 |
The Parish of Hagley St John the Baptist with St Saviour
|
 |
|
|
|
The Hagley Music Festival 2009 “Enchanting evening in an intimate setting” “David le Page and Catherine Leech brought bustling wizardry to their solo parts” “a wonderful concert to a packed audience” “a lovely venue, with a warm, comfortable acoustic” Christopher Morley, The Birmingham Post, April 2005 and May 2007 This was the fifth Hagley Music Festival and followed in the tradition of four highly successful Festivals in offering an exciting variety of concerts designed to appeal to a broad range of musical tastes. With each festival, the scope and prestige of the event has grown, with many concerts fully booked and an ever-increasing press interest and coverage. Richard Newton, Rector of St John's and St Saviour's Festival Steering Committee
Vocal Tutor Ensemble from Ex Cathedra Workshops and Concert
Ex Cathedra Education Ex Cathedra has an international reputation as a leading UK choir and early music ensemble, renowned for its vibrant performances and a passion for seeking out
not only the
As part of the 2007 Hagley Music Festival, children at Hagley Primary School learned from top quality professionals in workshops which were active and fun, exploring harmony and the world of the playground. This culminated in an impressive concert later that evening at St John’s Church. Local Children sing in the Nutcracker As a follow up to the workshop, several children at the school were successful in auditioning for the Ex Cathedra Junior Academy and sang in a performance of The Nutcracker at the Hippodrome, at Birmingham Arts Fest and at Symphony Hall. The enthusiasm of both parents and their children and the wonderful music at the evening concert have ensured that Ex Cathedra will be back at the 2009 Festival.
Concert by "Serenade" Craig Ogden (guitar) Madeleine Mitchell (violin) Michael Bennett (tenor)
Three outstanding musicians performed an entertaining mix of duos and trios for tenor, guitar and violin. Australian born guitarist, Craig Ogden, described by BBC Music Magazine as “a worthy successor to Julian Bream”, performed with Madeleine Mitchell, one of the UK’s most celebrated violinists and Michael Bennett who began his career as a chorister at Westminster Abbey and has an international career in opera and music theatre.
A Morning of Music during "Shoppers Coffee" Hagley Free Church
Every Friday morning, between 10 o’clock and 12 o’clock, a steady stream of shoppers find their way to Hagley Free Church. It’s a chance to rest weary feet, and pop into the Free Church Hall for a chat and some refreshments. With its venue right in the midst of the shops, and this splendid tradition, it seemed too good an opportunity to miss, and so once again in 2009, a "Shoppers Coffee Concert" was a feature of the Hagley Music Festival.
Haybridge Community Orchestra Fourth Annual Concert
Haybridge Community Orchestra was created in September 2004, with the aim of providing a rehearsing and performing opportunity for the numerous musicians in the Hagley area. The Orchestra has been a great success, with a loyal group of players meeting weekly to rehearse a range of demanding orchestral music. Members range from 12 to over 80 years of age. Haybridge Community Orchestra has already appeared at the last two Hagley Music Festivals. Their repertoire includes symphonies and overtures by Dvorak, Beethoven and Schubert, plus modern works by Andrew Downes.
The 2009 programme featured some of the following music: William Tell Overture—Rossini Double Violin Concerto—Bach Music from The Titanic; Lord of the Rings; Music by local composer Andrew Downes
Lunchtime Concert and Art Exhibition The Saturday lunchtime concert is an informal and relaxed event - an opportunity for the audience to enjoy music and mix with the musicians. For this reason it has proved an extremely popular way of spending a Saturday lunchtime and this year was no exception.
Art Exhibition Work by local artists will be displayed in St Saviour’s Church Hall throughout Saturday.
The Phil Phillips Jazz Quintet
At this Festival, for the first time, we welcomed a jazz quintet comprising professional musicians performing in the midlands area. Led by Phil Phillips on saxophone and clarinet, the group enjoy playing music in the mainstream swing and jazz styles.
Celebrity Concert Orchestra of the Swan with Tasmin Little
Tasmin Little, with the Orchestra of the Swan, return to the Hagley Music Festival...... Having delighted our audience in 2005, Tasmin Little performed again, this time with the Orchestra of the Swan, who were very popular at the festival in 2007. In addition to a flourishing career as a violin soloist, which has taken her to every continent in the world, Tasmin Little has further established her reputation as Artistic Director of two festivals, whilst the Orchestra of the Swan, an up-and-coming Stratford based chamber ensemble, bills itself as "the chamber orchestra for the heart of England".
The programme included:
Vivaldi - Four Seasons Britten - Simple Symphony Panufnik - Japanese Spring
Little Big Time Band
Members of the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra came together as the Little Big Time Band for an evening of music and anecdotes. This stunning combination of brilliant musicianship, each musician performed a "party piece", and hilarious anecdotes which had the audience in stitches. The whole evening was great fun, giving the audience a chance to see musicians from different sections of the CBSO.
O
|
