I am so pleased to be involved in this fabulous initiative. The loss of live music and, consequently, livelihoods has hit freelancers as hard as any who work in the arts. It has been an overwhelming emotional loss, quite apart from the devastating financial implications, because as performers it is as if we have lost access to an intrinsic part of ourselves. All of us, whether solo musicians or not, have spent our studies and our careers with people, with other musicians, technicians, back stage people, and of course with audiences. It is a source of huge sadness to be isolated from all these people who are so integral to our ability to produce music. Music feeds us and nourishes us, and enriches us whether we are listeners or practitioners. We are all the poorer without it.
Without all the carol services and cheering Christmas music to look forward to, a group of freelance musician mothers decided to create an online musical advent calendar showcasing their talents. It is a joyous thing.
Freelance Musician Mums launch Musical Advent Calendar
“After losing most of the year’s performing work to Covid, a collective of UK-based freelance musicians have decided to take their talents online. The Musician Mums have created an online celebratory gift of Christmas music. Devastated at the thought of not being able to connect with audiences at the most joyful time of year for music-making, they hope the Musical Advent Calendar will spread some much needed seasonal joy, and an opportunity to share the beauty and happiness of Christmas music with friends and family.
This socially-distanced, lockdown alternative to Advent carol services and Christmas concerts features a mix of styles and instruments including an award-winning concert pianist, a West End star, a Royal Opera House soprano, instrumentalists, new and established ensembles and a few fun surprises. The Musician Mums collective began as an online community helping one another with the challenges of being a musician and mother, such as practising loud instruments with babies in the house, and organising childcare for tours. Through the challenges 2020 has brought, this
strong community has come together to support each others’ artistic work through this toughest of times. Sales of the Musical Advent Calendar will provide financial support to all the freelance musicians involved, many of whom have lost all their work for the foreseeable future.
For more information, contact Joanna Sleight at contact@musicaladvent.com or preview the December 1st Advent window for free at www.musicaladvent.com.”
Please do take a look at the website and meet some of the musicians who are taking part. Check us out on Twitter and on Facebook too.
Suzy Robinson soprano 