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Reposted by Howard Goodall

Sing Up Foundation

@singupfoundation.bsky.social

Music is an incredible leveller of a playing field. Many autistic young people face barriers to music participation because programs aren't designed for their needs. Explore our new resources for autism-friendly singing: https://f.mtr.cool/litexhdhfv #MusicEducation #Inclusion

October 30, 2025 at 5:53 PM

Howard Goodall

@howardgoodall.bsky.social

Warmest composerly wishes to Phil Daish-Handy, the singers of Choralia Milford and players of Nova Foresta Philharmonic performing my ETERNAL LIGHT: A REQUIEM tomorrow at St Mary Magdalene Church New Milton in support of The Royal British Legion 🙏 thebridgemos.org.uk/your-centre/...

November 7, 2025 at 10:20 AM

Howard Goodall

@howardgoodall.bsky.social

Good riddance. A pet project, as was Brexit, of Michael Gove, the man more destructive of the musical health of Britain than anyone in our modern history.

The Stage @thestage.co.uk · 6d

The English Baccalaureate is likely to be scrapped in education secretary Bridget Phillipson’s long-awaited Curriculum Review, a change that would represent a significant victory for figures across the theatre sector.

Read more 👇

EBacc set to be scrapped after drama school leaders’ last-ditch plea

The English Baccalaureate is likely to be scrapped in Bridget Phillipson's long-awaited Curriculum Review

www.thestage.co.uk

November 5, 2025 at 5:12 PM

Howard Goodall

@howardgoodall.bsky.social

The world's most brilliant, secretly influential (& unsung) bassoonist. Fantastic article.👇👇👇

Trish Greenhalgh @trishgreenhalgh.bsky.social · 29d

I need a Tommy Flowers Was Robbed t-shirt. Great piece!
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/o...

Move over, Alan Turing: meet the working-class hero of Bletchley Park you didn’t see in the movies

The Oxbridge-educated boffin is feted as the codebreaking genius who helped Britain win the war. But should a little-known Post Office engineer named Tommy Flowers be seen as the real father of comput...

www.theguardian.com

October 13, 2025 at 9:15 AM

Howard Goodall

@howardgoodall.bsky.social

Warmest composerly wishes to Karen Beer, Olivia Thomas, Paul Young and all at Grimsby Philharmonic Society performing my ETERNAL LIGHT: A REQUIEM in Grimsby Minster on Saturday evening 🙏

October 9, 2025 at 2:33 PM

Reposted by Howard Goodall

Keith W. Dickinson

@keithwdickinson.bsky.social

Today is a day when arts degrees are worthless, but the product of those degrees is so valuable it would kill an entire industry if they were made to pay for it.

The Verge @theverge.com · May 26

Nick Clegg says asking artists for use permission would ‘kill’ the AI industry

Paul McCartne, Elton John and others signed an open letter.

buff.ly

October 8, 2025 at 10:29 AM

Howard Goodall

@howardgoodall.bsky.social

Am doing this on Oct 23rd, tickets here: www.kingsplace.co.uk/whats-on/wor...

October 3, 2025 at 9:21 AM

Howard Goodall

@howardgoodall.bsky.social

#BlueLights is so beautifully written, directed, acted, with such integrity & care, truly a privilege to watch. Each series fresh highlights & character depth: this time Katherine Devlin & Dearbháile McKinney absolutely heartbreaking in every scene. 👏👏👏

October 3, 2025 at 5:44 AM

Reposted by Howard Goodall

Kate Bevan

@katebevan.com

not going to push that pic of Farage at LBC into your feeds again, but I'll note two things: first, the whole paracetamol nonsense is profoundly misogynistic. It blames women for their children's autism, and doesn't give a shit about why women might take paracetamol.

September 24, 2025 at 12:03 PM

Howard Goodall

@howardgoodall.bsky.social

Ms Webster of Newcastle is a ⭐ a story about singing, solidarity & compassion 👇👇👇

Colin Elves @colinelves.bsky.social · Sep 3

With alt:

Smajo Beso • Follow
3d • ©
I started school in Newcastle in Year 5 without knowing a word of English. I was nine years old and had arrived as a refugee from Bosnia just a couple of months earlier.
I was one of those strangers our politicians often speak about.
I missed my grandparents and friends. I was having awful nightmares, and I would wake up screaming every single night. I hated going to school. I would sit in my chair, look out of the window, and spend my day daydreaming about ways to run back to Bosnia. I didn't want to be here.
After a couple of weeks at school, my teacher, Miss Webster, and my classmates did something special to help me settle, something that made me feel less of a stranger. That was the first day I went home with a smile on my face.
I have shared this story before, but as tomorrow is start of the new school year, I thought I would share it again.
**

Miss Webster was amazing, but I couldn't understand a word she was saying. She had this ritual where, at the end of each day, we would all sit on the floor around her, she would play the guitar, and we would all sing a song together.
I couldn't understand what they were singing, but I could see she would sing one part of the song, then she would say someone's name or point to them. The next part of the song would be sung with that person's name in it, and they would get to go home first.
My classmates loved this, but I hated it. It annoyed me because I couldn't understand what they were singing, but if I am honest, l hated it mainly because of how happy they all were. I definitely wasn't happy. I cried myself to sleep nearly every night.
I eventually started having separate English lessons, which I enjoyed more because it took me out of the classroom. It was always daunting coming to school because I felt everyone was looking at me or speaking about me. For months, my dad would stand with me outside the school gates in the morning until it was time to go in.

One day I came back into the classroom from my English lesson. We sat down, and everyone was extra-excited, looking at me more than usual for some reason. Of course, I thought it was because I was a refugee, because I couldn't speak English, or because they couldn't pronounce my name. I was bracing myself for another afternoon of my classmates encouraging me to sing. This was probably the closest I came to running out.
So we were all sitting on the floor around Miss Webster. She was holding her guitar, ready to sing. I remember the sun shining through the tall, narrow windows as I slowly drifted into a daydream of being back in Bosnia. She began playing the guitar, my classmates joined in, but this time, everything was different. I froze. I understood what they were signing. Not because I had miraculously learned English in one afternoon, but because they were singing in Bosnian for me. I looked around in shock, and they were all smiling at me, and for a moment I thought I was daydreaming.

While I was having separate English lessons, Miss Webster had taught our entire class to sing this song for me in Bosnian. They sang it terribly, but it was the most beautiful thing I had ever heard. I skipped home that day with a huge smile on my face. For the first time, I looked forward to going back to school the next day.
I have often imagined Miss Webster and my classmates rehearsing, struggling with the strange Bosnian words and laughing at themselves. For me, that effort was the ultimate recognition, an act of peace that felt like the opposite of everything I had known during the war. It was special.
I do not know if they realised it then, but that moment helped to give me back my dignity, my belonging, and, for the first time in a long time, I didn't feel like I was just a refugee or an outsider. I was home.

September 4, 2025 at 6:29 AM

Howard Goodall

@howardgoodall.bsky.social

Very sad to hear of the death of Sylvia Young, a hugely enthusiastic and motivating stage school founder/director who was so kind and supportive to me (& thousands of others) in the early part of my theatre career. RIP

July 30, 2025 at 2:26 PM

Howard Goodall

@howardgoodall.bsky.social

Kelly Magnificat
(Niche choral gag)
#Lionesses

July 27, 2025 at 6:50 PM

Reposted by Howard Goodall

Mike Galsworthy

@mikegalsworthy.bsky.social

"Merseyside, UK – amid rising youth crime, mental health challenges, and social disconnection, the arts remain one of the most overlooked yet powerful tools for healing, growth, and empowerment – particularly for young people who struggle to find their place in the world."

Creativity over crime: why the arts must return to our communities

Youth crime is rising, and teaching creativity and expression through the arts might just be what many young people need instead

northwestbylines.co.uk

July 18, 2025 at 8:43 PM

Howard Goodall

@howardgoodall.bsky.social

Sorry to hear Warrington Music Society, founded in 1833, is to perform its very last performance tomorrow evening at Christ Church, Padgat. I'm honoured that my Psalm 23 setting will feature in the farewell programme. Sending all warmest composerly wishes to conductor Louis de Satgé & the chorus 🙏

July 18, 2025 at 2:01 PM

Howard Goodall

@howardgoodall.bsky.social

Warmest composerly wishes to Bradley Barlow, all singers in the Wyre Forest Chamber Choir and all players in the Brindley Sinfonia performing my ETERNAL LIGHT: A REQUIEM tomorrow at St Mary's Church Kidderminster 🙏

July 11, 2025 at 9:06 AM

Reposted by Howard Goodall

Rob Manuel

@robmanuelyeah.bsky.social

I think in this slightly terrible world people are desperate for communal singing

July 10, 2025 at 9:10 AM

Howard Goodall

@howardgoodall.bsky.social

Warmest composerly wishes to Joanna Tomlinson, Jamie W Hall (@jwhallcomposer.bsky.social‬), Katherine Crompton, Suzy Ruffles and everyone at Woking Choral Society and Southern Pro Musica performing my ETERNAL LIGHT: A REQUIEM tomorrow at St Johns West Byfleet 🙏

July 4, 2025 at 9:05 AM

Howard Goodall

@howardgoodall.bsky.social

Profoundly honoured & moved by the beautiful performance of my Psalm 23 The Lord is my Shepherd by the choir of St Mary's Basilica Minneapolis just now at the funeral of Minnesota Congresswoman Emerita Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark 🙏🙏

June 28, 2025 at 4:57 PM

Reposted by Howard Goodall

Sing Up Foundation

@singupfoundation.bsky.social

🎶✨ The science is clear: arts education isn't just about creativity - it's about building better futures for our children. Discover more fascinating insights about the power of music and arts in child development on the latest Inspiring Voices podcast episode buff.ly/CdcbOob #EduSky

June 27, 2025 at 7:08 PM

Howard Goodall

@howardgoodall.bsky.social

Just released - new podcast 👇
youtu.be/e2W3ye6Nm4o?...

The Science and Soul of Singing: Daisy Fancourt & Howard Goodall on why we need music more than ever

YouTube video by Sing Up Foundation

youtu.be

June 20, 2025 at 11:27 AM

Howard Goodall

@howardgoodall.bsky.social

Warmest composerly wishes to Sammy Martin and everyone at Ross Penyard Singers & Ross Academy Choir performing my EVERY PURPOSE UNDER THE HEAVEN: THE KING JAMES BIBLE ORATORIO & IN MEMORIAM ANNE FRANK tomorrow evening at St Mary's Church Ross-on-Wye 🙏

June 13, 2025 at 10:02 AM

Howard Goodall

@howardgoodall.bsky.social

Warmest composerly wishes to Frank Kelly and my friends in the Bray Choral Society performing THE CREATION SONG OF THE CHOIR OF LIGHT (composed for their 40th anniversary by me with a text by Keith Brennan) tomorrow at Rīgas Latviešu biedrība (Royal Latvian Society), Riga, Latvia 🙏

June 12, 2025 at 10:01 AM

Howard Goodall

@howardgoodall.bsky.social

RIP the great, great Brian Wilson. Thank you for your mercurial brilliance, your innovative genius and those glorious songs 🙏

June 11, 2025 at 8:37 PM

Howard Goodall

@howardgoodall.bsky.social

Sam Fender at the London stadium last night best arena gig I've seen since Prince at Earl's Court in June 1992. Encore 'Remember my Name' with Easington Colliery Band profoundly moving. Wor canny chanter's playing Newcastle Manchester Edinburgh this summer though tix are scarce. Unforgettable 👏

June 7, 2025 at 10:14 AM

Howard Goodall

@howardgoodall.bsky.social

Warmest composerly wishes to John Forsyth & all in the excellent Durham University Choral Society performing my ETERNAL LIGHT: A REQUIEM tomorrow evening in magnificent Durham Cathedral 🙏
[tix: durhamcathedral.ticketsolve.com/ticketbooth/... ]

June 5, 2025 at 10:02 AM

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