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Following a call for submissions in March, PRS Foundation in the UK has announced 40 Black music creators and industry professionals who will take part in the first year of its new ‘Power Up’ scheme. The initiative was set up to address anti-Black racism and racial disparities in the music sector and attracted 512 applications. 38% of the 40 participants are based outside London, including two in Scotland, one in Wales and one in Northern Ireland.

The programme will assist in the development of artists’ and industry professionals’ careers to break through glass ceilings and accelerate change. This includes grant support of up to £15,000 alongside capacity building masterclasses, mentoring, coaching, mental health and wellbeing support and access to Power Up partners and peer networks.

The participants are as follows:

Music Creators:
Abel Selaocoe (classical)
Amahla (R&B/soul)
Anaiis (alternative)
GRAMN. (R&B/soul)
Daniel Kidane (classical)
Dapz On The Map (grime)
Donae’O (Afrobeats)
Ego Ella May (R&B/soul)
GAIKA (grime)
Kasien (hip-Hop/rap)
KG (dance)
Kyan (singer-songwriter)
Lady Sanity (hip-hop/rap)
MckNasty (jazz/hip-hop)
Nova Twins (rock)
Rebecca Garton (R&B/soul)
Simeon Hammond Dallas (country)
Sola (alternative)
TAAHLIAH (electronic)
Yizzy (grime) 

Music Industry Professionals:
Adem Holness, Music Curator, Horniman Museum/Relationship Manager, Arts Council England
Christine Osazuwa, Director of Data & Insights – Global Marketing, Warner Music Group/Founder, Measure of Music
Des Agyekumhene, Artist Manager & NFT Consultant
Despa Robinson, Founder, BE83 Ltd.
Eric Hunter, Music Publishing Coordinator, Sky
Errol Anderson, Founder, Touching Base
Eunice Obianagha, Founder/Director, Enspire Management, Co-Founder/Director, Echo Music Foundation
Hannah Shogbola, Founder, DAJU / Agent, UTA Talent Agency
Heather Nelson, CEO, Black Music Festival & The Legacy Awards
Jennifer John, Creative director, composer, music manager, vocal coach and music mentor, Key Note Speaker, Jennifer John Music
Kwame Daniels, Founder & CEO, Bounce Culture
Laura Lewis-Paul, Founder and Creative Director, Saffron Records CIC
Lekan Latinwo, Artist Manager, Intricate Management
Loretta Andrews, Artist Manager/Founder, Safe Music Management
Mohamed Ogleh, Artist Manager, 2-Tone Entertainment
Nick Eziefula, Media and entertainment lawyer, Partner, Simkins LLP
Ree Sewell, Engineer Manager and Studio Coordinator, Metropolis Studios
Sami Omar, CEO, Producer and Artist Manager, Up2Standard
Sarah Shodipe, Freelance music journalist / founder of Alt Access / PA Assistant, Dawbell
Selina Wedderburn, Head of Operations, Your Army / Co-Founder/Director, Tempo & Flow / Co-Founder/Director, Plan A Group 

For more, visit https://prsfoundation.com.

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The Irish traditional music organisation Comhaltas Ceoltóírí Éireann has elected Éamonn Ó hArgáin as its new President. 

Ó hArgáin, from Lixnaw, Co. Kerry, is a former Director and Secretary of the North/South Irish-language body Foras na Gaeilge. He took early retirement from the organisation in April of this year.

Ó hArgáin began his career with the Irish-language organisation Bord na Gaeilge in 1980 when he was appointed Executive Officer dealing with community schemes, and then was Higher Executive Officer dealing with the public sector as part of the first Action Plan for the Irish Language 1983–1986. 

When Foras na Gaeilge was established in 1999 he had a key role as Secretary to the Board, and as Development Services Director he dealt with the areas of community and business, communications, marketing and awareness, the public sector, the arts sector and with the Colmcille programme. 

The term of office for the presidency is three years and he will work with the Ardcomhairle (governing body) and the Ardstiúrthóir/Director General, Labhrás Ó Murchú. Ó hArgáin succeeds the outgoing President, musician Vincent Jordan from Birmingham. 

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Soprano Virgina Kerr has been appointed as Chairperson of Sing Ireland, the organisation that promotes group and choral singing in Ireland.

Well-known for her international career on the operatic stage, Kerr is also Professor of Voice at the Royal Irish Academy of Music and is on the vocal faculty of the National University of Ireland Maynooth. She also has a Master of Science degree in psychotherapy with an emphasis on musical performance anxiety and has a private psychotherapy practice in Dublin.

A former chairperson of Opera Theatre Company, Kerr is also a founder and joint artistic director of the Festival de Musique de Leran, which is held in the village of Leran in France.

She succeeds Alan Kelly as chairperson of Sing Ireland. Commenting on her appointment, she said:

I am both honoured and delighted to be appointed Chairperson of the Board of Sing Ireland. Having spent my working life to date as an international soprano, vocal teacher and performance psychology lecturer, I am passionate about the art form and I look forward to being part of this vibrant organisation at this exciting time in its development. I am eager to build on the great work achieved by my predecessors and the excellent executive team so that we can support and encourage people across the island of Ireland to embrace the benefits and joys of singing.

For more, visit www.singireland.ie.

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The International Conductors Union has announced that Environments II for guitar and orchestra by Northern Irish composer Greg Caffrey is one of five prize-winners in the chamber orchestra category of its International Composers Contest. 

The contest has two categories – symphonic music and chamber orchestra music – and is open to both unperformed and  previously performed works.  

As well as being offered publishing, all the winning works will be performed by the Odessa Opera Theatre Orchestra in Ukraine in 2021/22. The other works are Nocturne by Marc Migo, Wą by Marcin Piotr Łopacki, Acá by Daniele Vulpiani and Meteors by Paolo Ugoletti.

Commenting on the award, Caffrey said:

I’m delighted to have had my work selected by such an eminent jury, and to have an orchestral work performed in the Ukraine is something I’m very much looking forward to.

For more, visit https://conductorsunion.com/index.php/composers-competition/

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For May 2021 appointments, see here.