Our workshops came to a grand finale today with the last session. This pilot project was funded by NHS Halton & St Helens through their Bright Ideas funding scheme. We wanted to see if we could demonstrate a link between music and wellbeing. We're just going through all the evaluation forms now, but we already know that everyone who took part had a great time. We were all inspired.

Here's a small section of video showing a small section of one of the sessions:

That's the question posed in this press release, from Warrington - but surely of interest to the Brass fans here in St Helens? Snap up your tickets soon for this very special event:

Brisbane Excelsior Band and Bactiguard Wire Brass are to play a tribute concert for Goff Richards in Warrington, Cheshire on Thursday 10th September 2009.

This is one not to miss ! The top ranked brass band in Australia, Brisbane Excelsior Band, are flying half way around the world to perform at this years British Open brass band contest,. Prior to their performance at the contest they will be performing a concert with Bactiguard Wire Brass at Warrington’s Parr Hall on Thursday 10th September. (for tickets, contact the Parr Hall Box Office directly on 01925 442345).

“Viennese” concerts always draw an audience, but this one by Alan Free and the St. Helens Sinfonietta had more drawing-power than most, and was duly crowded.

It rocketed away with a true Johann Strauss feast – the spectacular Overture to Die Fledermaus, the Tritsch Tratsch Polka, and the magnificent Emperor Waltz, a rich procession of intoxicating tunes with military as well as romantic overtones. The soloist of the evening was the vivacious soprano Debbie Bennett, a native of St. Helens, whose gorgeous voice, flawless technique and fine musicianship are at the service of her supreme talent for communication. The inevitable Vilia (Lehár – magic as always) and Laughing Song (Strauss), both beautifully sung, massaged our sense of being “at home” in this concert. The waltzes and polkas continued.

Do you use twitter? We're just getting into it - so please do follow us on @musicnet.

And on youtube we're musicnetvideo - if you're from St Helens, please do send us links to your music videos to add to our channel.

Video from the launch on 31 May 2009. Video by Ian Jackson of Art in Liverpool Blog.

The Crosby Capriol singers are looking for a new conductor to lead their friendly, enthusiastic, talented choir into its 50th season.

The thirty strong mixed choir performs a wide-ranging repertoire, giving at least four concerts a year as well as performing at weddings and other special events. Their weekly rehearsals are on Tuesdays at 7.45 at St Nicholas' Church Hall, Harlech Road, Blundellsands.

Sarah Tan of the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic will be attending the meeting today to tell us all about her work at St Augustine's school with the Find Your Talent programme.

Meetings held as always at the Citadel - 2-3.30pm. All welcome.

Liverpool Philharmonic Youth Orchestra seeks new members

How to Join 2009/2010

The Liverpool Philharmonic Youth
Orchestra offers young musicians
from the region exceptional orchestral
training and performance experience.
As the youth orchestra of the Royal
Liverpool Philharmonic, its members
benefit from a prestigious association with
one of the UK’s premier symphony orchestras
and concert halls.

Membership Benefits:

• Coaching from members of the Royal Liverpool
  Philharmonic Orchestra.
• Performing at Liverpool Philharmonic Hall and
  regional venues.