Hornsea Music Festival

As I look at the sun setting over the Mere, the fresh green leaves undisturbed by any breeze, all is still and all is quiet. Not for long! Silence may be golden to some, but not to us at the Hornsea Music Festival. We like nothing better than the sound of musicians of all ages, experiences and genres giving their best to entertain audiences and impress the adjudicators alike. We don’t have long to wait either as this year’s Festival is running on 4th, 5 th, 6 th, and 7 th of July. With only a few weeks to go, vocal cords, fingers and embouchures will be limbering up to tackle the tricky parts of those all-important performance pieces, whilst teachers and conductors look to bring the best out of their charges. But what’s all this activity in aid of? Well if you haven’t come across it before, the Hornsea Music Festival has been going since back in 1964, when mop-tops and Pirate Radio were all the rage, with the Festival outlasting them both! It is a competitive Music Festival, with musicians competing with other like musicians in the same class for the highest scores and trophies, as judged by our adjudicators. What a dazzling array of classes we have, from beginner violin soloists to adult choirs, ukeleles to marimbas, songs from the shows, maybe even an orchestra, with many more besides. All this means that the adjudicators will well and truly have their work cut out to judge the winner of each class. Once again we are very fortunate to have two very experienced adjudicators; this time Robert Bailey and Keith Smith. Robert Bailey teaches ‘cello and piano, has worked at the Royal College of Music and The Guildhall School of Music. He has played, toured and recorded in a variety of top orchestras and ensembles, including the English National Opera and the Birmingham Royal Ballet. Another very highly qualified musician, Keith Smith, became a full-time conductor after holding top teaching posts, and has worked with major choirs and orchestras both at home and abroad. For a long time he directed the work of the Southampton Youth Orchestra and in 1991 founded Hampshire County Youth Choir. He has also been an adjudicator for the British and International Federation of Festivals for many years. Although competitive, it is a healthy competition, with a great spirit of friendship and support. The adjudicators are there to encourage and advise the entrants, as much as to judge the winners. Plenty of entrants and a four day Festival means that a number of venues across Hornsea will be used; Hornsea Methodist Church, Hornsea United Reformed Church, the Floral Hall, Hornsea Parish Hall, Newbegin and St Nicholas Parish Church. So how do you get to enjoy these performances? Well, you could buy a ticket for a single session for £2, a day ticket for £3 or a full Festival pass, (for all 4 days no less!), for as little as £5. That’s a lot of music for your money! More details of classes, venues and any other information can be found on our website: www.hornseamusicfestival.org.uk Printed programmes with Festival details will be coming out in early June. They will be available for £2 from Quick & Clarke Estate Agents and the Faith and Friendship shop, both in Market Place. So why not make a day or few of it? There is so much on offer it’s like a musical chocolate selection box, but with longer-lasting enjoyment …and better for your teeth. Oh I do like to be beside the seaside! (I’ll have to check the programme to see if that one’s in this year)! Take care and see you there!

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