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The Tempo chair is ergonomically designed to provide musicians with a comfortable seated position, even during long performances and rehearsals. It can also be adapted in height and angle to suit every musician’s individual requirements.

The result of much research and study, the Tempo chair benefits from a number of built in adjustments allowing each musician to set up the chair to suit their own preferences for height, tilt and back support. Seat height can be set with front and back pairs of legs independently adjusted quickly and quietly without even needing to put the musical instrument down. Mid back lumbar support helps with good posture ensuring maximum opening of the airways, which is a particular advantage for wind players. A slight curve in back support offers comfort in a range of straight and rotated positions. The upholstered seat is cleverly designed with a ‘waterfall’ front section that prevents restriction of the blood supply to the lower legs that can otherwise be a cause of discomfort.

As might be expected for a Black Cat product, manufacturing quality is high with a strong, durable tubular steel frame with black powder coat, scratch resistant finish. And when it comes to putting the chairs away they are designed to be stacked six high and can be transported on a move and store cart. A video showing the Tempo chair being put through its paces can be viewed on the Black Cat Music YouTube channel.

Black Cat Music exhibited a comprehensive range of equipment for music, performance, practice and theatre at the FMS Conference 2011 in Manchester on the 17th and 18th June. Marketing manager, Alice Dagger (pictured) said, "It was good to meet face-to-face some of the customers we speak to regularly on the phone, and we received some excellent feedback on our products. Our Classic 50 Music Stand in particular remains very popular with Music Schools and Services, which was music to our ears".

"The interest in our new products especially our Music Practice Rooms was very welcome, and it was great to see all the FMS delegates again." said manager Teresa Rogers commenting on the event. Music Practice Rooms allow music teachers and students to rehearse within a controlled environment that minimises the acoustic impact upon other classes. The flexibility of the modular design permits Music Practice Rooms to be configured to fit available spaces.

Performance equipment including examples of music stands, orchestral chairs, staging, choral risers, conductor’s equipment and music folders were on show. In addition Black Cat Music offer a range of theatre products embracing tiered audience seating, pit filler staging, make-up stations, costume racks and stage boxes. Black Cat Music is the Master Distributor in the UK and Ireland for Wenger Corporation a company widely recognised as world leaders in fully guaranteed staging and music performance equipment.

Staff, experienced at advising and supplying equipment for the diverse needs of performers, technicians, architects, events companies and teachers were available on the stand to demonstrate products and provide advice. Whether looking for musical performance equipment, event staging, audience and performance seating, theatre equipment or acoustic solutions, Black Cat Music can provide high-quality equipment, which is as durable as it is elegant and easy to use.

Knighton Chamber Orchestra recently purchased several music equipment products from the Black Cat Music range.

Conductor, Paul Jenkins expressed his pleasure with the new purchases, saying, "In the Knighton Chamber Orchestra we are very pleased with the orchestra lights, conductor’s stand and acoustic shield we have purchased from Black Cat Music." Paul went on to say, "The service is always prompt and professional and the staff seem to understand the urgency of some orders to meet performance deadlines. In conclusion I would recommend the products and service of Black Cat Music to anyone."

In addition to the products supplied to the Knighton Chamber Orchestra, Black Cat Music offer a comprehensive range of music equipment including music stands, orchestral chairs, staging, choral risers, conductor’s equipment and music folders. There is also a range of theatre products embracing staging, tiered audience seating, pit filler staging, make-up stations, costume racks and stage boxes.

When Isobel Liebmann, Principal of Havering Music noticed the Classic 50 in the Black Cat Music catalogue, she realized this could be the answer to a problem the school had been experiencing with music stands.

Isobel Liebmann explained, “We were disillusioned with the fold up metal stands which seemed to break, collapse and need replacing regularly. We also found they disappeared! We were looking for something sturdy, easy to use, but not easy to lose”. Thanks to the catalogue which she described as “clear with photographs that gave a good representation of the size and style of the stands,” a batch of Classic 50s were soon on their way to Havering.

Asked how the school was getting on with the Classic 50s, she said, “We were talking about this the other day and came to the conclusion that they are probably the best investment we ever made. They have lived up to our expectations in every way - they are easy to move up and down, child friendly, stable and durable - and the bonus is that our banners sit on them beautifully without causing them to topple. The trolleys are also excellent; they store ten stands neatly and are very easy to wheel around with a full load - good for transporting on the van when we take equipment out to concert venues. We have only had one breakage in over ten years and when we reported this, we were sent a replacement top for the stand within days”.

Not only are Havering Music School delighted with their Classic 50 stands, but thanks to their recommendation other schools are now also equipped with the popular Classic 50 Music Stands. 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, the Classic 50 is elegantly designed to be quiet and rattle-free during performances. 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. 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.

Members of the Black Cat Music team attended the abcd 25th Anniversary Annual Convention that took place at the Birmingham Conservatoire over the August Bank Holiday weekend.

The organizers explained, “We're celebrating not only our quarter century, but also our place in the world, our country and our region. We will be experiencing Birmingham's own contribution to choral music … including the first performance of renowned composer Kerry Andrew's new choral work, commissioned specially for this anniversary.

Robert Dagger, Chairman of Black Cat Music said, "It was great to meet so many choral directors who are really passionate about inspiring good singing and getting the best out of their choirs. We were particularly delighted to receive so much positive feedback on our products, such as the Wenger Tourmaster choral risers and the Jazz Music Stand, from people who really care about the quality of their musical performance." The easiest-to-move, easiest-to-set-up riser on the market, the Tourmaster goes anywhere and now Wenger are so confident of the quality of both Tourmaster and Signature choral risers they come with an impressive 15 year warranty.

"We enjoyed the weekend and were even able to take part in one or two of the singing sessions. It was good to meet so many talented musicians under one roof. There was a real buzz about the event" said Alice Dagger, Marketing Manager, Black Cat Music, summing up the convention.

The Oxfordshire and South Warwickshire based Carice Singers have recently added a smart new touch to their concert performances with the introduction of a matched set of Choral Folders purchased from Black Cat Music.

The elegant, high-quality blue folders with brass-bound corners now add an additional sense of identity to the choir. Conductor George Parris enthused, “as well as looking smart, the folders from Black Cat Music are light and have brilliant pockets for the amount of music we have to store in them.'

George continued, 'The folders are brilliant, were robust enough to withstand our outdoor recital and meant the singers could carry lots of music with ease - meaning very little rustling between items!'

Black Cat Music offer a range of Choral and Orchestral folders in a choice of colours and the option to customize the cover with gold blocking of the name and crest of the choir or orchestra. Further details can be viewed online.

Black Cat Music will be exhibiting a comprehensive range of equipment for professional orchestras at the 9th German Orchestra Conference taking place in Berlin, 13th & 14th November.

Dirk Rueter, Black Cat Music’s representative in Germany, will be attending the conference again this year. Dirk reports: “I’m looking forward to saying hello to some familiar faces from last year’s conference. We will again be demonstrating our range of superb quality equipment including the world-renowned Wenger orchestra seating and the Tempo musician’s chair, which has proved extremely popular with orchestra managers.”

Examples of performance equipment from the range of music stands, orchestral chairs, staging, choral risers, conductor’s equipment and music folders will be on show. In addition Black Cat Music offers a range of theatre products embracing staging, tiered audience seating, make-up stations, costume racks and instrument storage cabinets. Black Cat Music Europe is the Master Distributor in Europe and Russia for Wenger Corporation - a company widely recognised as world leaders in fully guaranteed staging and music performance equipment.

Also being presented at the show are Music Practice Rooms offering an affordable and flexible solution to noise problems in schools. Music Practice Rooms allow professional musicians to rehearse within a controlled environment that minimises the acoustic impact upon those around them. The flexibility of the modular design permits Music Practice Rooms to be configured to fit available spaces.

Dirk Rueter will be available on the stand to demonstrate products and provide advice. Whether looking for musical performance equipment, event staging, audience and performance seating, theatre equipment or acoustic solutions, Black Cat Music can provide high-quality equipment, which is as durable as it is elegant and easy to use.

Tourmaster and Signature Choral Risers distributed by Black Cat Music are now backed by an impressive 15-year warranty on all new products sold.

This extended warranty demonstrates Wenger’s confidence in their choral risers that are already widely used and recommended by choirs everywhere. Signature risers with classic black styling benefit from safe, simple set up, lightweight handling, easy mobility and an integrated back rail with safety crossbar. They are strong and quiet in performance. Available in 3 – step or 4 – step models, configurations can be changed quickly and securely, or optional side rails added without the need for tools. The patented fold-down design allows easy one person set up.

No other risers fold, roll, set up or travel as smoothly as Tourmaster Choral Risers. Easy to take up stairs, navigate round tight corners or load into vehicles for transport, the Tourmaster is a world leader. Precision engineering and use of top quality materials are reasons why these products now come with a 15-year warranty.

Black Cat Music and MusicPracticeRooms.com are delighted to announce their support for the Sevenoaks Young Musician of the Year Competition 2012.

Sevenoaks Young Musician of the Year is a competition open to instrumentalists aged 21 years and under and with a minimum Grade 8. The final heats of the competition will be taking place in March 2012 when the Sevenoaks District Arts Council presents the winner with a Silver Memorial Medal in memory of June Clements who founded the competition in 1995. The winner also has the opportunity of playing a concerto with The Lydian Orchestra and this year it is Margarita Balanas, a 'cellist from Latvia who is at the Purcell School.

Tonbridge based Black Cat Music supplies a comprehensive range of equipment for music, performance, practice and theatre including music stands, orchestral chairs, staging, choral risers, conductor’s equipment and music folders. In addition there is a range of theatre products embracing staging, tiered audience seating, make-up stations, costume racks and instrument storage cabinets.

MusicPracticeRooms.com supplies sound-isolating, modular Music Practice Rooms for schools, recording studios and for home use. MusicPracticeRooms.com is proud to offer superb acoustic performance at an affordable price, enabling musicians to rehearse and perform in controlled acoustic environments.

"I have been thrilled by the service you have shown me. From start to finish you have been friendly and a joy to buy from. I run a company myself and I know how important service is and I hope that my company is as good as yours! " said Jonnie Jones, Chairman of the 2012 Mayfield Festival Committee, commending the service received from Black Cat Music when the festival organisers recently purchased a number of Mighty Bright music stand lights.

The Mayfield Festival of Music & the Arts is one of the highlights of the South East‘s events calendar. This biennial event comprises daily events in the magnificent setting of the historic village of Mayfield, East Sussex and attracts world-class performers from both home and abroad.

Plans are being finalised now for the 23rd Mayfield Festival, which will take place from Friday 4th to Sunday 13th May 2012. Once again the programme promises to be remarkable and comprehensive, featuring internationally renowned solo performers, professional orchestras, sought-after choral groups and some up-and-coming young artists who will make their Festival début. More details regarding the events for 2012 and all booking information will be made available early in the New Year via the Festival’s website, www.mayfieldfestival.co.uk.