Page 275 - Liverpool Philharmonic 22-23 Season Coverage Book

29 June 2023

Wirral Chamber Music Festival

‘overwhelmed’ by response

By Rebecca McGrath
festival ‘overwhelmed’ by response (Image: Wirral Chamber)

A CLASSICAL music festival based in Wirral has said it’s been “blown away” by the
response to its third festival.

Wirral Chamber Music Festival announced it would be returning this year for its
third festival weekend after it was founded in 2021 by the Royal Liverpool
Philharmonic Orchestra's leader Thelma Handy and Orchestra cellist Alex Holladay.

Featuring a range of classical music concerts, there are six concerts to choose from
in venues across the Wirral from Friday, June 30 until Sunday, July 2.

Festival Artistic Director Thelma Handy said she was “thrilled” by the public
response to the community-based concerts, she told the Globe: “We took a risk this
year by expanding our programme.

“We open on Friday with an upbeat concert from a trail-blazing vocal ensemble and
we are also very fortunate to host international guitar stars The Katona Twins in
Eastham on Saturday evening.

“We are so pleased that the Wirral community has been so supportive of these local

concerts.”

The event will feature musicians from the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra
alongside some of Wirral’s musicians and special guests. The festival will also
showcase young local talent in two concerts and includes a family concert for all
ages.

Children are free at all concerts and £1 from every ticket sold is donated to Claire
House.