A FINAL reminder to all those music lovers in the West Devon area ? this weekend Tavistock Sings!
The Festival begins today Thursday with Tavistock Sings. Choirs from around Tavistock will be showcasing their choral singing at a special opening event that will also combine the choirs in a performance of a new cantata, The Tavistock Witch, by Kelly College Director of Music Andrew Wilson.
Tomorrow (Friday), in the evening, mezzo-soprano Hannah Pedley and pianist Martyn Parkes will give a recital at Kelly College.
Hannah is the principal with the New Kent Opera and Martyn Parkes teaches at the Royal Northern College of Music. Their programme will include an eclectic mix ranging from favourite opera arias to show songs.
The main event will be the Festival Gala Concert on Saturday 1st May with the Ten Tors Orchestra and international star violinist Nadia Myerscough. The programme will feature Mendelssohn's emotive Violin Concerto and Vaughan Williams 5th Symphony.
On Sunday, May 2, Jazz is on the lunchtime menu. Star singer Jacqui Dankworth and her Musicians will be playing in Tavistock Town Hall. Jacqui is one of the UK's top Jazz vocalists and she is currently celebrating the success of her new album 'As The Sun Shines Down on Me'. A buffet lunch will also be available to those who order tickets in advance.
The St Eustachius Church Choir directed by Pearce Richards will lead the Festival Evensong with the music of Stanford, Shaw and Wood.
A Festival Dinner will be also be held on Sunday at The Bedford Hotel. The guest of honour will be Sarah Walker CBE, the president of the Tavistock Music Festival, and Nadia Myerscough will perform Ferdinand the Bull prior to dinner being served.
The South West Early Music Forum hosts Monday's event (Monday 3rd May). A Thomas Tomkins (1573-1656) workshop day for choir and string orchestra at St Eustachius Church will culminate in a final free concert in the early evening. BBC Music Magazine's early music specialist George Pratt will direct the instrumental workshop.
Tickets are available for all events at the Tavistock Tourist Information Centre, Town Hall, Bedford Square, Tavistock. Tel 01822 612938 or Mansbridge & Balment Estate Agents, 9 Brook Street, Tavistock.