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Friday, 31 July 2026

Jubiloso, music pics., at The Met festival by Sophie Cox-O'Shaughnessy

Jubiloso

I started volunteering as a teaching assistant for this SEN/special needs music workshop group, Jubiloso, about six months ago now.

It is run by Jon Aveyard (pianist) of Preston Music Workshops.

Here are some photos, kindly taken by Emma Louise of St Bernard's that the Met theatre tent is pitched beside. There were many to choose from, however I couldn't post them all, so have tried to present the best ones that, I hope also, portray the community spirit ambience that I experienced anyway. Next it'll be moving pictures!

It was a full house, with tiered seating, so packed an extra row and chairs were provided.

There are many shows on as part of this festival. We were on this Thursday evening just gone.

Enjoy!

Preparing and setting up.

Catching him saying his favourite "catchphrase".

Teacher Assistant mode

All done for the night and changeover.

Relative links:

https://handeldoesit.blogspot.com/2026/07/jubiloso-music-event-pics-and-another.html

#Musician #Volunteer #MusicForAll #MusicEducation #Showtime #AlternativeStages

Saturday, 11 July 2026

Jubiloso music event pics. and another gig listing by Sophie Cox-O'Shaughnessy

Jubiloso

Here's some great pics. that a member of the public kindly took for me of some of us in Jubiloso performing at Disability Pride this week.

I feel privileged to be able to support these very talented musicians both as a fellow musician and teaching assistant.

I think it's important to try to give something back when you can and volunteering for this special needs music workshop group in these roles I've been managing to do since the beginning of this year.

Ordinarily, I teach beginners music available most instruments as well as all levels singing. (Private/small groups, adults and children, venues and home visits). See my main page for more about this here:

http://handeldoesit.blogspot.com/2016/10/performance-artistteacher-miss-sophie.html

Jon Aveyard runs the group as part of Preston Music Workshops. (https://www.prestonmusicworkshops.com/)

Here I am, and in this heat, hot pants and a hat are a must!

Enjoy!

I will be performing as part of Jubiloso again at the end of the month.

This will be as part of the Met event here in Preston, Lancashire.

See the following for more details:-

30/07/2026 from 7.30-9.30pm (Free entry!)

Elswick Rd in The Mobile Event Tent, outside St Bernard's community hub, Larches, PR2 1NT.

There's lots on, starting from next Saturday the event runs for about a month. In the listing (in the following link) Jubiloso are supporting the Worldwise Samba Drummers event, so get down early to avoid disappointment!

https://www.sitpreston.com/article/6834/The-MET-2026

#musician #musiceducation #musicforall #volunteer #alternativestages

Friday, 3 July 2026

Upcoming Event Gig Listing by Sophie Cox-O'Shaughnessy

Jubilso is the special needs music workshop group that I support as a volunteer teaching assistant and musician.

We shall be performing at this upcoming event, Disability Pride, this coming Thursday, 09/07/2026, in Preston, Lancashire, UK.

I fully advocate one of the organiser's pov, as said:

"Nothing about us without us!

Let's celebrate together and share our experiences."

Full details can be found in Blog Preston's article.

Please see the following link for more:

https://www.blogpreston.co.uk/2026/07/disability-pride-celebration-returns-to-preston-for-third-year/

#musician #musiceducation #theonenessofhumanity #loveandpeace #participatecontributesupport

Tuesday, 23 June 2026

Bikini Bod Blog by Sophie Cox-O'Shaughnessy

Well, who is enjoying this gorgeous sunny weather?!

No doubt it'll rain, again, in a few days, but phew, isn't it hot, hot, hot?!

As, I feel, I haven't written a blog for a while, while we have this almost tropical/heatwave here's something topical then!

Just a pic. of me in my bikini!

Call it Park'our!

Here I am freshly back from grabbing a sweet sunbathing hour in the park, all factor fifty'd up as I'm fair, in it, like!

Enjoy!

#BikiniBod #Wordplay #Physio #MeAndMyStuff #DestinationFitness #Artist #Musician #NoFilter #VitaminD

Tuesday, 21 April 2026

Music to Remember Queen Elizabeth 100th Birthday by Sophie Cox-O'Shaughnessy

In Remembrance and Celebration of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II's 100th Birthday!

Here I am playing on the saxophone 🎷 and the trumpet 🎺 a couple of pieces dedicated in remembrance of Queen Elizabeth.

Nb. The trumpet isn't my first instrument and I haven't practiced for a while, however, I just had to upload it because my little doggie is crooning along (you can hear him right at the end) and I rather believe the Queen would have liked this!

(See the following, only audio, videos.)

I will always remember, in early my 20s, attending a garden party at Buckingham Palace, that she hosted; her kindness when I applied for a bursary and was granted it to study equine care (as the Duchy of Lancaster) at Myerscough College in 2018 and my thriving Rowan tree, that she gave out via Councils in celebration of her Jubilee in 2022, in a pot in my front garden, that fruits, to this day!

Enjoy!

Monday, 30 March 2026

A Song for Peace by Sophie Cox-O'Shaughnessy

Re. "Last Night I Had the Strangest Dream" by Ed McCurdy

(anti-war song)

There are many fantastic recordings of this beautiful song, by brilliant artists of course.

I can and do play it as part of repertoire singing it and playing it on guitar, however I found a version specifically written for the voice of the recorder!

This humble instrument, in these current and unfortunately volatile times on the middle east that the west are being drawn to implore peace, imho, speaks volumes and is quite, significantly, just profound!

Here's my recording of this beautiful song on the:

Recorder 🪈 (Yamaha)

Click on the arrow/link:

(Audio only)