Just The Tonic with Katie Derham

In a special edition of Just The Tonic, Katie celebrates World Singing Day 2022 which takes place on Saturday 15 October. We hear how singing was a superpower for opera singer extraordinaire Nicky Spence as it helped him get through hard times when he was young. Soprano and National Treasure Lesley Garrett tells Katie about the health benefits singing brings to people with Alzheimers and she even gives us a singing lesson! Don't think you can sing? Well, think again. The People's Orchestra's Choral Director, Ula Weber says anyone can sing!https://thepeoplesorchestra.com/ Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, Katie chats to Kit de Waal about her fabulous new memoir, Without Warning and Only Sometimes. It's an honest and funny account of her childhood, growing up in Birmingham with her four brothers and sisters, her Irish mother who brought her children up as Jehovah's Witnesses, and her father from St Kitts in the Caribbean. Kit didn't start writing until she was in her 50s and has some excellent tips for getting started. Laurie Stanton was a boy soprano in his hometown of Port Talbot in Wales. He took up singing again after the death of his wife left him feeling really low. Now he sings with Morriston Orpheus Choir, recognised as one of the best male voice choirs in Wales. They've sung all over the world and even in front of the Queen. Laurie tells us how singing in the choir has given him a new lease of life. And we hear about all the benefits of singing from the new members of The People's Orchestra Show Choirs who sung recently at the Birmingham 2022 celebrations for the Commonwealth Games. Follow us on Twitter and Instagram to find out about the stars we have lined up for next series of Just The Tonic with Katie Derham. Thanks for listening!https://thepeoplesorchestra.com/ Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Katie meets singer extraordinaire Nicky Spence whose had an eventful year so far, full of personal ups and downs. His career is going from strength to strength – he's sung with all the major opera companies – but, he tells Katie, he'd give it all up to appear on … tune in to find out! AbracadOpera!, a new show for Sky Kids, is all about introducing young people to the opera for the first time. How did it go down with primary school pupils from Croydon whose tastes in music are a million miles away from Verdi and Wagner? We went to their school to find out. Beth Warnock, Head of Learning at English National Opera tells us why branching out into broadcast creates new outreach opportunities. The Proms features musicians at the top of their game in concert at the Albert Hall. Most of us can only dream about reaching their standard, but that shouldn't stop us from having a go! The People's Orchestra's Rusty Players orchestra gives opportunities to new musicians or to those who've dusted off an instrument that's been lying in a cupboard for years. Some of their newest members tell us what they get out of playing together in the orchestra.  Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We're all about the word this week on Just The Tonic. Katie meets the Bard of Barnsley football club and presenter of BBC Radio Three's The Verb, poet Ian McMillan. He's on a mission to get everyone in the world writing - then he'll have a day off!We hear from young poets at Raddlebarn Primary School in Selly Oak whose poems feature in the Birmingham Children's Poetry Festival. Head of Education at Birmingham Cathedral tells us about the festival and we hear from Birmingham's Poet Laureate Casey Bailey.And we're blown away by the youngest member of The People's Orchestra, 8 year-old cellist Aurora Chin Chan! www.thepeoplesorchestra.com Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Soprano extraordinaire and National Treasure Lesley Garrett has had an inspirational career in music. Support from the charity Help Musicians got her back on her feet after she suffered a serious illness in her twenties. She chats to Katie Derham about her work as a Help Musicians' Ambassador and pulls no punches in her view of the lack of government support for the arts. Like Soweto Kinch and Xhosa Cole, Alicia Hillman is continuing in the tradition of great Birmingham saxophonists. She tells Katie how support from Help Musicians has been vital for her career. We get a sneak preview of 'We Are One' which The People's Orchestra will be performing at Birmingham 2022 and composer John Koutsalinis tells us about his inspiration for the piece. We hear from Dean Williams from Orchestre Philharmonia Mundi de Montreal who'll be joining The People's Orchestra for their performance and reporter Jamie Parker catches us with players as they rehearse for the big day on Sunday 24th July in Birmingham. Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Katie is joined by star of stage and screen Sir Richard Stilgoe to chat about how live music can make all the difference to people in hospital and care homes. Richard's Orpheus Centre uses the performing arts to empower young adults with disabilities. He tells Katie how rapping helped one young man get an important message across to his dad. Music in Hospitals and Care improves health and wellbeing through the healing power of live music. Samantha Philp, Activities Co-ordinator, at the Eden Ward in Royal Edinburgh Hospital says it's been a lifeline for her patients to have musicians back on the ward again after lockdown. As they gear up for performances at the Birmingham 2022 festival, players from The People's Orchestra tell reporter Jamie Parker about the positive impact playing in a community orchestra has on their lives. www.thepeoplesorchestra.com https://mihc.org.uk/ https://richardstilgoe.com/ Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Katie's back with a new series of Just The Tonic, the podcast that shines a light on the positive power of the arts. In series one, we looked at how music can help mental and physical well-being and in this series, we'll explore the benefits of getting involved in other arts forms too. For this episode, Katie's stepping back into the fabulous world of dance - she was in the Strictly final with Anton du Beke! Last year, Eastenders actress Rose Ayling-Ellis was the first deaf contestant to take part and, with her professional dance partner Giovanni Pernice, she waltzed her way from Walford to the Strictly crown. Rose did so much to break down the stereotype that deaf people can't dance and can't enjoy music and that's exactly what dancers Billy Read and Sarah from Critical Mass want to do.  We hear from Billy about his Forbidden Identity performance at Birmingham's International Dance Festival which explores growing up as a Deaf child in a hearing world. Sarah talks about the huge benefits she gets from dancing with Critical Mass, an inclusive dance participation project bringing together young people from across the West Midlands with and without disabilities. And Katie chats to Cuban dance legend Carlos Acosta about his extraordinary life and his plans for the future as Director of Birmingham Royal Ballet. Plus we get a sneak peak of their fantastic show at the Birmingham International Dance Festival! We'll be following The People's Orchestra as they prepare for their performances at the Birmingham 2022 festival in the run-up to the Commonwealth Game and Chief Executive Sarah Marshall tells Katie what they have in store.https://thepeoplesorchestra.com/ Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the final episode of the current series, Katie Derham finds out how music can help people in the prison system get their lives back on track.Katie chats to the renowned documentary producer, theatre director, and criminologist Roger Graef. Roger produced the groundbreaking and multi-award-winning Feltham Sings documentary filmed in Feltham Young Offenders Institution. Inmates and staff offered a glimpse into their lives but instead of simply telling their stories, they were given the opportunity to sing, rap, and quote poetry about their lives and their dreams.Changing Tunes uses music and mentoring to help people lead meaningful crime-free lives. They work in prisons, young offenders' institutions, and secure children's homes across the UK employing musicians-in-residence in long-term residencies. Katie hears about their exceptional success from Chief Executive David Jones and Cam Harper, a former prisoner who now runs Changing Tunes record label, Red Tangent Records.The People's Orchestra is gearing up for a major music project this year based around the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham. Katie finds out what musical resolutions players have made for 2022.https://thepeoplesorchestra.com/https://www.changingtunes.org.uk/https://rogergraef.com/ Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's a Christmas edition of Just The Tonic with Katie Derham!Actor Emily Watson chats to Katie about her support for The Citizens of the World Choir. Emily, Oscar-nominated for her role as virtuoso cellist Jacqueline de Pré, is their patron. They provide a lifeline for refugees and migrants arriving alone in the UK, helping them integrate through the power of music.Musical Director Becky Dell tells Katie about the growth of the choir - from its roots in the Calais Jungle to singing with the Royal Opera Chorus.Episode 2 was all about the positive benefits of being in a choir. For members of the Citizens of the World choir, it's not just about singing, it's about becoming part of a community. Xmas is all about spending time with your family. But for Aref, and Naomi, who are in the UK on their own, their families are far away. They tell Katie how the choir has helped them integrate into their new communities and Londoner Alison chats about the positive effect it has on her.The People's Orchestra have had their first Christmas concert in two years – luckily they held it at the beginning of December - it's the first time the orchestras and the choirs have all played together. Their Production Assistant Jamie Parker caught up with some as the excitement was building in rehearsals.  Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Katie Derham explores how music education for children can be Just The Tonic. She finds out from Nicola Benedetti how music-making can help young people learn all sorts of life skills. Nicola has long been a champion of making music lessons widely available and, through her Benedetti Foundation, provided a lifeline for young musicians during the pandemic. The enormous benefits of giving children a good music education are well-recognised. Neavan Lobban, twenty-two-year-old principal conductor with The People's Orchestra attended a state school that specialised in music education. He firmly believes that instrumental lessons should be provided free of charge. Sistema Scotland's Big Noise projects have been helping young people in deprived communities in Scotland for a number of years, providing music lessons at no cost. Based on the renowned El Sistema system in Venezuela, their motto is social change through music. Senior musician Jo Ashcroft has worked at the Big Noise project in Raploch, Stirling for many years and she's seen first-hand how children who attend music lessons regularly do better at school. Symone and Scott Hutchison are living proof! They've been attending Big Noise lessons since primary school and now they're on course for a career in music. There are many ways in which making music can have a lasting impact on young people's lives. Find out more when Katie meets inspirational music educators in this week's Just The Tonic. Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The People's Orchestra open their doors to anyone in the West Midlands who wants play in their orchestras or sing in their show choirs. Being inclusive is part of their DNA.  There are around 11 million people with a disability in the UK - that's over a fifth of the population - but they are hugely under-represented in the music industry and in music education. So, are we ignoring many talented musicians who don't fit the standard mould? Disabled musicians face challenges like finding and buying the right instrument, accessing lessons and finding opportunities to perform. There are still concert halls in the UK where a musician in a wheelchair can't access the stage. Strictly Come Dancing's first deaf contestant, actor Rose Ayling-Ellis is changing perceptions around deaf performers and British Sign Language.  How can we make the music industry a more level playing field for disabled musicians?  Katie finds out when she chats to Klara Filip from The People's Orchestra; Andy Sandham founder member of The People's Orchestra and music teacher in Birmingham; and acclaimed musician and conductor, Charles Hazlewood, founder of Paraorchestra, the world's first fully integrated orchestra of professional disabled and non-disabled musicians. https://thepeoplesorchestra.com/ https://paraorchestra.com/ Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, Katie Derham finds out how being involved in making music can give people the confidence they need to have a better and brighter future.We've heard from players in The People's Orchestra and from choir members in one of their many show choirs in previous episodes, but the team behind the inspirational community orchestra in the West Midlands don't only create opportunities for people who want to play an instrument or sing. They create employment opportunities for non-musicians too. Katie speaks to behind-the-scenes staff and people they've helped back into work.Streetwise Opera is all about giving people recovering from homelessness the chance to get their lives back on track through the power of opera. Head of Communications, Rey Trombetta talks about the value of the projects they run throughout the UK and we hear from Ruben Whitter who says he never thought he would be an opera singer, but being involved in Streetwise Opera has turned his life around.Celebrated composer Sir James MacMillan has worked with Streetwise Opera in the past and he tells Katie what inspired him to get involved. We find out about the British tradition of composers working in communities and James talks about creating opportunities in his hometown of Cumnock in Scotland through his festival, The Cumnock Tryst.www.thepeoplesorchestra.comhttps://streetwiseopera.org/https://www.thecumnocktryst.com/ Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In Just The Tonic so far, we've explored how being involved in an orchestra or a choir does wonders for your mental and physical health. Results from research studies conducted by universities all over the world highlight the positive effects of being involved in music. It's clear that music-making benefits everyone. But not everyone has access to the same opportunities, and that's been particularly true of classical music. It has not been a level playing field, particularly for people from ethnically-diverse communities. In this episode of Just The Tonic, we're looking at diversity and inclusivity. As The People's Orchestra say, 'Music has no prejudice. Music has no limitations. Music is for Everyone.So, how can classical music be more open to including people from all backgrounds? Katie finds out when she chats to Bradley Wilson, the new conductor of The People's Orchestra Rusty Orchestra and a player in Chineke!; acclaimed Birmingham-based saxophonist Xhosa Cole; and Chi-chi Nwanoku, founder of Chineke!, Europe's first majority black and minority ethnic orchestra. Music includes Samuel Coleridge-Taylor's Othello Suite performed by Chineke! and a short piece composed specially for Just The Tonic by Xhosa Cole.www.thepeoplesorchestra.comhttps://www.facebook.com/xhosacolemusic https://www.chineke.org/ Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We're all about the power of song! Countless studies show that singing in choirs can help beat the blues, boost your social life, reduce your stress levels and help you exercise - and, according to the choir members we hear from in this episode, it's true! Singers in The People's Show Choir Halesowen and the Hallé Orchestra's Ancoats Community Choir talk about the life-changing benefits they get from singing together - and, according to Ula Weber, Halesowen Show Choir Leader, anyone can sing! We hear about the growing social prescribing movement that means GPs can prescribe the arts instead of medicine and Music Director of the Hallé, Sir Mark Elder tells Katie how singing together can have an incredible impact on our health. www.thepeoplesorchestra.com https://www.halle.co.uk/ Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode One is all about the fantastic People's Orchestra and the work they do in the West Midlands. They've worked with young jazz phenomenon Xhosa Cole and legendary composer John Altman, who worked on the music for the new James Bond film, No Time To Die, and has composed especially for them.  We'll hear from players from The People's Orchestra whose lives have been transformed by playing music. You never know, maybe we'll inspire you join a choir or to get that instrument out of the cupboard. We hope so!  Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Trailer: Music's pretty powerful stuff. You don't need me to tell you how much it can help us escape, or relax, comfort or energise. It's been a complete lifeline for many of us over the past 18 months, that's for sure. But music – and all the arts – does so much more than that. And in this new podcast series I want to shine a light on the extraordinary work that musicians do in all parts of our community to make people's lives better. I'm Katie Derham, and I believe it's Just The Tonic we need …  Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.