Erika Yarrow discovers the great musical plans that CIWEM’s new President has in store.

Recently inaugurated as President of CIWEM, Alastair Moseley, is something of a renaissance man.  He is both a Chartered Civil Engineer and a professional musician, playing principal clarinet with the Birmingham Philharmonic Orchestra since 1990. 

When you talk to Alastair about music his eyes light up.  There is no question that this is a genuine passion and one that he wants to share.  It is not surprising then that his presidential theme is music and the environment. 

The son of classically-trained musicians, Alastair grew up in a musical household and took up the clarinet and piano at an early age.  Although his formal education led him into the sciences and engineering, he always kept his musical training to a professional standard.  The two specialisms have run in tandem throughout his adult life. This presidential year, however, promises to bring these passions together to both increase awareness of environmental issues and to raise funds for two charities close to Alastair's heart -  WaterAid and the Birmingham Community Foundation, which supports self-help projects in disadvantaged areas of the city.

During a meeting of CIWEM's Arts and Environment Network, Alastair met Chris Shirley-Smith and heard of his plans to commission a new musical work on the subject of water, with the intention of it being sung by choirs to raise money for WaterAid.  The idea caught Alastair's imagination immediately.  The Birmingham Philharmonic Orchestra already had a date and venue at which the new work could be premiered and Alastair and Chris set to work in finding a composer. 

Ian Barnet was selected as the man for the job. He is tasked with writing the new 20-minute piece, which will feature at the Prom taking place on 26 April 2009 at the Birmingham Symphony Hall. Money raised from the concert will be split between WaterAid and the Birmingham Community Foundation. The work itself will become part of WaterAid's successful 'Sing for Water' initiative, which has already raised considerable sums for the charity. 

The new work will consider man's relationship with water - what it means to be without it and what it is to fear water, as the result of flooding and pollution.  At its premier will be performed by a 250-strong choir and an orchestra of 110.  But it is hoped that the piece will have a legacy, being performed by choirs across the country, perhaps across the world, to raise money for those without access to safe water and sanitation.
 
 Flagged up as the Environment Prom, the concert in April, performed by the Birmingham Philharmonic Orchestra and conducted by Michael Lloyd, will -  in addition to the new work - feature more environmentally-inspired music: Mussorgsky (arr, Ravel) 'Night on a Bare Mountain;' extracts from Grofe's 'Grand Canyon Suite;' Respighi's 'Pines of Rome;' Vaughan William's 'Lark Ascending;' and de Falla's 'Ritual Fire Dance.'  Concert-goers will also be treated to the usual prom fare, including Elgar's 'Pomp and Circumstance No 1,' familiar to us all as 'Land of Hope and Glory', and Parry's 'Jerusalem.' The evening will close with a spectacular performance of the 'Thunder and Lightning Polka' by Strauss.

As if all this were not enough, Alastair wants 26 April to be a day of environmental engagement that will offer the public the opportunity to take part in environmental workshops and meet professionals working in the environmental sector.  Space within the ICC in Birmingham will be made available for education departments and environmental organisations and there are plans for an exhibition of work from local schools engaged in environmental studies.  The event will be free to the public, who will be encouraged to take part in activities and learn about environmental issues.

The environment day and concert offers a fantastic opportunity for organisations to engage with the wider community and sponsors would gain much from this cultural collaboration.
 Whilst 26 April will provide a focus for Alastair's presidential theme, those unable to attend the event should not feel excluded.  Alastair hopes that all of CIWEM's Branches and Groups will take the theme on board and engage in their own musical activities.  He is hoping to unearth some great musical talent. Very much a grass roots man, Alastair will be visiting all of the Branches and Groups.  So let the rehearsals begin!

On a more serious note, sponsorship will be required to make this the spectacular event that Alastair has in mind.  If you would like to take part in the environment day or sponsor the new commission Alastair would be delighted to hear from you ( president@ciwem.org This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it ).
 Here's to this presidential year being one of culture, music and collaboration.