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The winner of this year's Sevenoaks Young Musician of the Year Competition is 13 years old local boy, Lou Warnett. Both Black Cat Music and MusicPracticeRooms.com are delighted to once again be sponsors for the prestigious event.

The Sevenoaks Young Musician of the Year Competition has become a prestigious event since its launch in 1966 attracting performers aged 12-21 from the local area and around the country. Talented young musicians each give a short recital in front of two distinguished judges with results announced and awards presented at the end of the day. Competition Secretary Tim Daniell told Black Cat Music, “Lou Warnett’s playing of Beethoven and Chopin left the judges in no doubt about both his musicianship and promise. In a day of sixteen recitals given by young players from all over the country the overall standard was even higher than in previous years.”

Tim continued, "It was a wonderful day of music. In their summaries both judges congratulated performers and their teachers, as well as the performers' parents for providing such a high level of playing on piano, trumpet, harp, violin and marimba."

The awards were presented by the Town Mayor, Cllr Richard Parry, Cllr Dee Morris is Chairman of Sevenoaks District Council and Charles Hebert, Chairman Sevenoaks Music Club. The judges were Ruth Gerald and William Bruce and those who were awarded prizes were:

1st Prize Lou Warnett age 13 (Sevenoaks)

2nd Prize Charlie Lovell-Jones age 14 (Cardiff)

3dr Prize George Harliono age 12 (Saffron Walden)

Meet the team from Black Cat Music and MusicPracticeRooms.com who dealt with a very busy exhibition stand at the inaugural Music Education Expo ovr the last two days.

Reporting on the highlights of the first day, 20th March at Music Education Expo from the Barbican in London.

Event Platinum sponsors Black Cat Music exhibited on stand E19 a wide range of music performance equipment including music stands, staging, choral risers, music folders and conductors' equipment. Black Cat Music has exclusive distributorship of Wenger Corporation’s extensive product range - acknowledged as the largest manufacturer of fully-guaranteed staging and music performance equipment in the world. Commenting on the opening day, manager of Black Cat Music, Teresa Rogers said, ”the show has generated a lot of enquiries about our products - even the Royal Marines have visited us.”

Meanwhile fellow Platinum sponsors MusicPracticeRooms.com had installed a fully functioning sound isolating music practice room at the show which visitors were quick to experience for themselves. "We announced this room will be sold after the show at a special ex-demo price'. Marketing Manager, Alice Dagger said, “In fact it has already been sold!.”

in Seminar Theatre 1, Wednesday 20th March at 10.15 am it was Black Cat Acoustics in the spotlight when Martin and Mark Rasmussen spoke to the subject of 'Simple solutions to noise problems'. Delegates to the seminar session were able to enjoy complimentary coffee and pastries courtesy of Black Cat Music and leave with a free conductor's baton.

At the inaugural Music Teacher Awards & Gala evening organized by the publishers of Music Teacher magazine to celebrate excellence within the UK’s music education scene and staged in the Barbican’s Conservatory and Garden Room Black Cat Music sponsored The Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to Peter Dunkley(retired chief executive, Northamptonshire Music and Performing Arts Service) by Guy Dagger

Already a top seller, the popular Classic 50 Music Stand does not compromise on a design that is tough enough to handle the hardships of regular classroom use. Thanks to a formula of advanced polymers offering inherent tensile strength, it will not bend or dent like metal stands - a design that also makes it quiet and rattle-free during performances. And the scratch resistant desk surface also incorporates a unique recess for keeping pencils in place.

It might only be a music stand but the Classic 50 is feature-rich.
• Rounded edges for safe and comfortable handling
• Scratch-resistant, elegant concert black finish
• 340mm x 510mm desk – large enough for orchestral scores
• Recessed ledge that stops pencils interfering with turning music
• Desk rotates full circle and tilts up to half circle
• Tough – almost unbreakable
• Bolt-through desk attachment holds tight and secure – Always!
• Adjustable for desk stiffness.
• Quiet patented Teflon coated slider
• Quiet patented Teflon coated slider means no fiddly knobs and screws
• A virtually unbreakable tripod base with shaped feet to avoid damage to the floor

And when the performance, rehearsal or class is over, stands can be stacked on the easy to load Move & Store Cart for transport and convenient, compact storage.

Just over one week to go to Music Education Expo and Black Cat Music and partner company MusicPracticeRooms.com - Platinum Sponsors of the event at London’s Barbican venue, 20/21 March 2013 - are counting down the days.

Talking about the sponsorship tie in, Black Cat Music’s marketing manager Alice Dagger said, “We are delighted to be involved as Platinum Sponsors of this exciting new event and to also be providing the Lifetime Achievement Award.”

Black Cat Music will be exhibiting a wide range of its music performance equipment including music stands, staging, choral risers, music folders and conductors' equipment at the show. Black Cat Music has exclusive distributorship of Wenger Corporation’s extensive product range - acknowledged as the largest manufacturer of fully-guaranteed staging and music performance equipment in the world.

When you visit the Black Cat Music/MusicPracticeRooms.com stand (E19) not only can you see a fully functioning sound isolating music practice room and try it out for yourself, but you can buy this very same room for a special ex-demo price after the show. While you are thinking about acoustics, make sure you attend the Black Cat Acoustics presentation in Seminar Theatre 1, Wednesday 20th March at 10.15 am on the subject of 'Simple solutions to noise problems'. Enjoy our free coffee and pastries, served to everyone who attends the seminar and don’t forget to collect your free conductor's baton.

The Lifetime Achievement Award will be presented at the inaugural Music Teacher Awards & Gala evening which is organized by the publishers of Music Teacher magazine to celebrate excellence within the UK’s music education scene and takes place on the evening of the 20th March in the Barbican’s Conservatory and Garden Room.

Described as “the largest gathering of music education professionals in the UK,” organisers Rhinegold promise, “The UK’s most comprehensive music education event. Comprising a major exhibition, a dynamic educational programme and exceptional networking opportunities. This two-day event offers music educational professionals a highly rewarding experience - both professionally and personally.” And it is not too late to register for Music Expo.

Saturday 16th March is National Learn to Play Day when over one hundred locations all over the UK will be offering everyone free taster music lessons across a broad range of instruments.

The organisers have enlisted the support of “comedian and drummer Al Murray and a host of other rock stars, musicians and celebrities.” Citing a recent survey by Arts Council England in conjunction with parenting web site Netmums, “ nearly three-quarters of parents (73%) thought access to a free taster session would be a good way to encourage their child to take up an instrument.”

The National Learn to Play Day is organised by the charity Music for All in partnership with the Musicians’ Union, Arts Council England’s Take it away scheme, MusicTeachers.co.uk and Musicradar.com.

Are you taking part in The National Learn to Play Day? Why not contact us on Facebook and let us know what you are doing?