Top Quality Music In A Convivial Setting
Grove Park Music Festival will reunite musicians from previous concerts
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Life and 'art' became intertwined for a music conductor during the first Grove Park Music Festival when he parked his car on Chiswick Mall and returned to find it deep in Thames water -the Water Music he was rehearsing had become something of a reality!
Notwithstanding that drama, the festival, which has been a popular biennial celebration of music in Chiswick since it was founded in 2000, is gearing up for its next celebration of music in W4. It was founded and inspired by Julie Kennard, an internationally acclaimed singer who lives in Grove Park. This Festival will be bringing together of the artists who have taken part in previous Festivals to celebrate what has been a fantastic series of concerts.
Julie Kennard
Festivals have brought a wide spectrum of top quality live music to people of all ages in the area and attracted many top international names in the music world to this comparatively small area of West London. These include Kings College Choir, John Williams, Martin Taylor, James Bowman and Laurence Cummings. They have had performances from the most highly talented young musicians, many of whom have gone on to great musical careers, including Guy Johnston, Gwilym Simcock, the Elias Quartet, Genesis 16 and the Virtuosi Strings of Wells Cathedral School.
This year’s 9th Finale Festival will be a bringing together of the artists who have taken part in Festivals over the years to celebrate what has been a fantastic series of concerts. This year’s Festival will have something for everyone in three very different performances: the first will be the brilliant and powerful Monteverdi Vespers of 1610 directed by Laurence Cummings on 14th October at St Nicholas Church W4 2PH, the second an evening with the Great Artists from our Festivals on 16th October at St Michael’s Church W4 3DYand the third final event will be a grand Big Band Finale on 22nd October at the Musical Museum in Brentford TW8 0DU. All start at 7.30pm.
It is a local community event with a series of top quality concerts in local churches and other suitable venues.
As Julie Kennard, the Founder and Artistic Director of the Festival said; “Our aim is top quality music in convivial atmospheres and settings. The 9 Festivals (including this last one in 2016) have been run by a voluntary committee of local residents with sponsorship from local companies and generous support from individual Members, Benefactors and Patrons. Andrew Nunn, a local estate agent, has been our tremendous headline corporate sponsor and many others have been exceptionally generous to us."
How have you managed to put on these concerts on?
Putting on concerts of this quality has been no mean feat. Once the artists have been secured at affordable prices, the committee swing into action to ensure that everything is in place for performers and audiences. This includes everything from publicity and a booking facility through to health and safety regulations, seating, offering hospitality and, of necessity, ensuring that sufficient loos are in place and working!
"Whilst we can plan for most eventualities, there is always something unforeseen that occurs. For instance, during our first festival, the conductor parked his car on Chiswick Mall and returned to find it deep in Thames water -the Water Music he was rehearsing had become something of a reality!
"Over the festivals, it has been very important to us to work closely with artists and to ensure that they are well catered for in a relaxed atmosphere, even for example, providing sun-loungers for a power-nap before the concert. The more-active explore the area with a stroll around Grove Park and along the river. They are all delighted to be invited back. "
Why is this the Finale Festival?
The Grove Park Music Festival is still a popular event in the local community, but festivals need constantly to move on and to reflect and appeal to the ever-changing demographic of the area. The organisers are determined to go out on a high with the 9th Festival but know the time is now right to move on and to make it their last. They are not disbanding and may well be back with other things.
Details for the Festival Finale of three concerts in October 2016
Monteverdi Vespers of 1610
Friday 14th October 7:30pm St Nicholas’ Church, Church Street, W4 2PH
Laurence Cummings directs Amici, The English Cornett and Sackbutt Ensemble and the Monteverdi String Band in one of the greatest classical works of all time. An evening not to be missed.
Great artists from our Festivals
Sunday 16th October 7:30pm St Michael’s Church, Elmwood Road, W4 3DY
Chris Glynn, piano, one of the festival Vice Presidents will be accompanied by some of the UK’s greatest artists who have performed at our festivals including Sally Burgess, Audrey Hyland, Joanne Lunn, Ian Partridge, David Titterington, Michael Chance, Matthew Souter, Julie Kennard, Michael George and Catherine Wyn-Rogers.
Big Band Finale POWERHOUSE!
Saturday 22nd October 7:30pm The Musical Museum, 399 High Street, Brentford, TW8 0DU
The Royal Academy of Music Big Band, directed by Keith Nichols, will play a selection of rare pieces from the Swing ere, several of which have not been performed since the 1930s.
A tremendous finale for the Festival
Booking: Online :
Email : boxoffice@gpmf.net
Phone : 020 3151 5114 from 1st September (Mon- Fri 10am – 4pm)
President Sir Peter Blake
Vice Presidents Sally Burgess, Jason Bowyer, Michael George, Ian Partridge
Artistic Director Julie Kennard
Present Festival Committee- Wendy Cundy, Mervyn Jupe, Stuart Macdonald, Nicky Oppenheimer Geoffrey Potts, Jane Theakston, Beryl Yorath
September 27, 2016
