Friday 27 February 2015

Dart Music Festival Programme - coming soon...

 It's on its way...
 

Yes, we are just busy adding the finishing touches to our new programme and it will then be winging its way to the printers, then shortly all done and dusted and on sale very soon. 

It will still have its iconic, Must-Have-One-Of-These-As-A-Souvenir yellow cover but the format is slightly different this year, making it even easier for you to find out exactly who's on where, and when, and plan your weekend to perfection.

If you've been to Dart Music Festival before I'm sure you'll know that we are often asked why we don't put full performance details on the website. 

So just to explain - in case you think we are being mean - the income from programme sales is ABSOLUTELY VITAL to help fund the Festival, as although our ethos is 'Free Music For All', the performers, technicians and everyone else who go towards making the Festival the brilliant event it is still have to be paid.

We hope you understand! I'll let you know when the 2015 programme will go on sale - we're hoping it will be before Easter so watch this space...



15th, 16th and 17th May 2015





Dart Music Festival - Classical Round-Up No 2


A Singing Workshop with Glorious Chorus


Come along and start the day with a song and a smile.

Helen Yeomans is the founder and leader of Glorious Chorus.
She writes and/or arranges all the songs that the choir sings and this morning you are welcome to come and join a singing workshop





For the Music Festival this year the Orchestra will enjoy playing a selection of pieces, which are often referred to as light classical.




For most of those who play music it is difficult to say a piece of music is liked only because it is light or heavy classical, music from shows, pop, jazz or whatever. If what you hear gives pleasure, then it has done its job.

Listen with an open heart and you will find wonders to listen to everywhere.... 


Dartmouth Rock

Following last year’s highly successful Festival debut performance in a packed Flavel Church, Dartmouth’s very own a cappella pop/rock choir are delighted to be appearing again this year … and in a much bigger venue! 











Singing hit songs ranging from Abba to Adele and Queen to Pharrell Williams they create a unique and exciting vocal sound and their concerts are always a wonderfully uplifting experience! 

     

A Session with Charles Hazlewood        

Performing at The Flavel with eight Senior String Musicians from The Royal Academy of Music.






British conductor Charles Hazlewood occupies a unique position in musical life. His fresh performances of classical music cross genres, break new ground, excite (and sometimes outrage) the audience, but his goal is always the same: exposing the deep, always-modern joy of orchestral music.




He conducts some of the world’s great orchestras, has had a sell-out show in the West End, won the Berlin Film Festival Golden Bear with his South African opera company, has collaborated with some of the top names in the pop music industry, has authored and presented music on BBC television and radio, established the first orchestral alternative to Glastonbury festival and founded the world’s first paraorchestra.




Charles' primary and tireless mission is to bring orchestral music alive for a new audience.

Book your free ticket from The Flavel 01803 839530.




There will be a retiring collection with a suggested donation of £10.00. All donations make a difference and are gratefully received.






Alex Knight and Suki Trussler make up Appassionata.
This Flute and Guitar Duo are based in Devon but their recordings and concerts have been experienced by audiences globally with notable success in Asia.





Some of their recordings have been used for television and film, and their music has been played to Barack Obama and Princess Anne as well as being sold in HMV and Harrods.


Performing at St Saviour’s Church with a refreshment Interval
Click on this link for music samples: http://fluteguitar.weebly.com/music-clips.htm



15th, 16th & 17th May 2015


Thursday 19 February 2015

Dart Music Festival - STOP PRESS!

Tickets for our Fantastic Fundraiser on 17th & 18th April at Little Dartmouth have just gone on sale! 

Places are limited and are sure to sell out fast so please make sure you aren't disappointed. 
Tickets: £10 for Friday and £30 for Saturday, or £35 for both nights. On sale NOWfrom No. 11 Clothing, Victoria Road.

In case you missed the earlier post, this prestigious event for Dart Music Festival on 17th/18th April 2015 is a Double Classical Concert Weekend hosted at The Stone Barn, Little Dartmouth.



 

Friday 17th - Part One:

A Celebration of Youth Concert

With young professional musicians from the universities of Cambridge, Bristol and Exeter, Conservatoire of Scotland, Royal Welsh College of Music and Guildhall School of Music, London performing from their classical repertoire.





 








Saturday 18th – Part Two:

Ji Liu in Concert’.

Piano sensation Ji - UK’s biggest-selling classical breakthrough artist of 2014 and Classic FM no 1 performer for 2014 following last year’s stunning success when his debut album ‘Piano Reflections’ shot straight to No. 1 on the UK Classical Chart – has been awarded Album of the Week in January 2015 by Classic FM’s John Suchet for his second album ‘Piano Encores’.



Ji will be performing a selection of awe-inspiring works by some of the world’s greatest composers, including Beethoven, Chopin and Rachmaninov and is supported by Peter Oakley, Oliver El Hollby, (counter tenors), Zoe Silkston (soprano) and accompanied by Peter Adcock on piano.


For both concerts, the bar opens at 7.00 and concerts are performed from 7.30 – 10.30.
 
 For more info please visit www.dartmusicfestival.co.uk or contact Marilyn Bird on 01803 835849


15th, 16th & 17th May 2015








Dart Music Festival - Classical Round-Up No 1

 The Roger Kempton Memorial Organ Recital with Organist David Davies


David Davies is the Assistant Director of Music at Exeter Cathedral. Originally a native of Snowdonia in North Wales, David was educated at Eton College, Magdalen College, Oxford (where he was organ scholar), and Yale University. He has worked in church music on both sides of the Atlantic, living in the USA for five years, and as Director of the Girls’ Choir and Sub Organist at Guildford Cathedral for six years.

David studied with John Wellingham, Nicolas Kynaston, Martin Jean and Thomas Murray, and has given recitals in South Africa, Japan, North America and several countries in Europe. In the UK he has performed at Westminster Abbey and the Royal Festival Hall and has appeared on numerous radio and television broadcasts.


So You Can't Sing..? 


Peter Knapp’s inspired singing workshop for all in St Saviour's Church - find that voice you never knew that you had!

Lift your spirits, dust off all woes, and sing...sing...sing


Piano Recital with Peter Adcock

Peter James Adcock won an organ scholarship to read music at Lady Margaret Hall, Oxford University, where he secured a further music scholarship with the highest first in his year.
A pianist, organist and flautist, he reached the regional piano finals of the B.B.C. Young Musician of the Year at the age of 14; gained his organ diploma before going up to Oxford in 1988; and received a gold award for his flute playing from the Royal Schools of Music.
Peter studied the piano with the eminent Bach specialist and performer, Maurice Cole; the distinguished teacher, Danielle Salomon; and his mentor, the world-renowned Professor Alexander Kelly, late of the Royal Academy of Music, London. He also took organ lessons at Exeter Cathedral, and flute at Dartington College.
Peter Adcock will be performing in St  Saviour’s Church, with a refreshment interval.

Peter Knapp’s 'All You Ever Wanted to Know About Opera!'





“An evening of sheer delight!” The Observer

“An expert communicator of enthusiasm” The Scotsman




Join us for an evening of sophisticated stand-up comedy, a sumptuous selection of  music for singers and orchestra/audience operatic sing-along. This unique show celebrates opera in a hugely entertaining way.



Based on Peter Knapp’s experience of 40 years in the opera business, which has seen him sing, direct, conduct, translate and train performers, the show offers an opportunity to delve deeper into that wonderful world of divas, drama and unforeseen disasters.

Dazzling performers deliver opera favourites from Verdi, Rossini, Bizet and Puccini and others and the audience is expertly trained by the maestro sing a popular selection of opera choruses.

Discover and enjoy Peter on You Tube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J977l0v5TTE



For full details of all performances please check the official DMF programme - out soon.


15th, 16th & 17th May 2015



Thursday 12 February 2015

Dart Music Festival - Live Music with MONKEY!...

 PuppetCraft Presents Monkey! - a puppet show with live music for children inspired by the Chinese classic story 'Journey to the West'


 Brilliant poet Michael Rosen (Children’s Laureate 2007–2009) has written a wonderful script specially forPuppetCraft

John Roberts, director of PuppetCraft, explains:

"Monkey is the main comic character in China’s great classic story Journey to the West, and is still one of the world’s most popular folk heroes, even after hundreds of years.  Hatched from a stone egg the mischievous Monkey can fly on a cloud, turn invisible and transform into anything…!

We have created our own telling of the story of the much loved trickster and super-hero  Monkey. We hope the whole family will enjoy our performance at Dart Music Festival".

26 years ago PuppetCraft’s director, John Roberts, trained in China for 6 months learning about a puppet tradition that goes back 3000 years. He has spent the last two decades perfecting his own puppet making and performing methods based on this ancient form.

The Monkey show has:

* Carved wooden string puppets designed and made by John.

* Beautiful, delicate coloured, 200 year old Chinese shadow puppets, which have recently been rediscovered in a dusty box in Devon, after many years in storage as part of the Dartington Hall Trust Collection

* Live music using traditional Chinese instruments, blended with modern techniques to give a vibrant sound world to accompany Monkey’s somersaulting adventures

* Fantastic movement that only puppets can do… inspired by Chinese dance and martial arts.

Plus Michael Rosen’s wonderfully funny and original writing.

  

There will be live music played in front of the puppet stage, on beautiful authentic Chinese instruments: zither, gongs, bells and woodblocks.
There is also a recorded sound-scape to bring the epic nature of the story alive.

The Team
Writer Michael Rosen
Designer/Director John Roberts
Composer/Musical director Rachel Miller
Fabric/Costumes Sue Field
Movement director Belinda Chapman
Chinese brush painting/calligraphy  Li Xiao Bai






Two puppeteers and a musician perform the show.

Performers: Mandi Allin, Libby Quick, Marisa Latimer, Joanna Hruby, Rachel Miller, John Roberts.


Monkey!

Inspired by the Chinese classic story Journey to the West.
A new version by Michael Rosen.

A full theatrical 60-minute puppet show from PUPPETCRAFT for the whole family - perfect for adults and children over four years old...

The birth and comic adventures of a fantastical superhero.
Stunning string puppets, antique shadow puppets and live music.

See Monkey! at Dart Music Festival - 15th, 16th & 17th May 2015





Monday 9 February 2015

Dart Music Festival Foundation - Taiko Drums presentation

DMF FOUNDATION PRESENTS TAIKO DRUMS TO BLACKAWTON PRIMARY SCHOOL

Photo credit Phil Braakenburg
 Dart Music Festival Foundation has recently had the great pleasure of donating a set of Taiko Drums to Blackawton Primary School.


For those who haven’t yet heard of the DMF Foundation, its inception was in 2009 when Dart Music Festival reported its first surplus.
This led to the birth of an idea that, in addition to three days of fantastic music, the festival could extend its activities to provide support to those with musical interests and ambitions living in and around Dartmouth.
   
The presentation of the Taiko Drums, left to right:
Tom Pether, Head Teacher Blackawton Primary School,
Jonathan Hawkins, County Councillor
Jess Heywood, Music Teacher and member of DMF committee
Pam Braakenburg, Trustee of DMFF and Chairman DMF



The Foundation was set up in 2010 and has been registered as a charity, and since then has helped a number of young people with various projects ranging from funding music lessons, purchase of musical instruments, funding of studio time and help with travel to take lessons. We have also funded equipment for a new Drumline workshop at Dartmouth Academy and have this year decided to fund instruments for local primary schools.

Our first project for 2015 was to supply Blackawton Primary with a set of Taiko drums, which was jointly funded by the DMF Foundation and the Devon County Council locality fund, and it is proposed that the DMFF helps our other local Primary Schools in the same way.
We were delighted to present the set of drums to the school last week where it was very well received by pupils and teachers alike

Head Teacher Tom Pether commented:

“Blackawton Primary School is very grateful to the DMF Foundation for the set of brilliant Taiko drums. 


The set comes with the promise of a training session for teachers which means we can ensure all children benefit. Drumming is a great team building, stress relieving, looking, listening, coordinating and exciting experience! Taiko also includes the discipline of a martial art - we are looking forward to developing this exciting new addition to our curriculum! - hopefully our neighbours are too!”

We are actively seeking financial support from benefactors and patrons so that we may build a solid endowment for future years.

 To find out more about the Dart Music Festival Foundation or to apply for support contact the Dart Music Festival at diane.lyon@outlook.com


15th, 16th & 17th May 2015



 




 

Monday 2 February 2015

Fantastic Double Classical Concert Weekend - Dart Music Festival Fundraiser

 A fabulous fundraising event for Dart Music Festival: 17th/18th April 2015
 
Double Classical Concert Weekend hosted at The Stone Barn, Little Dartmouth

Friday 17th - Part One:

A Celebration of Youth' Concert 

With young professional musicians from the universities of Cambridge, Bristol and Exeter, The Conservatoire of Scotland, The Royal Welsh College of Music and The Guildhall School of Music, London


 These talented young musicians will be performing from their classical repertoire.















Saturday 18th – Part Two: ‘Ji Liu in Concert’. 


Piano sensation Ji Liu was the UK’s biggest-selling classical breakthrough artist of 2014, following last year’s stunning success when his debut album ‘Piano Reflections’ shot straight to No. 1 in the UK Classical Chart.

He has now been awarded 'Album of the Week' in January 2015 by Classic FM’s John Suchet for his newly-released second album ‘Piano Encores’.

We are very excited to welcome Ji back to Dartmouth this year to delight and entertain us at this very special fundraising event - he wowed us with his performances last year and looks set to do it again..!


Ji will be performing a selection of awe-inspiring works by some of the world’s greatest composers, including Beethoven, Chopin and Rachmaninov and is supported by Peter Oakley, Oliver El Hollby, (counter tenors), Zoe Silkston (soprano) and accompanied by Peter Adcock on piano.

Visit Ji's website for a small sample of his amazing talent:  




For both concerts, the bar opens at 7.00pm and concerts performed from 7.30pm – 10.30pm. 

Tickets: £10 for Friday and £30 for Saturday, or £35 for both nights.

On sale from 22nd February 2015 from No. 11 Clothing, Victoria Road.

For more info on this prestigious event please contact Marilyn Bird on 01803 835849

 

15th, 16th & 17th May 2015