Urban Vocal Group

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This article is about the Urban Vocal Group, a musical charity based in Portsmouth City, United Kingdom. For the secular university in Guatemala City, Guatemala, see Universidad del Valle de Guatemala.

The Urban Vocal Group
AbbreviationUVG
Formation2007; 17 years ago (2007)
As a non-profit organisation
2008; 16 years ago (2008)[1]
As a registered charity
2021; 3 years ago (2021)
Merged With Guildhall Trust
Founders
  • Charlie Fletcher
  • Amba Tremain
TypeCharitable organisation
(HMRC exemption status)
PurposeMusic education
HeadquartersPortsmouth Guildhall, United Kingdom
Area served
City of Portsmouth Havant
Key people
Sally Stanton
UVG Co-Ordinator, Music Leader, Singing & Vocal Health Specialist (2008 - Present)
Jodie Vinall
Music Leader
Lois Bibbins
Music Leader (Havant Group - 2023 - Present)
Justine Taylor
Music Leader (Portsmouth Group - 2023 - Present)

Previous Key People:
Gary Dickens (Formerly)
Chairman
Charlie Fletcher (Formerly)
co-founder, co-chair & administrative director (2007-2023)
Amba Tremain (Formerly)
co-founder & musical teacher/director (2007-2021)
Kate Gildea (Formerly)
Music Leader (Portsmouth) (2018-2022)
Olivia Haggarty (Formerly)
Music Leader (Havant & Portsmouth)
Faye Carpenter (Formerly)
Music Leader (Havant & Portsmouth)
Ellie Reynolds (Formerly)
Music Leader (Havant)[2]
Websitetheuvg.co.uk

The Urban Vocal Group (/ˈʊərbɑːn/, abbreviated to The UVG) is a musical charity headquartered in Portsmouth, Hampshire that specialise in contemporary music performance and education.

The charity has been active in Havant since 2008 and within Portsmouth City since 2014, providing access to music training in the form of group vocals, one to one singing and vocal health tuition, songwriting, composition, and recording, rehearsals and live performances, mentorship and volunteer opportunities as well as public music workshops.[3] The UVG accommodates young people aged 10 to 18, and until early 2023 provided a senior group for older attendees in the Form of AUVG.

UVG began extensive artist development projects in 2015 for younger musicians, which had progressed further in 2016.[4][5] The UVG celebrated their 10-year anniversary as a registered charity on 14 January 2018 at Portsmouth Guildhall.[6][7]

In February 2019, the UVG received a grant of £75,000 from Youth Music UK.[8]

History[edit]

The Urban Vocal Group was originally established in December 2007 by programmer and musician Charlie Fletcher with the assistance of fellow singer-songwriter Amba Tremain, and Singing & Voice Specialist Sally Stanton.[9] Initially, the charity was created in the effort to form a diverse community of young people from the Havant and City of Portsmouth area, by teaching them the musical abilities they would find in a like-minded environment, which would potentially be beneficial toward young people if they decide upon a profession in the music industry.[10][11][12]

In 2014, the group received a £53,000 grant by The Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport through their representative division, The National Foundation for Youth Music,[13] allowing the charity to expand their quota, including the area served from their initial Havant-based 30-seat venue to larger venues at Portsmouth Guildhall from September 2014, which helped to accommodate for higher attendance rates.[14] The grant also enabled the charity to increase their artists development activities in 2015, with an additional grant of £14,600 from the Arts Council England in 2016.[15]

Also in 2014, the UVG formed the Adult Urban Vocal Group (or AUVG for short) to serve as a transition group for singers who previously attended the younger groups, and to allow adults to experience the UVG sound for themselves whilst also generating income for the charity.[16]

In April 2021 the charity merged with The Guildhall Trust and began a new chapter in its history.[17] ‌

Performances[edit]

The Urban Vocal Group have performed at venues such as The House of Commons, New Theatre Royal, BBC Radio Solent and notably at the Kings Theatre, guesting with BRIT Award-winning vocal group BLAKE,[18] as well as with singer-songwriter Chesney Hawkes at Portsmouth Guildhall in July 2016,[19] before performing there alone in January 2018 for their tenth annual show.[20][21] The UVG also sold-out the 500-seat venue Portsmouth Pyramids Centre, for their annual show on 4 December 2016,[22] accompanied by singer-songwriter Marley Blandford and youth streetdance group, Most Wanted.[23] The group have also performed at events such as at Britain's Got Talent auditions in Churchill Square, Brighton[24] as well as the one-off Portsmouth Summer Show in 2016, Southsea Bandstand and Victorious Festival in 2016, 2017 and 2018.[25][26][27][28]

Other venues include the following:

Awards[edit]

In early 2017, the UVG received the Cultural Partnership Award at the annual Shaping Portsmouth Conference.[30]

Also, in January 2018, they received the Special Recognition Award at The Portsmouth News' Guide Awards ceremony.[31]

Year Nominee / work Award Result
2017 The Urban Vocal Group Cultural Partnership Award Won
2018 The Urban Vocal Group Special Recognition Award Won

External links[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "The UVG in Portsmouth, England". Retrieved 13 June 2017.
  2. ^ "The Urban Vocal Group, charity details". Government of the United Kingdom. Retrieved 16 July 2017., accessed 16 July 2017
  3. ^ "The UVG use music making to enhance the life chances of young people". theuvg.co.uk. Retrieved 25 July 2017.
  4. ^ "Wealthy stars should donate back to the arts, Lady Lloyd Webber says". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 20 June 2017.
  5. ^ "The Urban Vocal Group". portsmouthmusichub.org. Retrieved 16 July 2017.
  6. ^ "Sunday 14th January (UVG) THE URBAN VOCAL GROUP 10th ANNIVERSARY CONCERT at Portsmouth Guildhall". Book.Events. Retrieved 24 January 2018.
  7. ^ "The Urban Vocal Group 10th Anniversary Concert". Portsmouth Guildhall. Retrieved 24 January 2018.
  8. ^ "Portsmouth group is given £75,000 to get young people into music". portsmouth.co.uk. Retrieved 26 February 2019.
  9. ^ "CARLY-ANN PURCELL: Amba and the UVG Are Phenomenal!". 2 December 2016. Archived from the original on 18 September 2017.
  10. ^ Farmer, Matt. "Amba Tremain: Musical Director of the Urban Vocal Group [Interview]". Shaping Portsmouth. Retrieved 24 July 2017.
  11. ^ "'It's meant that I've grown up fast'". portsmouth.co.uk. Retrieved 20 June 2017.
  12. ^ "The Urban Vocal Group has a passion worth singing about". portsmouth.co.uk. Retrieved 16 July 2017.
  13. ^ "Department for Culture Media and Sport". Government of the United Kingdom. 7 May 2014. Retrieved 17 July 2017.
  14. ^ "Urban Vocal Group". Portsmouth Guildhall. Retrieved 13 June 2017.
  15. ^ Farmer, Matt. "The Urban Vocal Group secures new Artist Development funding". Shaping Portsmouth. Retrieved 17 July 2017.
  16. ^ "#GirlBoss Amba Tremain talks Urban Vocal Group, Boy George, and Eva Cassidy". Love Southsea. Retrieved 17 July 2017.
  17. ^ https://www.portsmouthguildhall.org.uk/2021/04/06/urban-vocal-group-becomes-part-of-the-guildhall-trust/
  18. ^ "The Urban Vocal Group | Youth Music Network". network.youthmusic.org.uk. Retrieved 13 June 2017.
  19. ^ "Chesney Hawkes celebrates 25 years of The One And Only at Portsmouth Guildhall". portsmouth.co.uk. Retrieved 17 July 2017.
  20. ^ "The UVG 10th Anniversary concert". teamlocals.co.uk. 14 January 2018.
  21. ^ "THE BIG READ Urban Vocal Group: 'It's all about creating confident young people'". portsmouth.co.uk. Retrieved 16 January 2018.
  22. ^ Group, UVG – The Urban Vocal. "The UVG (plus special guests) LIVE at The Pyramids – 4 December 2016". Evensi. Retrieved 17 June 2017.
  23. ^ "CARLY-ANN PURCELL: Amba and The UVG are phenomenal!". portsmouth.co.uk. Retrieved 17 June 2017.
  24. ^ "PICTURES: Auditions great and small for shot at fame on Britain's Got Talent". The Argus. Retrieved 20 June 2017.
  25. ^ "The Complete Victorious Festival Schedule". 19 August 2016. Archived from the original on 12 September 2017.
  26. ^ "Victorious Festival 2017 | The MFW Music Festival Guide". Music Festival Wizard. Retrieved 11 September 2017.
  27. ^ uknip. "Exclusive Live at the Bandstand Dates Revealed". UK News in Pictures News. Retrieved 20 June 2017.
  28. ^ "Urban Vocal Group Live at the Bandstand". allevents.in. Retrieved 16 July 2017.
  29. ^ "UVG (Urban Vocal Group) Plus special guests Live at The Pyramids – Sunday 4th December". Book.Events. Retrieved 17 July 2017.
  30. ^ Farmer, Matt. "Shaping Awards". Shaping Portsmouth. Retrieved 13 June 2017.
  31. ^ "Celebrate the Portsmouth area's arts scene and vote in The Guide Awards 2018". portsmouth.co.uk. Retrieved 16 June 2019.
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