'Wigmore Hall comes to Horley' - chamber music festival takes place near Banbury
It has been described as the 'Wigmore Hall comes to Horley' – an annual chamber music festival which takes place again next week.
The Ironstone Festival takes place in the glorious setting of medieval St Ethelreda’s Church from Friday, September 11 – Sunday, September 13.
As well as performances for adults and children, there is a free interactive children’s concert featuring music inspired by the animal world at 2pm on Saturday.
The stars of the show are Lucy Gould (Violin) and Kate Gould (Cello) with David Adams (Violin), Philip Nelson (Double Bass), Gary Pomeroy (Viola), Rennie Sutherland (Clarinet), Benjamin Hartnell-Booth (French Horn) and Florence Plane (Bassoon).
On Friday there is a quartet playing Haydn, Tippett and Dvorak with an octet on Saturday playing Beethoven and Schubert, a children's concert and workshop on Saturday afternoon and sung mass on Sunday.
Sunday’s Festival Mass is at 11am and features Mozart's Missa Brevis in C. This will be a service of sung Holy Communion, accompanied by the festival musicians. Everybody is welcome.
The Ironstone Festival was founded in 2012 and has recently achieved charitable status. The festival brings renowned musicians to St Etheldreda's each year offering outstanding chamber music in a beautiful setting.
Details of all the concerts are available at ironstonefestival.com. Booking is required. The children's workshop is free and is aimed at children aged 0 to 11. Places for this should also be booked in advance.
The Gould sisters, Lucy (violin) and Kate (cello) lead the musicians. They bring together highly acclaimed musicians who regularly play in London and Europe and on Radio 3 and Classic FM to the intimate setting of St Etheldreda's Church in Horley.
Lucy and Kate started their musical education at their local primary school where their talent was noted and they were provided with instruments and free lessons by their council. The county went on to pay for scholarships in London until they were able to pay for their own tuition and instruments.
As a result of some generous sponsorship tickets are priced at £20 (standard) to make the concerts accessible. Children can attend both concerts and the children's session free.
Spokesman Jonathan Williams said: “We are grateful to our sponsors who have made the festival possible. They are SE Solicitors, John Nicholls, Katie Loxton, PR Alcock, Iron and Wood, and Edd Frost and Daughters.
"We have received additional support from grant-giving trusts including the Chamber Music Fund and The Michael Hardinge Trust. The festival is only possible because of the huge effort of many Horley residents.
“We look forward to a weekend of music of the highest quality.”
The founders of the festival are looking to hand over the reins and a committee of willing volunteers is taking this on. The music is of top quality – one attendee last year was overheard saying ‘this is like the Wigmore Hall coming to Horley’.
To book visit ironstonefestival.com, call 07511 841 979 or e-mail [email protected]
Those wishing to be signed up for the Ironstone Festival newsletter should visit the website.