The BBC Proms An Accolade to Brian Close BBC Proms 2009 Friday 17th July – Saturday 12th September The 115th season of the BBC Proms continues to bring the world’s best classical music to increasingly wide audiences, and remains one of the best value-for-money experiences anywhere. This year, there are more concerts than ever before with 76 in the Royal Albert Hall, 19 Proms Chamber Music recitals at Cadogan Hall, and five BBC Proms in the Park events around the country on the Last Night; this is 12 more than last year. 2 ASPIRE Discover The World through The Eyes Of The Journey Man Enjoy a unique and inspiring experience, marvel at tales from around the world and explore your own imagination with the help of the Journey Man. The Journey Man, constructed from the imagination of Johnny Gillett, is a worldtravelled mime artist, storyteller, drama teacher and youth worker. Having spent many years exploring different countries and cultures, Johnny made his home in Cheshire two years ago where he set about transforming his experiences into drama workshops and storytelling programmes that children of all ages can enjoy. The verbal and visual practitioner, who has become a big hit in schools across the country, tailors workshops and programmes to coincide with children’s Core Learning, covering a whole host of cultures and time periods. The Journey Man is able to tell stories relating to Aboriginal Australia, the Caribbean, Japan and New Zealand to name but a few, whilst drama workshops can be tailored around subjects such as Aztecs, Vikings and Romans. The workshops encourage children to explore different angles of stories, create their own stories and characters using various techniques, as well as performing their creations. Johnny says: “Children always react really positively to the experience. I think part of that is because everyone loves a good story and also because they get to be part of that story, exploring ideas and the way characters act, as well as putting forward their own ideas. The workshops are interactive, allowing children the opportunity to draw on their own imagination. It also encourages them to become good listeners.” With 20 years teaching experience, Johnny has the skills training to adapt to teaching different children. Working as a solo artist also allows him the flexibility to adapt to different time scales and school routines, and a range of workshops can easily be created and adapted for children aged three to 18. Tel: 01829 260680 Email: info@thejourneyman.org.uk Web: www.thejourneyman.org.uk Highlights for 2009 • A 12-concert weekend to mark the 10th anniversary of BBC Radio 3’s New Generation Artists scheme • More big weekends than ever, with celebrations for the 10th anniversaries of not only BBC Radio 3’s New Generation Artists, but also Daniel Barenboim’s West- Eastern Divan Orchestra • A commemorative weekend for Delius, Elgar and Holst, who all died 75 years ago • The first Bollywood Prom as part of Indian Voices day and a welcome return for Yo- Yo and The Silk Road Ensemble • Major celebrations for anniversary composers Purcell, Handel, Haydn, and Mendelssohn – the BBC Radio 3 Composers of the Year • World premiers of new commissions by Unsuk Chin, Ben Foskett, Detlev Glanert, Goldie, John McCabe, Anna Meredith, Michael Nyman, Augusta Read Thomas, and Ryan Wigglesworth • More events aimed at younger audiences, from concerts in the Royal Albert Hall (Evolution! A Darwin-inspired Extravangza for kids), to BBC Proms Family Music Intros and Proms Family Orchestras • New venues for BBC Proms in the Park in Northern Ireland (Hillsborough Castle, County Down) and the North-West of England (Buile Hill, Salford) • More opportunities for audiences to participate, with plenty of free events to join in, including the Free Family Prom in the Royal Albert Hall Barry Mani low Earlier this month, it was announced that veteran musician, Barry Manilow, will play his ONLY UK gig this year at the BBC ‘Proms in the Park’ in London’s Hyde Park. Manilow, best known for hits such as Mandy and Copacabana, joins Welsh soprano Katherine Jenkins at the annual concert. Tickets In person: The Royal Albert Hall Box Office is located at Door 12 and is open 9am - 9pm daily. Note that no booking fee applies to tickets bought in person at the Hall. Telephone: 0845 401 5040 Calls cost up to 4p/min from a BT landline (plus a oneoff connection charge of up to 8p). Charges from mobiles and other networks may be considerably higher. Online: via the Royal Albert Hall's website - www.royalalberthall.com For more details, visit www.bbc.co.uk/proms CHAMPIONS (UK) PLC Presents an Accolade to Brian Close CBE by Laura Merry As you are well aware, <strong>Aspire</strong> like to bring you a comprehensive guide to what’s happening across Leicestershire and Northamptonshire; last week, <strong>Aspire</strong>’s home city was graced by the presence of numerous stars, who all gathered at The Walker’s Stadium, to honour the career of Brian Close CBE, the youngest man ever to play Test cricket for England, aged just 18-years-old. As the Twenty20 cricket World Cup finals are this weekend, and with the Ashes just around the corner, it seemed only fitting that <strong>Aspire</strong> cover this amazing event… As I said before, Brian Close was the youngest man to ever play Test cricket for England at just 18-years old; he went on to play in 22 Test matches after that first against New Zealand in 1949. He actually captained the Test side seven times, winning six and drawing once. Born in Rawdon, near Leeds, Brian played for Yorkshire, captaining them to four county championship titles; he later went on to captain Somerset where he is widely credited with turning Somerset into a hard-playing team that helped mould Viv Richards and Ian Botham into the cricketing greats we know and love. So, with my glad rags on and my cricketloving fiancée in tow, I arrived at the Walker’s Stadium on Wednesday June 10th excited and looking forward to not only a great night, but also to great food and great conversation; and I wasn’t disappointed. Although I didn’t actually get to talk to the man himself, I did stand next to Darren Gough, England’s ‘Man of the Series’ against West Indies and Sri Lanka in 2000/01 and winner of ‘Strictly Come Dancing’ in 2005, and I also heard the beautiful tones of emerging tenor Henry Olonga, the first black man to play cricket at International level for Zimbabwe, as he sang for an awe-struck audience. Whilst everyone was tucking into their delicious three-course dinner, numerous fundraising activities took place to raise money for Rainbows, activities such as stand-up bingo, football frenzy and a raffle (which I wasn’t lucky enough to win)! Also, throughout the night, guests could bid on a range of signed memorabilia in a silent auction (one of which my fiancée did win)! The main attractions of the night were, firstly, Brian Close picking his World 11 from the numerous talented cricketers he had the pleasure of playing with, or against, throughout his amazing career. Secondly, a traditional auction of some of the most amazing sporting memorabilia myself, and auctionmaster Willie Thorne, had ever seen; including a 1966 World Cup Legends image, personally signed by 10 of the winning 11 England players – which was purchased by a businessman on my table (“1966 is my year,” he said). Next, the audience were treated to stories and songs from Henry Olonga; the highlight of which has to be his rendition of Nessun Dorma! Finally, Darren Gough took part in a probing question and answer session with Geoff Miller, a member of the ECB Test cricket selection committee. Here, Darren shared the many high and low points of his career, including his Ashes hat trick against Australia in January 1999, which his family (who were travelling with him) actually missed, as well as a few ‘risky’ anecdotes (unsuitable for publication I’m afraid)! Overall, everyone I spoke to had a great night and a lot of money was raised for a great cause – Rainbows. This purposebuilt children’s hospice opened its doors in 1994 and is dedicated to meeting the needs of children and young people from the East Midlands who come to the hospice, all of whom are affected by lifelimiting and life-threatening conditions. Based in Loughborough, the charity has to raise £2.8 million each year simply to keep the eight-bed hospice operating. For more information on Rainbows, visit www.rainbows.co.uk For info on future events organised by Champions (UK) Plc, log onto www.championsukplc.com ASPIRE 3