CHAIR’S REPORT
Shaldon Festival 16[th] – 22[nd] June 2024
The 2024 Festival saw another season of exhilarating and richly varied programmes, including classical, world folk fusion and jazz. Night after night, these renowned performers were given a wonderfully enthusiastic reception by our appreciative and enthusiastic audiences.
The Festival has long been committed to creating musical opportunities for children and, as such, frequently provide workshops for local school pupils led by professional musicians. This year, with generous local sponsorship, we developed this provision by introducing an exciting, and entirely free of charge, family afternoon concert ‘TRAVELLING BY TUBA – Around the World in 60 Minutes’ which was held on Sunday 16[th] June. Travelling by Tuba is a unique duo who perform stunning, innovative programmes which are informative and fun. The children discovered instruments ancient and modern, and experienced music from classical to jazz, Africa to Hungary. A truly global extravaganza, with lots of audience participation!
Our season of evening concerts opened on Wednesday 19[th] with award winning harp and flute duo Alis Huws (the official Royal harpist) and Carys Gittins. Their challenging and varied programme of music journeying through 20[th] Century into the 21[st] from composers Andy Scott, Gareth Farr, Ian Clarke, Takuma Itoh, Hamilton Harty, Jacques Ibert, Claude Debussy, Charles Rochester Young, Lily Boulanger, Bernard Andrès and William Alwyn was a delight. Enthusiastic applause was rewarded with an encore, the traditional Welsh folk song, Lisa Lân (Fair Lisa) – a beautiful, haunting lament which included vocalisations from both performers.
Alis and Carys are passionate about outreach and bringing music into communities, giving regular interactive concerts for people living with Dementia. And this was very evident at this year’s outreach held the following day at the Alice Cross Centre in Teignmouth, where Alis and Carys entertained visitors to the Centre’s Memory Café. They engaged with their audience with great warmth, encouraging them to participate by dancing and singing.
Thursday night saw a return of the outstanding, all female, Paris based Trio Sōra, the 2017 Parkhouse Award winners who last performed here in 2019. Named after Sōra, the American bird that sings whilst spreading its wings, these three passionate musicians created a soaring performance of piano trios by Brahms and Haydn. The Trio is remarkable with a very special blended sound, a unity of purpose and an evident love of the music they play. A truly stunning performance which was a delight from start to finish
On Friday night we broadened our range of concerts with our first acoustic band – Kabantu. ‘Kabantu’ translates as ‘of the people’ and the musical ensemble draws its inspiration from the South African philosophy of ‘ubuntu’ meaning “I am who I am because of who we all are”. These concepts pervade the composition and performance of this extraordinary group of people – all multi-instrumentalists, ranging from extraordinary whistling and violin, to double bass and digeridoo, percussion and guitars. Their programme comprised a new collection of compositions influenced by folk music from around the globe, following a year dedicated to writing. On this solstice night, the Festival audience was enthralled.
The final night of the Shaldon Festival of Music was an unforgettable, sell out concert featuring James Pearson, Artistic Director of Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club, on piano and Lizzie Ball on violin and vocals. Their performance, titled “Encounters with Gershwin” offered a fascinating
exploration of George Gershwin’s life and his interactions with the musical giants of his era. Covering the artistic ‘scenes’ of Paris, London and New York and featuring engaging relevant anecdotes in James and Lizzie’s inimitable and acclaimed style, we could not have wished for a more entertaining concert to bring this year’s Festival to a joyous conclusion!
This was my final season as Committee Chair and Trustee of the Shaldon Festival. I have so enjoyed playing my part in the organisation of this truly wonderful Festival for the last ten years and leading as its Chair for the last five. It has been an absolute privilege. I proudly hand on the baton to Chris Morris in the knowledge that the Festival will continue to flourish.
The Management Committee is dedicated to bringing established, world class musicians and the rising stars of the future to Shaldon. We do our utmost to keep ticket prices as affordable as possible, with concessions for students and free to children accompanied by an adult ticket holder. To achieve this, as a registered charity, we rely on the generous support of our Friends and sponsors, charitable trusts and local councillors’ funds. To all, we are enormously grateful.
The 2025 season will commence on Sunday 15[th] June with a family concert. This will be followed by three evening concerts on Thursday 19[th, ] Friday 20[th] and Saturday 21[st] June, to include performances by VOCES8, The Paddington Trio and pianist Martin James Bartlett. Full details will be available on the Festival website www.shaldonfestival.co.uk.
Marion Korzinek Chair Shaldon Festival
The Shaldon Fesllval Income and nditure for the Year to 31 Jul 2024 2023 2024 Income Evwrts Ccert$.. TL*et Sales Childrens. Corert 11,162.39 11,035.43 7XI.I 3,1A0. 3,050.(K) 2,500.IXI 1,350.CM) 867.50 127.50 7.690.CKI 5,19). 250.(K) Personal Sponsors Gift Aid Grants SF¥KrthP Commercial sP$hiP Special Prqects Grants aThJ SsorShIp . Outreath Accrual from 2022 ré Patrons, Concert Acuual frcyn 2m re Chineke Invoice Advertising Programme D¢y110fts, Bank Int8re8t K¢ s inc£#ne Donations 250.CL) 1.2(YJ.Ixi O.IXJ 4.283.81 364.94 1,083.82 27.154.83 27,120. ndlturn Childrens. Ccrtert Concerts Ad¥ertisrng, Publioty, Postage. Stati(xwy. V4tsbsile Hire Costs (inc Tunw and PL3tlorm Lat#)ur) Insuran aTrJ SubS'ptICAlS & PRS Donation to St Peterfs MiscelL8necrt Patn)ns' Concert Nov 20221 Nov 23 ChIre Invo Total Expondltur• 750.CX) 14,IJ85.36 12.CKJ4.1 1.485.99 1.#lSS.52 4,073.14 5,Ix4.50 .13 816.57 770.IXJ 810.IXJ 53.98 9.09 479.97 957.98 0.0) 4,283.81 22,317.57 27,122.53 Surplus for the Y•ar 4,837.26 -1.97 Sig Date. l Tr Date: l&1
Th• Sh•ldon F••iival lanc• Sh••t for the YMr 10 31st Ju 2024 A¢¢umulat8d Fund tsy 181 ProfiVDehcit for the yè8r T¢rtal FOard rJ,028.63 4.83726 27,865.89 27.W.89 27.3.2 tslw"ry.' at cost, les O.IKI N(8 2 Cash at Bank 13.404.47 8.657.98 10.XK).00 8725 8.139.99 8.765 54 10.871.14 8725 Fix•d Rate P8ty Cash 32.649.70 27.883.92 T(rt41 A88 32.649.70 27.863.92 Less Lioblllil•s'. Crndikns 4.783.81 1 27.a85.89 27.863.92 17.(m. 10,865.89 27.W.89 17.Cth).CKI 10.863.W2 27,3.92 Tthl Not•# 2023 Ncts 1 Nurual Te late submis11 rf Chir* in11¢e re June 21r23