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 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.
The Wansbeck Music Festival is affiliated to the British and International Federation of Festivals of Music, Dance and Speech.
In 2006 the Festival celebrated it’s Centenary Year — although only the 94th Festival since competitions were not held during World War II. We celebrated our 100th Festival in March 2012 so our 2013 Festival in March is the 101st to take place.
The Festival continues its partnership with the Northumberland Brass Band Association, which funds the James Shepherd Special Brass Performance Class.
We were very pleased to again be able to present a bursary for the 2012 European Youth Summer Music School at Haileybury College in Hertford on this occasion to local young violinist Hannah Slater-Paterson.
Our Principal Sponsors in 2012 were:
- Morpeth Town Council
- Northumberland County Council Community Chest
- Ashington Town Council
- Newbiggin by the Sea Town Council
- Northumberland Brass Band Association
- St George’s United Reformed Church, Morpeth
Bursaries
Morpeth Town Council continues to demonstrate its commitment to the young musicians of the area by awarding a special bursary worth over £500 to the Wansbeck Music Festival. This bursary will enable a talented musician between the ages of 11 and 21 years to attend the 2013 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 2013 by our Adjudicators. The award will be offered to the young musician who in the opinion of the Adjudicators is 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 at the end of the Festival in St George's United Reformed Church in Morpeth. Other major prizes will also be presented at this concert.