The Wansbeck Music Festival
(Founded 1906 - Charity Commission Registered Charity No 1044978)
Affiliated to the British and International Federation of Festivals of Music, Dance and Speech.
Patron — Her Majesty the Queen
This Morpeth Competitive Festival is based upon the River Wansbeck and its surrounding areas and serves musicians of all ages from around the North East region. The Festival attracts well over 1000 entries from competitors both individual and in ensembles ranging from Duets to Orchestras, Bands and Choirs. Competitors came from as far afield as Alnwick to Teesside.
In 2006 the Festival celebrated its Centenary Year — although only the 94th Festival since competitions were not held during World War II.
In 2010 the 98th Festival is expected to run for a total of 6 days with 2 evening sessions during March 2010. The partnership with the Northumberland Brass Band Association, first set up in 2006, continued successfully in 2007, 2008 and 2009 and we will again hold a 2 day Brass Festival Weekend in April 2010 with the aim of general encouragement of brass playing in the area and specifically to encourage younger brass players. In addition to an increased entry of individual players this event has attracted up to 10 brass bands to enter the adult band competitions.
The Wansbeck Music Festival is affiliated to the British and International Federation of Festivals of Music, Dance and Speech.
We were particularly pleased to be able to present two bursaries for the 2009 European Youth Summer Music School at Haileybury College in Hertford to a Bassoonist and a Harpist both of whom played in the Symphony Orchestra. Our Bassoonist also performed a concerto movement with the orchestra in the final concert and a duet with a Flautist a considerable achievement. Another of our major prizewinners a flautist was awarded a similar Bursary by Ryton Festival and the picture alongside shows the three together at Haileybury Helena (Harp), Richard (Bassoon) and Charlotte (Flute).
Our Principal Sponsors are:
New Bursaries
Morpeth Town Council continues to demonstrate its commitment to the young musicians of the area by awarding a special bursary worth £500 to the Wansbeck Music Festival. This bursary will enable a talented musician between the ages of 11 and 21 years to attend the 2010 European Youth Summer Music School (EYSM) at Haileybury College in Hertford which is organized and run by the British & International Federation of Festivals.
The Summer School attracts performers from all over Europe and has a range of activities both musical and social. The Course Directors and Tutors are all well-established professional musicians and cover every kind of music discipline. There will also be the opportunity to take part in public concerts which will be professionally recorded.
This award by Morpeth Town Council will give the recipient the opportunity to enjoy working with professional musicians for a relaxed and very rewarding week.
The recipient will be chosen at the forthcoming Festival in March 2010 by our Adjudicators, Gill Johnson & Joan Foster, both of whom are making their first visit to the Festival. The award, worth £500, will be offered to the young musician who in the opinion of the Adjudicators are most likely to benefit from attendance at the EYSM.
This prize will be awarded by the Mayor of Morpeth at the final concert given by some of the prize winners on 27th March 2010 at 6.00 pm in St George's United Reformed Church in Morpeth. The concert will be attended also by the Leader of Northumberland Unitary County Council. Two other major prizes will be presented at this concert.