SouthseaScene

Award-winning pianist Steven Osborne will be in concert at Portsmouth Guildhall on Monday 5 November. Steven is one of the most highly regarded pianists in the world. His numerous awards include The Royal Philharmonic Society Instrumentalist of the Year (2013) and two Gramophone Awards. You can learn more about Steven from his blog where he has reflected on why people go to concerts and reminisced about attending a concert that his wife, who is also a musician, took part in. The responses to his blog post offered different motivations to why people attend concerts: One audience member said, “It’s about the experience and emotion connected to music. You lose yourself, it's overwhelming & uplifting.” A mother brought her 7 and 12 year-old boys to a concert to show them that there is a new world where beautiful music exists. In Portsmouth, one person goes regularly because the music takes her mind away from her anxiety and depression. Whatever your motivation might be, ...

The University of Portsmouth music ensembles will perform at the New Theatre Royal on Saturday 19 May ahead of their Spanish tour. Every two years the music ensembles at the University of Portsmouth go on tour to a European country, performing four concerts in a variety of venues. This year they are visiting Figueres in Catalonia, Spain. Concerts are often full and our students enjoy the hospitality extended by locals. On one memorable occasion in Slovenia a local butcher held an impromptu barbecue for the 70 or so members because there was no restaurant in his village. On another occasion the choir performed to a huge crowd at the Zwickau Town Hall celebrating the 200th anniversary of the birth of the famous composer Schumann. Being part of such a momentous occasion certainly left an indelible memory on the students. In fact, since tour was introduced in 2004, alumni would often come back and join the ensembles for the week-long trip. “Our students really gel during this wee...

Ding-dong comes December! Google Dictionary says ‘ding-dong’ stands for a riotous party. I hope everyone is merrily looking forward to this festive season. This Saturday 9 December check out CURIO: Southsea Creative Pop Up in the Trinity Church Hall on Albert Road. On Sunday 10 December, the Milton Glee Club will be holding its Christmas Concert at the Guildhall at 3 pm. That evening, the University Concert and Big Band are holding their Christmas Concert at the Royal Marines Museum in Eastney at 7.30 pm. On Monday 11 December listen to Peoples' Stories Coffee Morning at the National Museum of the Royal Navy in the Historic Dockyard. On 14 December head to the Live Lounge event in the Guildhall, featuring the Blues legend Paul Jones. Don’t forget to give ice-skating a go with your family. The ring at Guildhall Square will be there until 2 January. Join the Christmas Elf Trail at the Spinnaker Tower from now until 24   December. Meet Santa at the Gro...