted young players she had worked with in York.

As well as a marvellous legacy of recordings, she has left an invaluable legacy of books on 20th and 21st century vocal music, including her research into Pierrot Lunaire, of which she was a consummate performer.

Jane was very important to me and my family: she made premiere recordings of Maconchy, Lumsdaine and myself, and in 1977 created the lead in my first opera, Dawnpath; indeed, one of my very first commissions, in 1971, was to write her a solo scena, But Stars Remaining, which true to form she kept in her repertoire. I shall miss her very much, as will my composer colleagues; we owed her so much, and her passing marks the end of an era.

Nicola LeFanu

April 2021

https://www.theguardian.com/music/2021/apr/04/jane-manning-obituary

The Daffodil Perspective re-launches with a fabulous brand new website.  The classical music radio show creating space for EVERYONE to belong is bigger and better than ever. Tons of information on diverse composers, past shows and articles, all easily accessible. Plus if you're looking for information on female composers and need some assistance, the Daffodil Perspective offers diverse repertoire consultancy services. Have a look and discover a rabbit hole of incredible music by women.

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBBFJ-pJhbUs2iK-N-yN0vg 

http://www.londonnewwindfestival.co.uk/

Temi Adeniji appointed MD of Warner Music South Africa and SVP of strategy for Sub-Saharan Africa

Check the Music Week article here - some salient points are below. It is interesting that she succeeds another woman in her main posting. Temi Andeniji is originally from Nigeria and has USA degrees in Political Science and Law and a UK Masters in Law and worked in the legal area for several years before building her career with Warner Music which she joined in a senior position in 2016.

Temi Adeniji has been appointed to the combined role of MD of Warner Music South Africa and SVP, strategy, Sub-Saharan Africa.  

Adeniji will assume this position in September, reporting to     Alfonso Perez-Soto EVP Eastern Europe, Middle East, India and Africa.  In addition, as SVP of special projects, she’ll work closely with  Simon Robson, President international recorded music, on a number of international projects.

Adeniji will succeed Tracy Fraser as MD of Warner Music South Africa. Fraser has led the affiliate since its founding in 2013, and developed a successful and diverse roster of local artists, increasing the company’s market share, revenue and profits.  She will work alongside Adeniji over the next few months to support her transition.

Temi Adeniji said: “The world is waking up to the rich and diverse talent present in myriad thriving music scenes across the continent. As this increasingly interconnected digital world continues to remove barriers to music discovery, there is no doubt that in the years ahead we will continue to see even more global superstars from Africa.

“Africa stands on the precipice of a significant growth story, and I’m excited to play an important part in guiding our Company’s strategy and operations in this region. I have worked closely with our South African team over the past few years, so the opportunity to help steer the next stage of their journey is an honor and privilege.” 

#warnermusic #southafrica #womeninmusic 

Join WiM Chair Debbie Golt and former Pirate (Alternative Community) Radio DJs Angie Dee and DJ Carmilla - Carmella Obinyan on the Women in Pirate Radio zoom panel today - with a chance to ask questions as well. Between them Angie and Carmella played on DBC, LWR, TKO and several other stations. Debbie will chair and has a long track record in community radio broadcasting as well and it will be an informed and entertaining event.

The booking link is below - hurry - for the event which takes place between 6-7pm today via the Royal Greenwich Museums - Maritime Museum.  Distinguished Black Feminist Chardine Taylor-Stone will moderate the Q&A as well.

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/rebel-women-female-pirates-womens-history-month-tickets-137924695477

Pirate radio stations in the UK began as 'offshore' broadcasters, the most famous being Radio Caroline. They provided an alternative to mainstream radio and started the careers of many who went on to become legendary radio DJs. The rebel pirate spirit that began at sea later came inland, and this talks features women who were central to the Pirate radio scene of the 1980s and 90s.

Speakers :

• Chair:  DJ Debbie Golt, Radio host and Broadcaster Resonance FM 
• Guests: Angie Dee and Carmella Obinyan

Composer Angela Elizabeth Slater has collaborated with double bass player Maggie Cox to write new pieces for the instrument. The fruits of this collaboration can be heard in a Digital pre-concert talk and concert on Thursday 21st January 2021 at 7.30pm (UK time).

Angela writes 'Connected skies: solo series challenge is a project to challenge myself to compose six new solo works of about ten mins each in length between October 2020 to May 2021, with each being digitally performed in a monthly virtual event from 2021.