Musical interlude with the Year of Culture

With over 300  young performers, singers and instrumentalists, St Mary’s Church Horsham was filled to capacity for the closing event of the Shipley Arts and Horsham Festivals.

Children came together from across the county to perform Malcolm Singer’s “Dragons”, conducted by Malcolm. More than 60 of the world’s most talented musicians from the Yehudi Menuhin School and the String Academy together with a choir of 250 with children from Great Ballard School, Southwater, Greenway, Windlesham, Bohunt Horsham, Leechpool, Southwater, The Weald, and the Yehudi Menuhin School. The pupils had been taught by their superb music teachers  during the term and attending workshops as part of Andrew Bernardi’s festival finale to bring music to as many people as possible at the highest level in the community and across all ages and backgrounds. They were also joined by the Festival’s professional musicians who share this vision as part of the international careers in a unique opportunity for young pupils.

The evening was inspirational and aspirational and as well as performing “Dragons,” the orchestra also performed some extremely moving compositions including Shipley Arts commission ‘Margraves Dream’ to mirror Bach’s Brandenburg Concerto and by Malcolm Singer, Bloch’s ‘Nigun’ arranged for violin by Malcolm, and Finzi’s Eclogue with international pianist in residence Maria Marchant.

Shipley Arts Festival has run throughout the year engaging with communities and this evening that was also supported by the Arts Council and Horsham  really did achieve this.

With thanks to Toovey’s, Nyetimber, Kreston Reeves, NFU Mutual Henfield, Wakefields for Rolex and Rossana with the Year of Culture without whom there would be no festival, and to all the schools involved.

Richard Fitt
Head of Music
Windlesham