Music & Theatre feature:Layout 1
5/24/18
3:09 PM
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Young musicians in Wells YOUNG musicians from all over the world will be converging on Wells in July. WOWFest: Wells Orchestral Weekend is hosting its inaugural festival from July 12th – 15th promising an intense weekend of music-making across the city. Over 200 young musicians will arrive to meet, form friendships, take part in workshops alongside expert tutors and present an exciting series of free concerts and events. WOWFest aims to complement the rich cultural heritage of Wells with new opportunities for international young musicians and by bringing quality orchestral music to the residents of the city. The festival will open with a free concert hosting 90 musicians in Wells Cathedral on Thursday, July 12th at 7.30pm. It will include a short introduction by patron Charles
Hazlewood and a joint performance of the March from Arthur Bliss’s orchestral suite Things to Come by the National Schools Symphony Orchestra and visiting German chamber orchestra Violinissimo. WOWFest is also collaborating with the Diocese of Bath and Wells to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the
MUSIC & THEATRE
Zambia Link on Saturday, July 14th. Musicians will perform during the cathedral service, followed by a procession led by the Royal Artillery Band to The Bishop’s Palace, where there will be further picnic concerts on the lawns. Other events held by the festival include a free presentation of life as a military musician by the Royal Artillery Band, a free family-friendly string concert in Cedars Hall where ensembles from Germany and Malaysia will perform music suitable for all ages with a guest appearance by the Blue School String group, and a celebratory closing ceremony in the Town Hall with musicians from the UK, Germany and Malaysia. Musical offerings include Mozart Divertimenti, Vivaldi’s Summer, Bach’s Brandenburg n.3, Tchaikovsky’s 1812 Overture and Barber’s Adagio for Strings. Seats are allocated on a firstcome, first-served basis so contact them to book your place and avoid disappointment!
Details: www.wellsyouthmusicfest.co.uk email: wowfest@timeconcerts.co.uk or tel 01749 672522.
Special concert guests
A SPECIAL music concert will take place on Saturday, June 30th June at St. Andrews Church in Cheddar. Taking part will be The Mendip Consort of recorder players with their musical director Joyce Rudall and The Somernotes, a male vocal ensemble with their musical director Carol Kenway, who have been gold medal winners at the Nailsea Festival for the last two years. There are two special guests, firstly the very talented 13-year-old violinist from
Wookey, Poppy McGhee, who was runner-up in Rotary’s national young musician competition, held in Edinburgh on May 19th. She is joined by another talented young violinist, Cristina Dimitrova, a pupil at Wells Cathedral School, whose family live in Portugal. She was also a national finalist in the Rotary competition last year. The concert is in aid of the fabric fund of St. Andrews Church.
Details: Tickets are available from Jane Burdock, 01934 743834 email janesburdock@gmail.com or from Deane and Sons in Cheddar. MENDIP TIMES • JUNE 2018 • PAGE 127