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Patrick Allen (born 17 October 1955) is the English author of Singing Matters (Heinemann publishers), which won the Times Educational Supplement Schoolbook Award in 1999. He also won The Guardian Award for Teacher of the Year in a Secondary School in 2004 and the NUT Teacher Award for "inspirational leadership of a music group" at the 2015 National Festival of Music for Youth. Until July 2015, he worked as an Advanced Skills Teacher, based at Ifield Community College in Crawley, England where he was also Head of Music and Chair of Arts. He was awarded Advanced Skills Teacher status in 2001. Allen is a UK judge for the Teaching Awards, a music education consultant and a PhD research student at SOAS.

Early career

Patrick Allen studied French, Music and English at three Universities (Leeds, Sussex and Strasbourg), and he began his career as a teacher of English and Drama. He switched to music teaching following MA studies at Sussex University. His practical, hands-on approach to music proved popular with students and word of his success with classes and performing ensembles led to approaches from publishers in the 1990s.

Publications

Singing Matters (Heinemann 1997) was widely acclaimed in the educational and academic press and remains a very popular text and teaching tool with music educators in the United Kingdom and beyond. Allen's subsequent Heinemann publications, Developing Singing Matters (1999) and Composing Matters (2002) are also widely used in schools and provide a practical and inclusive repertoire of activities for secondary pupils. Allen also contributes to educational journals, and was a co-author of Music Suite, an interactive CD-ROM published by On-Line Classics (2004).

Outreach work

His work as an Advanced Skills Teacher and his consultancy work have seen him provide support and training since 1998 for local education authorities and universities across the United Kingdom the National Association of Music Educators, The Scottish Association for Music Education, The Halle Orchestra, the Department for Education and Skills and a range of private training providers.

Ifield Community College Choir

Patrick Allen has been the director and conductor of this youth choir based at Ifield Community College since 1987. As well as being seven times regional winners and national finalists in the National Festival of Music for Youth, the choir was one of two choirs selected by the BBC in 2011 to represent the UK in the international Let the Peoples Sing choral festival. The choir has performed five times on BBC Radio 3. In 2011 it was the subject of a feature on BBC Radio 3 Music Matters, focusing on the integration of the school's Chagossian drummers, and later in the year performed in a broadcast gala concert from the BBC MediaCityUK in Salford Quays. In 2012 the choir performed live on BBC Radio 3 from The Roundhouse in London. As well as receiving widespread praise for its musical achievements the choir has also been praised for its inclusive approach, multicultural repertoire and for "raising the aspirations" of its members. The choir was the subject of a film by SVC Television, directed by Andrew Vere in 1996 and has performed at world class venues such as The Royal Festival Hall, St Mark's Basilica in Venice and Barcelona Cathedral. The choir perform on Rihanna's single Towards the Sun (released March 2015), co-written and produced by former choir member, Tiago Carvalho. The song, featuring the choir and Patrick Allen as Choir Master, also appears in the DreamWorks Animation production Home: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack, curated by Rihanna.

Chagossian Drummers

Patrick Allen is responsible for the formation and development of a drumming group at Ifield Community College consisting entirely of boys from the displaced Chagossian community, who had been arriving in Crawley from Mauritius since 2004. The special musical culture and relationship between the performers led to immediate national interest, and integration with the choir. A first performance at the Royal College of Music for the National Association of Music Educators, was followed by a performance at the Royal Geographical Society at the Chagos Regagne Conference and two performances with the BBC Singers in Crawley and at Maida Vale Studios, entitled Rhythms of the World. In May 2011 they, and the choir, were the subject of a feature in The Times. The drummers performed with the college choir on BBC Radio 3 and were interviewed for BBC Radio in 2011. Their journey and experience in Crawley is described in a blog, and in a number of articles. They have also come to the attention of academic researchers, including a conference at King's College London in March 2012. The group have also had coverage in the Mauritian press and won awards in the Crawley community.

Books

Published articles

References

1. Williamson, Nigel (12 March 1999). "The freedom of music;Schoolbook award for music;TES competition;War amp; Music;Interview;Patrick Allen;Kaye Umansky | News". www.tes.com. Archived from the original on 22 December 2015.
2. "Awards - Patrick Allen". musicskool.com. Archived from the original on 7 August 2011.
3. Ward, Lucy; Acloque, Sarah-Jane (29 June 2004). "Calm in the face of a storm". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 17 September 2024.
4. Dunn, Karen (22 September 2015). "Award for Crawley teacher who brought music to a generation of schoolchildren - Crawley Observer". www.crawleyobserver.co.uk. Archived from the original on 30 September 2015.
5. "Music for Youth | awardscertificates2015". www.mfy.org.uk. Archived from the original on 22 December 2015.
6. Ballinger, Chris (18 July 2015). "Popular teacher to leave after almost 30 years at Ifield Community College | Crawley News". www.crawleynews.co.uk. Archived from the original on 20 August 2015.
7. "AST Ofsted - Patrick Allen". musicskool.com. Archived from the original on 31 January 2016.
8. "Teaching Awards Judges | Teaching Awards". www.pearsonteachingawards.com. Archived from the original on 2 March 2015.
9. "Patrick Allen | SOAS University of London – Academia.edu".
10. Times Educational Supplement 12 March 1999 "The Freedom of Music" http://www.tes.co.uk/teaching-resource/The-freedom-of-music-Schoolbook-award-for-music-TES-competition-War-and-amp-Music-Interview-Patrick-Allen-Kaye-Umansky-313278/
11. Peggie, Andrew (July 1998). "Singing Matters by Patrick Allen. Oxford: Heinemann Educational, 1997. £39.95, 176 pp". British Journal of Music Education. 15 (2): 219–221. doi:10.1017/S0265051700009402. ISSN 1469-2104.
12. Times Educational Supplement "Practically Perfect Pitch" Tom Deveson 14 November 1997 http://www.tes.co.uk/article.aspx?storycode=73584
13. Peggie, Andrew (March 2000). "Developing Singing Matters by Patrick Allen. Oxford: Heinemann Educational, 1999. 192pp., £49.99. Discover Your Voice by Tona de Brett and Jon West. London: Schott & Co, 1996. Book (76 pp.) and CD, £20". British Journal of Music Education. 17 (1): 91–100. doi:10.1017/S0265051700240187. ISSN 1469-2104.
14. Berkley, Rebecca (March 2004). "Composing Matters by Patrick Allen. Oxford: Heinemann, 2002.Teacher's Resource File, 123 pp, £24.50, paperback; Pupil book, 64 pp, £6.99, paperback. Audio CD-ROM, £24.99". British Journal of Music Education. 21 (1): 135–137. doi:10.1017/S0265051704255565. ISSN 1469-2104.
15. "Home - Patrick Allen". musicskool.com. Archived from the original on 10 January 2016.
16. "MUSICSKOOL.COM". www.musicskool.com. Archived from the original on 27 March 2003.
17. "Ifield Community College Choir". www.ifieldchoir.com. Archived from the original on 30 January 2011.
18. "Home - Ifield Community College Choir". ifieldchoir.com. Archived from the original on 3 June 2013.
19. "BBC Radio 3 - Choir and Organ, Let the Peoples Sing Gala Concert". BBC. Retrieved 17 September 2024.
20. "BBC Radio 3 - Music Matters, Ann Murray, Schoenberg's New World, Two Boys". BBC. Retrieved 17 September 2024.
21. "BBC Radio 3 - Choir and Organ, Let the Peoples Sing Gala Concert". BBC. Retrieved 17 September 2024.
22. "BBC Radio 3 - Choir and Organ, Voices Now". BBC. Retrieved 17 September 2024.
23. "Home - Ifield Community College Choir". www.ifieldchoir.com. Archived from the original on 3 June 2013.
24. Times Educational Supplement 16 May 1997 "In Tune with the Real World" Gerald Haigh. http://www.tes.co.uk/article.aspx?storycode=47957
25. "Patrick Allen | BFI". www2.bfi.org.uk. Archived from the original on 3 January 2022.
26. "Login • Instagram". Archived from the original on 26 December 2021. {{cite web}}: Cite uses generic title (help)
27. "Crawley school choir featured on Rihanna's new single - Crawley Observer". Archived from the original on 27 February 2015. Retrieved 26 February 2015.
28. Home [Original Soundtrack] - Original Soundtra... | AllMusic, retrieved 17 September 2024
29. "Recording "Towards the Sun" by Rihanna - MusicBrainz". musicbrainz.org. Retrieved 17 September 2024.
30. "Beginnings: May 2009". Retrieved 17 September 2024.
31. "Performing at the Royal College of Music: July 2009". Retrieved 17 September 2024.
32. "May 2011 update | The UK Chagos Support Association". www.chagossupport.org.uk. Archived from the original on 21 March 2012.
33. "Ifield Community College Choir". www.ifieldchoir.com. Archived from the original on 30 January 2011.
34. "BBC Singers - Saturday 18 June 2011 - Rhythms of the World". BBC. Archived from the original on 27 May 2011.
35. The Times 18 May 2011. "Crawley's Chagossian Teenage Choir" "Crawley's Link to a Lost Culture". http://www.timesplus.co.uk/tto/news/?login=false&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thetimes.co.uk%2Ftto%2Flife%2Farticle3022735.ece
36. "Home - Ifield Community College Choir". www.ifieldchoir.com. Archived from the original on 25 June 2011.
37. "BBC Radio 3 - Music Matters, Ann Murray, Schoenberg's New World, Two Boys". BBC. Retrieved 17 September 2024.
38. "Ifield Community College Chagossian Musicians". Retrieved 17 September 2024.
39. Sec Ed Magazine http://www.sec-ed.co.uk/cgi-bin/go.pl/article/article.html?uid=79027;section=Features%22;type_uid=2
40. ^ "Conversation with Patrick Allen". www.mauritiustimes.com. 13 December 2015. Archived from the original on 22 December 2015.
41. "Young Chagossian drummers win music award | The UK Chagos Support Association". archive.chagossupport.org.uk. 13 November 2011. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016.
42. "Home - Ifield Community College Choir". www.ifieldchoir.com. Archived from the original on 13 July 2011.
43. ^ "Publications: Magazine | NAME". www.name.org.uk. Archived from the original on 4 April 2012.
44. "Bluebirds and Crows - Developing a Singing Culture | NAME". www.name.org.uk. Archived from the original on 28 December 2012.
45. SecEd Magazine 14 October 2010 "What I have Learned from the Chagossians" Patrick Allen. http://www.sec-ed.co.uk/cgi-bin/go.pl/article/article.html?uid=79027;section=Features%22;type_uid=2 Archived 24 September 2015 at the Wayback Machine
46. Sussex Life December 2012 "Singing the World" Patrick Allen http://sussex.greatbritishlife.co.uk/article/ifield-community-college-choir-the-bbc-to-represent-the-nation-let-the-peoples-sing-gala-concert-37511/
47. "Peter Lang Publishers Spring Catalogue 2012" (PDF). www.peterlang.com. Archived from the original (PDF) on 5 October 2012.

External links

• Chagossian Drummers Blog
• Ifield Community College Choir Archived 30 January 2011 at the Wayback Machine
• Patrick Allen website
• Heinemann Publishers
• TES report on Singing Matters
• Teaching Awards

• 1955 births
• Living people
• English male writers
• British music educators
• Alumni of the University of Leeds