Youth Takes Centre Stage   With the (for the most part) glorious weather that we have been having, recent time may feel as though it has melted into one long hot summer.  Is it really early July since the Hornsea Music Festival was in full swing? …well yes it is and though much has happened since then, including the Carnival, the Bike Event and some occasion outside of Hornsea called the World Cup Final.  There is still more to come for fans of local music making.  

Before that, I’d just like to thank those who made another successful Festival possible.  Thank you to all who performed, all who accompanied the performers, those who organised the venues, syllabus, programme, trophies and our Chairman Keith Robinson for pulling it all together.  Thank you to those who provided accommodation and refreshments to the adjudicators.  Thanks must also go to the stewards, catering and anyone who helped in any way at all, (and apologies if I‘ve missed anything or anyone).

 

Special mention needs to be made of our two highly experienced and extremely hard-working adjudicators, Robert Bailey AGSM, LRAM and Keith Smith MMus, BA, ARCM, ATCL, LGSM who not only listened and marked a vast number of performers but also commented and encouraged participants after each performance.

  Last but definitely not least, thanks to those who came to listen, it is so much appreciated by the performers.   So, what’s happening next?   Saturday 29^th September sees the Hornsea Music Festival Celebration Concert take place at the Hornsea United Reformed Church, (corner of Cliff Road and New Road).  The festivities commence at 6.30 pm with a packed programme of music performed by the trophy winners from this year’s Festival.   For this concert we are particularly excited to be putting the spotlight onto the younger trophy winners.  This is a great opportunity to showcase the young musical talent that this area possesses.   We will be featuring young string and piano trophy winners throughout the concert.  For both types of instrument, we had a significant youthful entry drawn from different levels of experience.  It therefore gives us great pleasure to highlight these trophy winners and give them another valuable performing opportunity, which we hope will encourage them for future performances.   Whilst this year, as every other, produces too many good performers for us to be able to name them all, I did want to draw your attention to some of the performers who you will be able to enjoy on the night.  Although most of the trophies were presented at the time of the Festival, there are two trophies that will be presented at the concert.   The first is the Jubilee Trophy for the overall winner of the Festival.  This year, many congratulations are in order to Eileen Wan who gained the outstanding score of 95 out of 100 marks in the ‘Piano Solo for beginners – 9 years and under’ class.   The Town Twinning Association Trophy for the highest score for a participant from Hornsea and surrounding villages will also be presented.  This year, the winner is, (drum roll please), Emily Speight who achieved a superb 92 marks in the ‘Piano Solo – 10 years’ class.   You will get the chance to hear both of these trophy winners perform at the concert.   For the first time, we were fortunate to have a large number of entrants to the Festival from Hull Piano School, run by Lester Hough.  The school submitted excellent pupils and we are in for a treat as several trophy winners from there will be performing at the concert.   Another performer that I would like to mention is Zoe Clark.  Zoe used to be in Hornsea St. Nicholas Church Choir and this year entered eleven classes, winning trophies in five of them!  Time does not allow us to feature all of her performances, so instead she will sing two pieces demonstrating different sides to her performing.  One is a folk song, whilst as the winner of the singer-songwriter class, the other is her own composition.  This is the first time that the Celebration Concert has featured a performer’s own composition so this is something we are really looking forward to.  By the way, you can hear Zoe’s song ‘Don’t Back Down,’ on Youtube.   So there we are, what a Celebration, what a Celebration Concert we have in store, where youth takes centre stage, (other, more experienced performers will also be available to enjoy), to show us the sheer joy of music making.  No matter what the age or experience of the performer, they all have something to offer the audience, whilst continuing to develop their vocal, instrumental and performing skills.   Of course, none of this would be possible without the hard work of all the vocal and instrumental teachers who coach and encourage their students often from beginner stages.   Also a big thank you to all the families that support their children with vocal and instrumental lessons, as well as taxiing them to lessons, festivals and concerts.   Tickets for the concert are £6.00, for adults only, with accompanied children getting in for free, (what a bargain!).  Tickets will be on sale in Faith and Friendship, Market Place and other outlets in September, as well as being available on the door (though best to book early to avoid disappointment!).  Light refreshments will be available during the interval.  Programmes will be available on the night.   The summer’s hot weather may not be to everyone’s liking but I hope that at least the Celebration concert appeals to a wide range of fans of locally-sourced music.   Take care and see you there!

The new Hornsea Music Society season begins

The 2017/18 Hornsea Music Society concert season begins in September with a visit from Solo Voice Ensemble Singing Quintet, who come fresh from completing their Masters degree at the University of York, under the supervision of Robert Hollingworth and Greg Skidmore. These groups are formed each year to rehearse and perform as a one-per-part consort, presenting several recitals throughout the academic year with repertoire ranging from renaissance polyphony to contemporary arrangements. This year’s group consists of Gabriella Noble, Lauren Macleod, Sarah Lucy Penny, Jacob Ewens, and Stuart Miles O’Hara. During their year together, the members have been heavily involved in the ample activity of the music department, having between them performed with the 24, Chimera Ensemble, Vox a cappella group, the Opera Society, and have had solo appearances with the Yorkshire Bach Choir and I Fagiolini. Society Chairman Roberta Loades says, “I am particularly looking forward to September’s concert. I have known Sarah Lucy Penny and her family for a very long time, and it is nice to be able to give a show case for stunning local talent. I do hope the audience will come in large numbers to set the standard for the new season.” Hornsea Music Society believe that it is important for live classical music to be available in the town, and tries to get the best talent to enhance the cultural life of the town. Many of the musicians who play at these regular concerts comment that Hornsea is very lucky to be one of a dwindling number of towns that still has a music society organising events. Come along to the Hornsea United Reformed Church at 7.30 on 15^th September. Tickets are £10 each, and are available from The Town House, Newbegin, Hornsea, or from Roberta Loades on 07816 863222. Alternatively, if you want to hear more than just this concert, you could support the work of the Society by becoming a member and get a season ticket for all 6 concerts for £40. Joint membership for two adults at the same address is £78. Accompanied children are admitted to concerts free of charge. Visit the society’s website at www.hornseamusic.com for more details of the programme this season. Secretary Ruby Seager would be pleased to hear from anyone interested in joining.