We’re delighted to announce that we’ve contracted Birmingham social enterprise Devenishgirl Bakery to supply 11,000 hand-made cakes on behalf of Birmingham City University, who are holding a number of graduation ceremonies at Symphony Hall during February and March.

Bakery founder Melanie Glass and team are producing individually wrapped Victoria sponges on site at Symphony Hall to reduce environmental impact, following on from the successful vintage tea room operation managed by Melanie and Rosie Ginday from fellow social enterprise Miss Macaroon at a recent bridal showcase event held at Town Hall.

The contract, worth around £5,000 to the Weoley Castle-based business venture, is the first major success of the Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is campaign.

The PYMWYMI campaign, promoting the procurement of third sector and social enterprise conferencing and hospitality services, was launched during the Social Enterprise Mentor Event on Thursday 14 February at Town Hall.

Devenishgirl Bakery was set up in May 2012 and offers a range of home baked cakes, traybakes and biscuits; vintage tea parties and wedding packages. Their social mission is fulfilled by offering marginalised young people skills training and opportunities for paid employment.

For the next instalment in our occasional series of interviews with staff, our roving reporter spoke with new Education and Community team member Emma, who joined us recently from Teach First.

THSH: Please can you talk us through your role, Emma?

EN: I’m Project Manager for Children and Young People and mainly focus on delivering programmes of work to schools across the region, particularly in Ladywood as part of the Generation Ladywood initiative.

THSH: What might your Mastermind specialist subject be?

EN: I’d try and put my degree in music to good use given that it’s served me well getting the very occasional correct answer on University Challenge…

THSH: What is an average day like for you?

EN: An average day can include messaging our educational offers to schools, attending school-based music sessions, planning for our very exciting Generation Ladywood Celebration concert on 4 June and keeping everyone involved in my projects in the loop.

THSH: Who would you like to book to perform at THSH?

EN: I voluntarily manage the West Midlands chapter of children’s orchestra National Orchestra for All (NOFA), influenced by the work of El Sistema in Venezuela. It would be great to see them perform! I’d also love to see the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra, John Mayer and Bat for Lashes…

THSH: What are you looking forward to achieving in 2013?

EN: Seeing the schools we’ve worked with in Ladywood come together to perform on June 4 will be a great feeling. I’m also composing a piece of piano music for my friends’ wedding in July and will be performing it while they sign their registers – no pressure!

Contact Emma for a chat about Generation Ladywood, music in education and current projects on 0121 644 6051 or via emma.nenadic@thsh.co.uk

FIRST THREE JERWOOD FELLOWS ANNOUNCED

Three talented emerging musicians have been announced as our first Jazzlines Fellows, supported by the Jerwood Charitable Foundation. Dan Nicholls, Percy Pursglove and Lluis Mather were appointed by industry experts, including renowned UK jazz musicians, following a rigorous nominations process.  They take up their Fellowships in March – we wish them the best of luck!

TOWN HALL FAMILY ARTS CONFERENCE

TMA, ABO, Dance UK, VAGA and SOLT are partnering up to help deliver the first national Family Friendly Arts Conference, supported by THSH, BMAG and Birmingham Conservatoire. Specially designed for marketing, education, creative learning and outreach staff at visual and performing arts organisations, the event will take place at Town Hall on Monday 15 April.

EGGSTRAORDINARY SCENES

The Lindt Big Egg Hunt, a national campaign supporting the charity Action for Children, is taking place in Birmingham this week. Over 100 giant arty Easter eggs on plinths are dotted around the city centre, including Eggsistentialism by Baxter & Bailey in Symphony Hall and Peter Liversedge's Phosphorescent Egg at Town Hall.

POSTCARD FROM THE WINDY CITY

A small contingent of jazz professionals including Jazzlines artistic adviser Tony Dudley-Evans swapped snowy Birmingham for snowy Chicago earlier this month, as part of an innovative exchange project between the twinned cities supported by Birmingham City Council and Arts Council England. Read about what the team got up to here.

Members of the Birmingham professional community took part in a once in a lifetime experience, when they were given access to the historic William Hill organ at Town Hall. Clare Edwards of Barclays, a keen organist, worked with our Head of Development Karen Daw, to arrange the event. 

The event was auctioned off at a Charity Quiz run by Barclays, raising money for Winston’s Wish, a charity supporting bereaved children and their families.

Tony Barrell of PWC, Dan Hurd of Ernst & Young and Nigel Price of Begbies Traynor were the winning bidders, each paying £200 which was then matched by Barclays to take the total raised to £1,200.

The bidders and their families joined Clare in playing the organ and were also treated to a recital by Alex Jones, our current Organ Scholar.  Music played included the Star Wars theme and The Bare Necessities, as well as more traditional organ music.

"Having the opportunity to play such a historic instrument is a real privilege, and being able to do this with colleagues and their families whilst raising money for a very deserving charity makes it even more special".

– Clare Edwards, Barclays Business Support

An amazing collection of folk and roots musicians came together for Transatlantic Sessions at Symphony Hall recently. One of our absolute faves was Mary Chapin Carpenter, who had this to say about our auditorium...