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Talks

Signed Performances

Concerts

Conferences

Training

 

"On behalf of all the delegates we would like to extend sincere thanks to the MatD team. Everyone agreed that your presentation, including the music produced by the young people, was one of the highlights of our conference"

Rotary International District 1070

Conference, October 2007

 

 

 

Workshops

 

“Thank you for a most enjoyable day. All the children had great fun and learned so many new things”

[Kathy Thompson, Molehill Copse School]

 

“Thank you very much for the Music Day. All the children and staff enjoyed the day and several parents have said how pleased they were that their children were invited. People are already talking about us doing it again next year”

[Sue Searle, Peripatetic ToD, Education Service for Hearing and Visions, Hull]

 

“I am writing on behalf of the pupils and staff of the hearing-impairment team to extend our thanks for another fabulous Music Day. Everyone enjoyed themselves and you pulled together another amazing performance for us. It was great working with you all once again and I hope that we will see you again soon for another extravaganza.”

 [Gill Pillar, Hearing Impairment Team, Dudley MBC]

 

“Thank you for the successful Music day. Most parents found it an eye and ear opener and will now try and do more music with their deaf children. The day was a big step forward for all the children.”

 [Kerena Marchant, Surrey DCS]

 

“Thank you for the recent music workshops. Everyone was really pleased with the project and the children gained such a lot from it. You must have put in such a lot of hard work to make the project such a worthwhile one.”

[Kate Gitsham, Lollipop Charity, York]

 

“Thank you for giving two fantastic and enjoyable music sessions. The children really enjoyed their time with you and it showed in their faces. It was a great way of showing their Deaf parents how they can enjoy music with their hearing children. Some parents were reluctant to make music but they really enjoyed the session and said afterwards how you made music so simple that they can understand it too. We’d like to invite down to us again in the future.”

 [Kimberly Waine-Thomas, Children of Deaf Parents UK]

 

 

 

“Just a brief note to thank you for all the work you put into ‘Over the Wine-Dark Sea’. It couldn’t have happened without you. The whole experience was very moving and humbling and I do hope there’ll be an opportunity to perform the piece again.”

 [David Bedford, Composer]

 

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Talks

 

“The compliments are pouring in for the Autumn Council meeting and everyone is full of praise for your part in the evening’s activity. We don’t often have standing ovations and I cannot recall anyone getting two before – and well deserved they were!”

[Pat Collinson, Suffolk West Federation of WIs]

 

“This is a heartfelt ‘Thank You’ for coming to our WI Council meeting last month and for making it so very special. We have never had such a response to a speaker.”

 [Sue Johnson, Shropshire WI]

 

“On behalf of the Devon WI Executive and members present may I thank you for a truly amazing afternoon last week. We have had so many phone calls and letters concerning your presentation, all expressing incredulity at your talent and expertise. You truly deserved the standing ovation – the first for any Council meeting.”

 [Polly Beacham, Devon Federation of WIs]

 

“A big thank you for helping to make our evening such a success. You have the happy knack of entertaining people whilst at the same time educating them about Music and the Deaf.  We wish you continued success for the future.”

 [Malcolm Worsley, Provincial Grand Lodge of East Lancashire]

 

“So many words have been used to describe your performance and I echo them here: inspiring, brilliant, superb, outstanding, wonderful. It was an experience I will always remember and a memory I will treasure.”

 [Hilary Anslow OBE, Principal King George V College, Southport}

 

 

“What a wonderful evening it was on Saturday. You had hundreds of people in the palm of your hand. The audience was spellbound by you, your enthusiasm and the way in which you have overcome your disability. You must have realised how much they had enjoyed your presentation when you received a standing ovation.”

 [Jean Forrester]

 

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Signed Performances

 

“What a wonderful Pantomime! The whole show was brilliant but our special thanks must go to the Interpreter. He was excellent. From start to finish he signed everything. Can we have him again please?

[Ann Ryding, Wolverhampton DCS]

 

 

“With many thanks for an excellent and talented interpretation. We look forward to welcoming you for further signed performances.”

[Michael Allen, Friends of New Wimbledon Theatre]

 

 

“I feel I must write and say how much I enjoyed ‘Annie’ last week. The whole cast was wonderful. However I must single out the young man who signed all night. He was amazing. Please convey our appreciation of his hard work.”

 [Carole Barnett, Theatre goer]

 

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Concerts 

"I just wanted to say thank you for the opportunity of working with the Deaf Youth Orchestra.  I thought the children were absolutely brilliant last night and I thoroughly enjoyed the concert, it was a heart-warming experience and one which I shall never forget." [Woodwind Tutor]

"Well done to you all, what a fantastic night. It is so good to see all the students enjoying themselves and producing such a good nights entertainment. Many thanks for all your hard work in making this happen and for all the efforts you and your team have put in over the years. Same time same place next year!!! " [Teacher of the Deaf ]

"What a superb evening you masterminded last night.  It’s hard to comment on the effect of the concert because it was so powerful on so many levels.  Emotionally it was both heart-wrenching and life-affirming with too many ‘special’ moments to mention.  So many smiles, so much fun and laughter and such thoughtful concentration demonstrated through each individual’s playing.  Musically it was hugely demanding, with the skills that take many musicians years to build being demanded of those young people in just a few months.  It was so right to have the David Bedford commission as the backbone of the whole event and the ‘multi-media’ approach to the performance gave even more direct communication with the audience.  The soloists and groups performed with amazing creativity and focus and giving the young people the skills to lead some of the music making gave a truly fresh and spontaneous vigour to the proceedings." [Thom Meredith]

"Wakefield Music Services has been delighted to support such an important organisation as yours.  Both Phil and I were so impressed with the performance on Monday night.  The look of sheer pride on all those young people's faces was something I will remember for a long time.  They all thoroughly enjoyed the limelight and just for once it was THEIR show and they weren't sharing with anyone else." [Geraldine Gaunt, Head of Wakefield Music Services]

“Just a brief note to say how much I enjoyed your Celebration Concert last week. The young deaf artists clearly enjoyed themselves.”

[Councillor David Hopkins, Mayor of Wakefield Metropolitan District]

 

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Conferences

 

“Very Inspirational, particularly Paul Whittaker”

[Northumberland Music Service at State of Play, Music Manifesto Conference]

 

“I would like to take this opportunity on behalf of the Music Education Council to thank you most sincerely for your input into the recent Changing Tunes event.”

[Anna Hassan, Music Education Council]

 

 

“Entertaining and inspirational, excellent presentation which has given me loads of ideas to use with my pupils” 

[Delegate, Stamford SEN Music Conference]

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Training

 

“This was a wonderfully fun and joyous course, filled with optimism and hope.”

[Teacher of the Deaf, nursery school, Aberdeen]

 

“I will feel so much more confident about teaching music to deaf children now. I have taken away lots of ideas for activities with pre-school pupils in the home and at nursery”

[Sensory Service team member, Aberdeen]

 

“The session was very interesting. I have not had any experience of communicating with deaf people and the training session has given me the knowledge to help deaf pupils access the curriculum”

[Trainee primary school teacher, Huddersfield]

 

“It was so much more relevant for the session to be led by a deaf person rather than an education professional.

[Trainee primary school teacher, Huddersfield]

 

“The course was very comprehensive with brilliant ideas to bring back to the classroom for both deaf and hearing children”

[Teacher of the Deaf, Moray]

 

“I just wanted to thank you for coming to talk to the Music PGCE course. I had not realised before how to work with deaf children or understood how important it can be for them to enjoy music. The time you spent with us has changed my life. You inspired me and made me think how life might be without music – and I couldn’t imagine it. When I am a qualified teacher I will use your materials to teach those with difficulties accessing music”

 [PGCE Student, University of Leeds]

 

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