Page 18 - Oundle Life November 2022

MUSIC & DRAMA
Oundle Festival
Have you ever taken part in the Oundle Festival of Music & Drama, or come along to support a participant? Have you heard of it? 2023 will be our 104th Festival, so it is a well- established local event.
The first Festival took place on 21st April 1909. Two local aristocratic ladies were responsible for its inception, Lady Lilford
and Lady Ethel Wickham, who convened the inaugural meeting. So, the ‘North Northants Music Festival’, as it was first known, began – with a special train bringing entrants from Higham Ferrers, Ringstead, Thrapston, Thorpe and Barnwell.
The Festival does have an element of competition in that there is always a class winner, but our aim is ‘to provide performance opportunities for amateur performers of all ages in a friendly and constructive environment’.
Our performers range from Key Stage 1
pupils up to those well into their 80s, so there is certainly something for everyone. In addition to classes for individual performers, there
are classes for school choirs, adult choirs and ensembles, bands, group speaking, group acting – to name but a few.
Did you know that there is an Oundle Young Musician competition? The winner is selected from the winner of the 18 years and under classes in Strings, Woodwind, Brass, Percussion and Piano and is rewarded with the Arts Society Oundle Award. You may have seen our 2016 winner, the amazing saxophonist Rob Burton, in the final of the 2018 BBC Young Musician competition, so the standard of competition
is high. In 2021, we managed to run a smaller than usual Festival, coming out of lockdown restrictions, and the winner of both the Young Musician and Young Singer competitions was Christopher Trotter.
Gwen Radcliffe is the mastermind behind the Festival. She joined the Committee in 1980 as Secretary for Speech and Drama, and is now Chairman as well as the main Festival Organiser, helped by a very small Committee. We are extremely grateful to the Arts Society Oundle, to Oundle Town Council, and to local businesses for their sponsorship.
The smooth running of the Festival relies
on a team of willing volunteers. We need door and room stewards, refreshment helpers, and certificate writers or volunteers to help with publicity. Helpers don’t need to be musicians
or thespians! Getting involved is very enjoyable and gives a chance to meet people of all ages. If you think that you could help in any way, please contact us at info@ofmd.org.uk.
If you would like to find out more about entering the Festival, please go to our website and look at the 2023 syllabus. Entries close on January 22nd so you have plenty of time www.ofmd.org.uk
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