"What is a Musical Force? Not what, but who. Who is a musical force? Who moves music making forward? The obvious answer is the conductor. The conductor has some music, she knows how it should go and so she rehearses a group to realise her vision of how the music goes. 

That is an excellent way of being a Musical Force. And it is especially effective when there is a coherent group of skilled individuals who all understand their roles and jobs within the group and use the conductor as the focal point for creating something together. 

This is not what I do. Yet I am still a Musical Force. Most of my best work has been with groups who are less defined in their sense of their jobs and roles. As a community musician my job description is to work with whoever I have in front of me and to be the Musical Force for them."

Neil discusses what it means to be a Musical Force as a Community Musician, the ups and downs and how he has come to the conclusion that being a positive musical force is one of the most important aspects of being a community musicians. Neil mixes this with experiences of group Flow whilst playing at the Music for Youth Proms and the great light bulb moment he experienced with Southbank Sinfonia.

He then sits down with Voces8 Foundation CEO (and old friend) Paul Smith to talk about how he has helped shape Voces8 into a musical force all over the world, one that doesnt just perform to the highest of standards, but brings people along with them placing participants front and centre.

https://voces8.foundation/paulsmith
https://www.psv8.co.uk/
Voces8 Method to buy from Amazon: shrtco.de/iExMXy
Instagram @hatchmyideas
Neil and Pauls Reflections Album: https://open.spotify.com/album/1QTt4mZxOxpbwnSOpXds4Q
Music for Youth: https://mfy.org.uk/
Southbank Sinfonia: https://www.southbanksinfonia.co.uk/

Music Listing: 

Theme Music from The Leaves of the Trees. Composition by Neil Valentine, recorded live in Winchester Cathedral. 
Performers: 
Neil Valentine – Viola, electronics, composer 
With: Sophie Raven – Flute, Claire Yates – Viola, Jeremy Leverton – Electronics 

Finlandia – Jean Sibelius – Royalty Free Recording 

Classical Symphony – Sergei Prokofiev – Southbank Sinfonia 

The Pity of War – featuring Southbank Sinfonia 
Project with Archbishop Sumner School YR5 and Southbank Sinfonia. Recorded live in the Old Vic Tunnels – Waterloo. 
Music co-composed with Neil Valentine, Southbank Sinfonia and children from Archbishop Sumner School. 

O Gwen – from Reflections Voces8 Records. Composed by Neil Valentine. Performed by Neil Valentine, Paul Smith, Clare Stewart and Voces8.