News from producers around Derbyshire

Arts organisations in Derby are forging ahead with their plans to set up an innovative international exchange with counterparts in India following a successful exploration visit.

Representatives from regional dance house Déda, Normanton-based visual arts charity Artcore and the University of Derby spent ten days meeting with artists, organisations and university leaders in Vadodara, thanks to a £30,000 Arts Council England (ACE) grant.

Young people from Derby’s Big Adventures Youth Theatre Company will share the stage with celebrated regional orchestra Sinfonia Viva at the annual New Year’s Eve Gala Concert at Nottingham’s Royal Concert Hall.

Big Adventures have previously performed alongside Viva at the annual Darley Park concert and will join the Orchestra in Nottingham on Thursday December 31 for a programme full of Hollywood and Broadway glamour.

A 20-strong choir made up of young people aged 12 to 18 will perform a selection of seminal vocal smash hits.

A former Motor Vehicle student has returned to Derby College to train the lecturers who previously taught her in the latest automotive industry education software technology.

Catherine Treanor (21) from Duffield studied at the College as part of her Motor Vehicle apprenticeship at Station Garage in Belper.

A local actor and musician are joining forces in aid of Friends of the Peak District to tell a tale of one man’s journey in search of the fabled Northwest Passage. Human interest in the Arctic goes back centuries and this fascinating story, though dating back nearly 200 years, releases secrets from the unknown land that are still relevant today.

A major post office makeover could lead to a first class career for two Derby College apprentices.

Raj Mohan, 41, subpostmaster at Kirk Hallam in Derbyshire, is joining forces with the College as he gets set to take on further responsibility for the post office across the border in Eastwood, Nottinghamshire.

Work starts this week (NOV 4) on a major revamp at Eastwood, with Raj ploughing in his own cash to improve the retail side of the store.

Croots Farm Shop is launching its annual festive fundraising effort in aid of Derbyshire Children’s Holiday Centre with a special event on Thursday 12^th November.

The farm shop, based at Farnah House Farm, Wirksworth Road, near Duffield, will be staging a Christmas taster evening, with a range of producer demonstrations and sampling sessions.

A Derby College Music Technology student is due to feature on a BBC Lifeline television programme next week (Sunday November 8) – highlighting the support he has gained from the charity, the Dame Kelly Holmes Trust.

Curtis May (18) from Swadlincote joined the Trust’s Get on Track programme two years ago to help him overcome the challenges that he faced at school and home.

The youngster is now a student at the College’s Joseph Wright Campus in Derby and continues to compose and perform his rap-style music.

Ashby Interiors, a new small business run by Martin and Rachel Ashby and based in Derby, are proud to announce that they have launched their V for Victory range in support of the Royal British Legion.

This remembrance period (and up to 31 December) Ashby Interiors will be donating 5% of the sale price for all items sold from their Ashby Aero range.  

The company manufactures luxury, decorative items made from genuine aero salvage World War II Spitfire and Hurricane Aircraft. 

Derby College has teamed up with Microsoft’s UK Country Partner of The Year 2015, risual Limited, to open a new Academy for ICT learners in order to address a growing shortage of digital skills and bridge the gap between industry and education.

The new academy is set to open at the College's Joseph Wright Campus in Derby city centre on Tuesday November 3.

Derbyshire women’s chorus DaleDiva has brought home a silver medal after wowing the judges with its 15-minute show package in the World Championships in Las Vegas.

The Divas rocked the MGM Grand stage with their performance in the Harmony Classic competition and were awarded a score of 1,249 – just ONE point behind the gold medal winners.

DaleDiva, formed by musical director Ally Law in 2007, was selected for the World Championships after winning at national competition level in May last year.