Sad news just announced, but what a remarkably long and deeply musical life. Tonight on In Tune @BBCRadio3, @PetrocTrelawny pays tribute to Herbert Blomstedt: one of the most outstanding and respected conductors of his generation.

We're still reeling from a wonderful weekend of inspiration, music making, networking and celebration at Reading! Thanks to all our presenters, exhibitors and, of course, all our delegates old and new, for making our 40th anniversary a real celebration of everything choral. Here's to the next 40 years! Scroll through for just a few images of our Convention. #abcdconvention2026 #BeInspired #musiceducation #choralmusic #abcdconvention #choralconducting #choral

What a night in Westminster for the star-studded launch of our Our BBC: Our Music campaign! A huge thank you to all who came out to back our call on government to protect music at the BBC. Read all about it here: tinyurl.com/3fyn4vep Photo gallery: tinyurl.com/yspeveuy

Our exhibition is one of the highlights of convention! Grab a coffee and meet composers, browse music, book players, plan that choir trip! Our exhibition is open all weekend for delegate browsing. Stalls include Stainer & Bell Ltd, Forwoods ScoreStore, C D Wiggins Music, Choral Connections, Bernard Hughes, RSCM, Boosey & Hawkes, Schott Music, OUP, Sound Escapes UK Performance Tours, ABRSM, Interkultur, Chameleon Arts Orchestra, Alan Bullard and more. Come for the day, or enjoy the full weekend with us! Last chance to book - limited places still available. 17-18 October, Reading University abcd.org.uk/events/40th-annu… Discounted rates for ABCD members.

Explore our Sunday sessions at this year's Convention - which will you choose? Last chance to book! Limited places still available. Check out our full timetable of sessions and book your place here: abcd.org.uk/events/40th-annu… A great event for for all choir leaders, whether you're just starting out or have been doing it for years! Book your place now for a weekend of inspiration, networking, repertoire & workshops. Lots of flexible booking options - come for a day or the full weekend! Presenters include Amy Bebbington, Peter Broadbent, Bob Chilcott, Nicholas Cleobury, Rebecca Berkley, Emily Dickens, Sue Hollingworth, Brian Kay, Matthew Roughley, James Rose, Suzzie Vango, Jenny Trattles and Sarah Tenant-Flowers, covering topics for all choir leaders, our trade exhibition, two young choirs in performance, & a very special anniversary evening sing led by Sir John Rutter on Saturday night! 17-18 October, University of Reading. Up to 25% discount for ABCD members.

Deeply disappointing to see the University of Nottingham confirm it will close its music department. As ISM's Naomi McCarthy says, if government is serious about revitalising music education, 'it must support music departments to stay open' ⬇️ artsprofessional.co.uk/news/…

A very special day today: the centenary of radio’s longest running outside broadcast — not just here in the UK, but anywhere in the world. Join us at 3pm on @BBCRadio3, live from @wabbey, as we celebrate 100 years of Choral Evensong on the BBC: bbc.co.uk/programmes/m003215…

Less than two weeks to go to our 40th Annual Convention! A great event for for all choir leaders, whether you're just starting out or have been doing it for years! Book your place now for a weekend of inspiration, networking, repertoire & workshops. Lots of flexible booking options - come for a day or the full weekend! Check out the choice of sessions on Saturday below. 17-18 October, University of Reading. Up to 25% discount for ABCD members. See the full timetable at abcd.org.uk/what-we-do/conve… Find out more and book at abcd.org.uk/events/40th-annu…

Five good reasons to come to Convention! Conductor and choral trainer Amy Bebbington on why she puts our annual weekend for choir leaders in her diary. 📅17 - 18 October, Reading University Book your place now: abcd.org.uk/events/40th-annu… @RSCMCentre @ISM_music @amybebbs1

If you lead young singers, our Convention weekend has a full strand of workshops to support everyone leading singing in the classroom or in a choir. Just some of the sessions on offer: 🎶How to inspire your children's choir - Susan Hollingworth and Rebecca Berkley share their ideas for best practice, including teaching strategies, repertoire selection & more. 🎶Unlocking KS3: Engagement, Energy, and Empowering Young Voices. Matt Roughley explores fast-paced warm ups, accessible repertoire choices, and rehearsal strategies designed to keep 11-14 year olds singing with confidence and joy. 🎶Working with young singers: conducting masterclass. Join Suzzie Vango, Rebecca Berkley and Universal Voices for an informal conducting session. 🎶 The path to part-singing, with Jenny Trattles - practical activities to help develop confident part-singing using accessible repertoire 🎶 Repertoire discovery session: discover the latest new music for your young singers with Suzzie Vango There's also our exhibition throughout the weekend - lots of resources to browse for everyone leading singing. Find out more detail about our sessions and book your place: abcd.org.uk/events/40th-annu… 📅 17-18 October Reading University - reduced rates for members, day and weekend options. @musicmarkuk @SingUpTweets @BBCRadio3 @MusicTeacherMag

We're delighted that for the first time in many years we have our President and all our Vice-Presidents at Convention! Sir John Rutter, Susan Hollingworth, Brian Kay and Bob Chilcott will all be with us at Reading University on 17 and 18 October, taking part in and leading sessions and chatting with delegates - and helping us celebrate our 40th birthday! We're really grateful to all of them for making the time to be with us and for all that they do for us. Brian and Bob will be speaking about commissioning for your choir, Sue will lead a session on inspiring and developing your young choir, and John will lead everyone in a birthday sing! Just a few of the 20 sessions taking place across the weekend. Come for the weekend, or just for a day! 📅17-18 October, Reading University - reduced rates for members, day and weekend options. Find out more at abcd.org.uk/events/40th-annu… Full timetable at abcd.org.uk/what.../conventi…

It's a while since we posted on this platform, but we're still here, in fact we're forty years old this year! So a celebration is in order 🎉 - join us for our 40th Annual Convention! Celebrating the past: shaping the future Join us for a very special weekend as we celebrate 40 years of @abcdtweets with many of the people who have helped make us what we are today, as well as looking ahead to the future, with new presenters and new topics for all choir leaders. We've sessions for anyone and everyone involved in leading singers of any age, including a dedicated strand for everyone working with young voices, our famous repertoire reading sessions, and inspirational sessions on all aspects of choir leadership. We're thrilled that our Vice-Presidents Bob Chilcott, Susan Hollingworth and Brian Kay will be joining us, along with our President, Sir John Rutter. It's going to be a memorable weekend! 📅 Saturday 17 & Sunday 18 October 📌 University of Reading 💻 Find out more and book your place: abcd.org.uk/events/40th-annu… See the full timetable at abcd.org.uk/what-we-do/conve…

Great to see this initiative from @BBCRadio3!

Need a licence to allow your choir to copy music legally and with the minimum of fuss? Why not take a look at the @PMLLOnline Amateur Choir Licence, now available direct from us! The licence makes access to music easier for choirs, while ensuring that songwriters and composers are fairly paid All the major publishers are part of the scheme Pricing is tailored to the size of your choir: you pay according to the number of copies you want to make and how many pieces you want to sing. Find out more: abcd.org.uk/resources/the-am…

Lots of you have taken advantage of this offer, but there’s still time to grab a bargain - valid until Monday at midnight. Use code: BF2025 at checkout banksmusicpublications.co.uk

Looking forward to hearing our President @johnmrutter as Composer of the Week on @BBCRadio3 all this week!

FUNDING @CreativeScots Open Fund for Individuals offers support freelance and self-employed artists and creative practitioners if you apply for between £500-£20,000 decision made in 10 weeks £20,000-£50,000 outcome is decided in 14 weeks full info see ➡ creativescotland.com/funding…