Welcome to the Mary Wakefield Westmorland Festival
and my first as Chairman. I must first say how pleased, honoured and flattered I was to be asked to take the Chair of this prestigious festival with so honourable and venerable a history. Having been involved in the musical profession for over half a century there are few festivals in this country I have not performed at at one time or another, and the Mary Wakefield Festival is no exception. However, I have never had anything to do with competitive festivals before, apart from competing in the Chester and Llangollen ones when I was young. I have a lot of learning to do which will certainly last until long after this festival is over, and perhaps the next one too.
In the competitive sections from 11th to 14th March we have the usual wide variety of classes and highly expert and experienced adjudicators in Christina Thomson and, I'm delighted to say, my old friend and colleague Michael Hancock. We are delighted to welcome Ian Pattinson as Instrumental Accompanist.
The most significant anniversary falling in 2013 is the 100th of the birth of Benjamin Britten and we plan to celebrate this event with performances of several of his works starting with Rejoice in the Lamb in which, if you are inclined this way, you will have the chance to sing, in the Come and Sing event on Sunday 10th March. We are planning a production of Britten's Noye's Fludde with lots of young people taking part which will take place on Friday 15th March, to be followed by the Jim Noble awards. Finally, the major Britten piece of the festival is definitely not to be missed. A performance of Britten's Cantata Misericordium is classed by many as a Britten Rarity - that is, you have not had many opportunities to hear this superb work since it was first performed in 1963. On Saturday 16th March under the direction of our conductor from last year, David Lawrence, with the same soloists, it will be paired with the Mozart Mass in C minor and the St Paul's Suite by Gustav Holst whose daughter Imogen was a close friend of Britten's. Book early - you will need to.
JOLYON DODGSON
Chairman
In the competitive sections from 11th to 14th March we have the usual wide variety of classes and highly expert and experienced adjudicators in Christina Thomson and, I'm delighted to say, my old friend and colleague Michael Hancock. We are delighted to welcome Ian Pattinson as Instrumental Accompanist.
The most significant anniversary falling in 2013 is the 100th of the birth of Benjamin Britten and we plan to celebrate this event with performances of several of his works starting with Rejoice in the Lamb in which, if you are inclined this way, you will have the chance to sing, in the Come and Sing event on Sunday 10th March. We are planning a production of Britten's Noye's Fludde with lots of young people taking part which will take place on Friday 15th March, to be followed by the Jim Noble awards. Finally, the major Britten piece of the festival is definitely not to be missed. A performance of Britten's Cantata Misericordium is classed by many as a Britten Rarity - that is, you have not had many opportunities to hear this superb work since it was first performed in 1963. On Saturday 16th March under the direction of our conductor from last year, David Lawrence, with the same soloists, it will be paired with the Mozart Mass in C minor and the St Paul's Suite by Gustav Holst whose daughter Imogen was a close friend of Britten's. Book early - you will need to.
JOLYON DODGSON
Chairman