Music week is actually eight days of classes, beginning with Chamber Music in the Banqueting Room of the Guildhall on the middle Saturday morning of the Festival.
On the Sunday morning in the same venue, Junior Showcase groups have their chance to perform along with Junior Bands or Orchestras.
The whole of Monday is devoted to the Thelma King Award for Singers Competition. This special day is run on rather different lines from the main Festival, so please click on the separate page.
Tuesday to Friday sees the main body of music classes, flowing right through the week to the grand finale, the Saturday evening Music Concert. This showcases many of the outstanding performances of the week, plus the play off for the Premier Award of the Festival by the winners of the three concerto classes (piano, strings and wind). Enormously high standards are achieved.
Whatever your age, whatever your instrument, you will find a wide spectrum of classes on offer, full details of which may be found in the Syllabus, but summarized below:
Classes for Solo Performers:
- Piano, from beginner to concerto level
- Strings (including Harps and Guitars)
- Woodwind and Brass
- Vocal classes for all ages
Classes for Groups:
- Choirs at Primary, Secondary and Adult levels
- Chamber Music
- Non-competitive Primary Music
- Bands and Orchestrasat Junior and Senior levels
- Junior and Senior non competitive Showcase groups
- Creative Music, including composition and group creative performance
We are increasingly expanding opportunities for younger musicians to perform in a non competitive environment. Not all classes carry trophies, the emphasis being on performance and appraisal and a meaningful musical experience for everyone. The Creative Performance classes span all three disciplines of Creative Writing, Verse Speaking and Music Composition.
We cater for ‘high fliers’ of course, and there are several prestigious awards to be won, including the Thelma King Instrumental Award, which offers a place on a week’s summer music school. (see separate page).
The Bath Young Musician of the Year competition in November provides five outstanding young performers from the Festival a further opportunity to shine (see separate page)
DOWNLOAD ENTRY FORM IN PDF FORMAT
Further details from the Music Chairman, Michael Johnson: music.chair@midsomersetfestival.org.uk
