User:Mactabby/Sandbox

This is a sandbox - I'm new so I want to practise getting this right before I do anything.

Birmingham Symphonic Winds
Birmingham Symphonic Winds (BSW) is a UK-based amateur wind orchestra in the style of the Eastman Wind Ensemble.

BSW was established in 1992 by its Musical Director, Keith Allen, with the aim of offering local players the opportunity to perform hiqh-quality wind repertoire and contemporary compositions, and has become arguably the most successful ensemble of its kind in the UK. It promotes its own themed concert series at the CBSO Centre, Birmingham, home to the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, and has performed numerous UK and world premieres, including works by Samuel Hazo, Philip Sparke, Martin Ellerby, Kenneth Hesketh and Guy Woolfenden, the orchestra's patron.

BSW is has performed at numerous UK and International music festivals, including the National Concert Band Festival, the World Association of Symphonic Bands and Ensembles (WASBE) conference in Schladming, Austria and the the 4th International Wind Band Festival in Strasbourg (first prize). BSW was the first ever UK ensemble to perform at the Midwest Clinic, Chicago in December 2003. BSW has also been invited to perform at the WASBE Conference in Killarney, Ireland in July 2007.

Colin Touchin
Colin Touchin is an English-born conductor, composer and music educator.

He studied clarinet with Graham Turner at Keeble College, Oxford, and went on to teach woodwind in Manchester and surrounding areas before gaining recognition as a conductor and music educator, particulary of wind orchestras and ensembles. His career has included posts as Head of Composition at Chetham’s School of Music in Manchester, and Director of Music at Warwick University (1989 - 2004).

As a conductor he has directed ensembles in the UK and internationally, including the National Youth Wind Orchestras of Great Britain and Luxembourg and for several years he was a regular conductor at the Dartington International Summer School. He is a frequent adjudicator at music festivals and competitions and his compositions have been broadcast on national and local radio and TV.

He is also active in administration, having served on national committees for the Incorporated Society of Musicians, Society of Recorder Players and the British Association of Symphonic Bands and Wind Ensembles. He has founded ensembles including Warwick Orchestral Winds (originally Midlands Wind Orchestra), the Universities Honours Band, and the National Youth Recorder Orchestra.

learndirect
learndirect is the public-facing brand of Ufi Ltd, a not-for-profit organisation created in 1998 to take forward the UK Government's vision of a University for Industry in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. The learndirect brand covers a range of inter-related services for online learning, advice and guidance. These include:


 * the learndirect advice service: a government-funded telephone helpline and website providing impartial information, advice and guidance relating to learning opportunities and career development.
 * learndirect courses: an online learning service supported and delivered by a network of learndirect learning centres.
 * learndirect business: an online learning service aimed at small to medium-sized enterprises.
 * Learning Through Work: a higher education offer aimed at people in work.

learndirect Scotland
learndirect scotland is, similarly, the public-facing brand of the Scottish University for Industry (SUfI). SUfI was established by the Scottish Executive as a private limited company in 2000. It became a non departmental public body, responsible to Scottish Ministers, in April 2005, and retains its private limited company status. The stated mission of learndirect scotland is to help individuals and small businesses across Scotland to realise their potential through learning, at a time, place, pace and style that suits their needs.