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The recently launched AcoustiCabin Express sound isolation rooms are proving ideal for recording purposes in a Stockholm office.

Gustaf Hård af Segerstad in Stockholm told us that they had installed an AcoustiCabin in the office which is proving ideal for educational recordings.

The AcoustiCabin Express sound-isolation cabin is designed for speedy and easy installation, without compromising the booth’s excellent sound-isolating properties. Impressive sound isolation is achieved thanks to the use of high performance acoustic materials in the slot-together patented panels. The modular, interlocking panel design permits considerable flexibility in size and footprint.

The new cabins provide an affordable self-install solution for home studios, school music practice rooms, recording studios, voiceover rooms and vocal booths. They also fit the bill for confidential meeting rooms, language laboratories, examination rooms and medical testing.

Back after a successful debut last year, The River Centre in Tonbridge welcomed the return of the Junior Schools Choir Competition. Staged by Tonbridge Lions Club and sponsored by Tonbridge based Black Cat Music’s AcoustiCabin division, the competition featured seven local choirs numbering two hundred and sixty five children singing in front of sell out audience of three hundred and fifty that included many family and friends.

Tonbridge Lions Club told us, “The judges, Mike Kent-Davies, Nancy Gillio-Terry and Jean Allen, had a difficult task as all the choirs were so good in many different ways. They complimented each choir for the high standard of the performances and said it was wonderful to have so many junior singers in the area. First place was awarded to Slade School; second place went St Margaret Clitherow School and with the judges unable to separate the remaining schools equal third place went to Sussex Road School, Cage Green School, St Stephens School, Woodlands School and Hadlow School. Lion President Neal Charlesworth and his wife Janet presented the prizes. Each school received a cheque to help their music development.”

Alice Dagger, Marketing Manager for Black Cat Music, the leading supplier of music performance equipment for education in the UK, Europe and Russia said, “On behalf of our new AcoustiCabins business, we are delighted to provide sponsorship for this successful local event and congratulate everyone on achieving such a high standard of performance.” AcoustiCabins are affordable sound isolation rooms, recently introduced by the company to provide sound proof practice space in schools or at home without disturbance to others close by while offering a ventillated, acoustically controlled internal room for singers and musicians to practice in comfort.

On behalf of the Lions organising committee, Ken Thomas said, “We were delighted that the event was a great success again with all the choirs performing really well and was enjoyed by all those who attended.” He added, “Tonbridge Lions Club would like to thank AcoustiCabins who provided sponsorship for the event.”

It seems that Black Cat Music’s customers just love our music folders, especially when gold-blocked with the name and crest of their choir, band or orchestra. So much so that many write to tell us how delighted they are when they open the parcel and see their new folders for the first time.

· Jim Jefferson of Barrow Steelworks Band contacted us to say, 'The Band were delighted with the music folders.'
· The Orchestrate Project told us, “Received our shipment of orchestral music folders from Black Cat Music. They look stunning!”
· Kristen Callaway of Wimbledon High School says, “The orchestra folders have arrived safely and are great - thanks so much!”
· “Order arrived today safe and well. The folders look great. Many thanks.” says Chris Stone from Thornden Community Wind Band.
· “Our fabulous performance folders have arrived in time for Friday's concert; thanks, Black Cat Music,” the Cecilian Choir at the University of Kent told us.
· “Just to say thank you for all your help and support with this order which we received last week,” says Frances Belamy of St Peter's Catholic School.
· And a final word from Jo Black, St. Mary's School Calne Opera Ensemble. “The Opera Ensemble was very happy with their music folders, so thank you very much for them.”

The visual impact that can be created by a set of smart new matching music folders offers a cohesive identity to your orchestra, chorus, band or choir. The hard-wearing leatherette covers enhanced by hand stitching and brass-bound corners are sure of a long life protecting your music and keeping it together. Choose your style and size, whether for orchestra or choir, some with options such as expanding pockets or retaining strings, pencil pockets and windows. And there is a choice of colour – Concert Black, Royal Blue or Cardinal Red.

Richard Morris was named as the winner of the Lifetime Achievement Awards sponsored jointly by Black Cat Music and MusicPracticeRooms.com at a gala ceremony in London during the Music Education Expo event last week.

Consultant and Chairman of the Yehudi Menuhin School, Richard Morris is also the co-founder and acting Chairman of the Mayor of London’s Fund for Young Musicians and a governor of Kent Music.

In an interview with Classic Music, Richard said, “I am both honoured and very touched to receive this award. I have had the joy of working in music education for the past 23 years and much of this time has been spent trying to promote the provision of sustained musical tuition for all young people who show commitment and eagerness. My sole condition on receiving this award is that I should be allowed to continue, since there’s so much more to do.”

The Music Teacher Awards, was hosted by Classic FM’s Margherita Taylor and attended by 230 guests from music education. The Lifetime Achievement Award was one of eleven awards in total. The Music Teacher Awards for Excellence are organised by Rhinegold Media & Events Ltd in conjunction with Music Education Expo and supported by Music Teacher magazine and Rhinegold Publishing Ltd.

Platinum sponsoring companies Black Cat Music and MusicPracticeRooms.com were kept busy in the Music Education Expo exhibition hall.

Music Education Expo is the UK’s largest conference and exhibition for music teachers. The event took place at The Barbican, London on 12th an 13th March 2015.

The Black Cat Music exhibition stand offered visitors the opportunity to experience the new AcoustiCabins Express sound isolation booths; plus a range of music education accessory equipment was on display.

If you were thinking of buying a set of music folders for your musicians or choir, then February is the time to take action. Black Cat Music are offering up to 30% off selected folders and 10 per cent discount on all the rest. But hurry - offers like this can’t last forever. You have until the end of February!

Imagine the visual impact created by a set of smart new matching music folders to give a great identity to your orchestra, chorus, band or choir. The hard-wearing leatherette covers enhanced by hand stitching and brass-bound corners are sure of a long life protecting your music and keeping it together. Choose your style and size, whether for orchestra or choir, some with options such as expanding pockets or retaining strings, pencil pockets and windows.

And there is a choice of colour – Concert Black, Royal Blue or Cardinal Red. Check out the February deal now!

Check out the February deal now!

Black Cat Music recently installed a Diva Acoustical Shell system in Moscow’s Nazarov Musical Theatre.

In a competitive tender, Black Cat Music’s Berlin based team won the contract in the face of tough international competition. Originally built for the Moscow Olympic Games of 1980, the Nazarov Musical Theatre has recently under gone a major refurbishment. The revival in fortunes for the theatre, located within the Olympic Games legacy site, began when it became part of the legendary Moscow State Philharmony in 2014. A requirement of the building overhaul was an upgrade for the auditorium acoustics, with an acoustic shell being specified by Moscow State Philharmony.

With the contract awarded, the Berlin based project team of Paula Ulrich and Tim Ehrlich worked to increasingly tight time scales while also accommodating client changes to the final dimensions of the Diva shell. Thanks to support from Wenger Corporation in facing these challenges the Diva Acoustical Shells were delivered to site right on time and ready for the installation to go ahead on schedule. Wenger flew in Jim Smith and Larry Werner from America to ensure the installation went smoothly.

Diva is a system of tower and ceiling panels designed to enhance the aesthetics and acoustics of a theatre dramatically. Rigid honeycomb composite construction provides a strong acoustically reflective surface that projects a maximum range of audible frequencies. Each tower consists of Three sections – a centre panel and two adjustable wing panels. Diva ceiling panels are suspended from the facility’s rigging system and balanced for ease of adjustment.

And a final word from the musicians rehearsing ahead of the official opening night – “the acoustics are fantastic!”

Discover more about Diva at YouTube.com

Black Cat Acoustics will be demonstrating their new AcoustiCabins Express Sound Isolation booth at Music Education Expo 2015.

In a “10 minute Challenge” a two-man team will build the new sound cabin from ‘flat-pack’ components during the Black Cat Music acoustics seminar as the clock counts down from ten minutes to zero. Demonstrating how quick and easy assembly of an AcoustiCabins Express Sound Isolation Cabin can be, the new cabin is just one tool in Black Cat’s seminar to de-mystify some of the technical jargon and present practical solutions for dealing with unwanted noise problems in schools.

Scheduled to start at 10.15 am in Seminar Theatre 2 on March 13th 2015, acoustic specialists from sponsors Black Cat Music and MusicPracticeRooms.com will talk through common noise problems experienced in schools and how they can be remedied.

And if the prospect of this important learning experience and 10 minute challenge is not enough, Black Cat Music is providing free coffee and pastries!

Music Education Expo is the UK’s largest conference and exhibition for music teachers. Hosted in four conference theatres, the 2015 conference programme will feature more than 50 high-quality professional development sessions designed for primary, secondary and instrumental/vocal music teachers. The event takes place at The Barbican, London on 12th an 13th March 2015.

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During January, Black Cat Music is offering 10 per cent discount on their best selling Classic 50 music stands in a special ‘New Year promotion. Quantity discount breaks allow purchase prices as low as £37.12 when purchased in quantities of 50 or more. Schools and colleges looking to equip with new music stands designed for robust and regular handling can take advantage of this great offer throughout the month.

Already a top seller, the popular Classic 50 Music Stand is tough enough to handle the hardships of regular classroom use thanks to a formula of advanced polymers offering inherent tensile strength that will not bend or dent like metal stands. Its elegant design makes it quiet and rattle-free during performances. And the scratch resistant desk surface also incorporates a unique recess for keeping pencils in place. The patented one-hand height adjustment of the music desk is simplicity itself, requiring no screw or locking collar adjustments. To learn more watch the Classic 50 put through its paces at YouTube.com

Full details of the January offer can be found on the Black Cat Music web site.