Celebration concert marks society milestone

Bromsgrove’s leading arts organisations and institutions are planning an event to celebrate the works of the town’s renowned poet, AE Housman, to mark the Housman Society’s 50th anniversary.

The concert will include readings of Housman’s poems and magnificent settings of his works to music by Ralph Vaughan Williams and Ian Venables. It will take place at Routh Concert Hall, Bromsgrove School on Monday, July 10th at 7pm in front of an audience, and will be live streamed.

The group behind this event includes the Bromsgrove Society, the Housman Society, Bromsgrove WORDS, Bromsgrove Concerts, Bromsgrove District Council, Bromsgrove Arts Alive, Friends of St John’s, Bromsgrove Festival and Bromsgrove School itself.

Musical accompaniments will be given by some of the UK’s foremost classical artists, including the Dante Quartet, pianist Benjamin Frith and former BBC New Generation Artist, tenor Alessandro Fisher. The programme will include the Housman settings by Ian Venables, Songs of Eternity and Sorrow and Ralph Vaughan Williams’ On Wenlock Edge.

The organisers are delighted to announce that a selection of poems will be recited by the BBC Midlands Today presenter Nick Owen, a long-time Housman enthusiast.

The concert will be preceded by a reception including wine, soft drinks and nibbles at 6.30pm with the concert itself starting at 7pm. The audience will be welcomed to the evening by a spokesperson from the organising group. Tickets for this unmissable event are priced at £25 to include a welcome drink. Students are invited free of charge. The concert will be live streamed for those who are unable to attend in person, at a cost of £12 for the streaming link.

Concert tickets and the live stream link are available from the Bromsgrove School box office at www. bromsgrove-school.co.uk/boxoffice or by phone during office hours on 01527 579679 ext 616. Alternatively, tickets can be purchased from Decanter Spirit on Bromsgrove High Street (cash only).

Any funds raised from the event will be donated to the Friends of St John’s Spire Appeal. Don’t miss out on what promises to be a wonderful celebratory evening, supporting an important asset in the town.

By Jo Slade