Episode eight: Mr Pop, I presume...

Send us Fan MailPrepare for an eclectic mix of conversation as Ben England BEM and Jenna Myles chat music and the heart that drives it. In this episode we hear about Ben’s adventures in Leipzig with Choir of the Earth, more about what being a conductor is really like, and what it was like conducting the Leipzig Baroque Orchestra... featuring live music from the highly praised performance in the Nikolaikirche.  Jenn shares more about her latest arts project (in a caravan no less!) incorporating the music written in her past, and we find out what it was like for snooker legend Dennis Taylor to appear on the 1980s classic that kept Madonna and George Benson off the top of the UK charts! The duo also share the final part of their fantastic chat with performer, author and broadcaster Charlie Connelly, who explains his love for the Shipping Forecast and the innate rhythms within it. Plus of course, don’t miss Musical Guilty Pleasures. This episode there’s a lot to unpack, and it certainly includes the weird and wonderful!Moving Notes, exploring music and the heart that drives it. Follow us on Instagram: @movingnotespodcastGet in touch: [email protected]

Send us Fan MailJoin Jenn and Ben as they welcome bestselling author, broadcaster and performer, Charlie Connelly, to the pod. The trio chat about the one and only Elvis, as Charlie shares tales of his travels around the world to seek out some of the fascinating people and performers honouring Elvis in their own lives. We also explore the emotional connection between music, football and communities, and Charlie chats about writing the autobiography of iconic musician, Bernard Sumner. For more about what the guys have been up to and a new instalment of musical guilty pleasures  (it’s a hot one!), step this way and bring your ears! 😊Thank you. Thank you very much! Moving Notes, exploring music and the heart that drives it. Follow us on Instagram: @movingnotespodcastGet in touch: [email protected]

Send us Fan MailA special seventh edition of Moving Notes, as Jenn and Ben chat about how music brings us together and the emotion generated from all kinds of musical reinvention. The pair explore Joanna Forbes L’Estrange’s work, A Season to Sing (a choral reimagining of Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons). Joanna chat’s with Jenn about life in music and this work that's taking the world by storm, and Jenn and Ben get right to the heart of Eurovision… what it means on the night for the artists taking part, and where that journey can lead. Jenn shares a few of her own predictions for Eurovision 2026, as well as some of the songs to check out from previous years, and we hear from Cheryl Baker, part of UK winning legends, Bucks Fizz. Ben and Jenn chat more about the ways in which we listen to and experience music, the emotion it brings, and there may be mention of headdresses and hats with ears… but you’ll have to listen to discover what that’s all about! Your emails are shared too, and Ben chats more about a very special piece of music that he brought a new direction to. Plus, don’t miss a very special Eurovision edition of musical Guilty Pleasures! Happy listening! Moving Notes, exploring music and the heart that drives it. Follow us on Instagram: @movingnotespodcastGet in touch: [email protected]

Send us Fan MailThis episode is a real feast of topics… from setting an improvisation challenge for comedians Paul Merton and Suki Webster, to talking together about showing emotion, and about how music can support you through sadness. Jenna catches up with conductor. composer, founder of The Gesualdo Six, and incredible musician, Owain Park. Owain is soon to become Chief Conductor of the BBC Singers, so we get his reaction to that, as well as much more about Owain’s life in music, moving moments, and his musical guilty pleasures! 🎶And on that note, Ben and Jenn chat about their own ones, related to food! There are some cracking lyrics in their choices, so definitely don’t miss that. The duo also share some of your emails and ask the question, “Is there anything better than a laugh, a cry and a cup of tea, whilst chatting about music”?  I think we all know the answer to that! 🎶Moving Notes, exploring music and the heart that drives it. Follow us on Instagram: @movingnotespodcastGet in touch: [email protected]

Send us Fan MailHappiness, humour fun, laughter... it weaves its way through our music. We probably all have funny stories we associate with the music we love and undoubtedly, music brings us joy. In this episode, Jenn and Ben explore the emotion of happiness in music as we chat about the humour in classical music, Ben shares some funny stories from his own career in music, and we hear amusing musical anecdotes from some of the people Jenna's chatted with across all musical genres, including Sir Tim Rice, Ardal O'Hanlon, Limahl, Tom McGuire and Spencer Flay. The guys also discuss everything from elitism and accessibility of music, to the genuine humanity in it.It's a fascinating, funny, and fresh discussion, approached with warmth and humour and guaranteed to put a smile on your face.  Moving Notes, exploring music and the heart that drives it. Follow us on Instagram: @movingnotespodcastGet in touch: [email protected]

Send us Fan MailIn this fabulously festive episode of Moving Notes, Jenna and Ben catch up with film director, writer, lyricist, and creator of the Nativity! films, the brilliant Debbie Isitt. We chat about how the first Nativity! film was made, improvisation in acting, the children's performances, and of course, the wonderful music and the emotion packed into it. We also explore how Debbie created the Nativity! stage show and we chat about some of her other theatre shows too. Plus, we discover her musical guilty pleasures! Before all of that, Ben gives us a brilliant potted history of the tradition of Christmas carols and Jenn decides we should create a campaign to "bring back the festive horse!" Intrigued? Get into the spirit of the season and give this festive edition a listen... whether you're on a Christmas walk or peeling your Christmas Day spuds! :).   Moving Notes, exploring music and the heart that drives it. Follow us on Instagram: @movingnotespodcastGet in touch: [email protected]

Send us Fan MailThere is so much good stuff to get stuck in to in episode three! Jenna and Ben welcome incredible installation artist Luke Jerram to the pod, for a fascinating conversation about Luke's artworks and the soundtracks that are integral to them. From his idea to put pianos in public places all across the world, to bringing music to children's homes on bicycles... and let's not forget the small matter of attempting to get the Birmingham Symphony Orchestra into a hot air balloon! Luke's artwork has been experience by millions of people all across the globe and he shares his thoughts about the challenges of creating large scale installations. We also chat about the secret music of nature, and Gaia... his wonderful, emotive sculpture of the earth. Ben's been pretty busy himself, and he shares more about lecturing at the Royal College of Music and Choir of the Earth's collaboration with the Bergen Philharmonic. Jenn reveals more about her own latest art installation and how it's all going with Velouria the cello! Plus 'Guilty Pleasures' has a new jingle... and a lot to answer for! :) To share your musical guilty pleasures with us, or if you have anything you'd like to say in response to the pod, do give us a shout over email. Moving Notes, exploring music and the heart that drives it. Follow us on Instagram: @movingnotespodcastGet in touch: [email protected]

Send us Fan MailJenna and Ben conclude their conversation with folk legends, Peter Knight and John Spiers, as they talk touring (and touring with people you're not that keen on!), advice for young musicians wanting to improvise, and 'Secret's Out' begins, with Peter and John sharing some of their secrets so we can get to know them even better... these may, or may not, involve unusual costumes and fridges! John, Peter, Ben and Jenna also share some of the guilty pleasures in their own music collections! To get in touch with the pod to share your musical guilty pleasures, just email [email protected] Notes, exploring music and the heart that drives it. Follow us on Instagram: @movingnotespodcastGet in touch: [email protected]

Send us Fan MailIn this first episode, Jenna and Ben welcome folk icons Peter Knight and Squeezy John Spiers to the pod, to chat about everything from creating music through improvisation to real connection with a live audience. We also hear some highlights from their album, Both in a Tune. Ben shares what it was like when emotions ran high conducting a Choir of the Earth concert at Esterhazy Palace in Austria recently, and the guys talk through their experiences of starting new chapters in life. Jenna's also starting to learn the cello, but how far has she managed to progress?  Join the duo and their very special guests as we all explore music and the heart that drives it.   Moving Notes, exploring music and the heart that drives it. Follow us on Instagram: @movingnotespodcastGet in touch: [email protected]