MUSIC and song filled Tavistock?s halls, colleges and churches last weekend for the ?best ever? Tavistock Sings! festival . The third event of its kind drew record attendances to its 12 events in seven different venues, featuring some of the country?s most renowned musicians and an abundance of local talent. The signs looked good when the first concert in the five-day programme involving nine local choirs in the parish church attracted more than 250 people. Musical director Simon Ible said every bit of space in the church was filled. ?It was an incredible opening event for a festival which was just wonderful,? he said. ?We had some great music, better attendances and more venues ? Tavistock Sings is going from strength to strength.? For the first time Our Lady of the Assumption Catholic Church hosted an event and the outdoor arenas of Bedford Square and Merrivale Stone Circle, where more than 200 people joined in a dawn chorus, were included in the festival. ?The gala concert with the Ten Tors Orchestra featured Elaine Cocks on the clarinet and she was the star of the show,? added Mr Ible. ?Then we had the brilliant jazz singer Gary Williams, who performed in the town hall to a near-capacity audience.? He praised the sponsors for their support in making the festival happen, the artists and the public who attended the events, many of which were free. Much of the funding was secured from TAVI ? Tavistock and Villages Initiative. Chairman of the festival John Taylor described the musical extravaganza as ?superb?: ?It really was the best one we have had and it is just going to get bigger next year, perhaps adding rock music to the programme. ?We had some big names and attracted a lot of people to the town ? part of the reason we hold the festival is the economic benefits for Tavistock. ?People come to enjoy the music, stay in the hotels, eat in the restaurants and spend money in the shops ? it has a knock-on effect.? Mr Taylor said he would like to see more schools and local groups involved in the festival in the future and his aim was also to get some long-term funding for the event.
