CHAIRMAN’S FOREWORD
Following our very successful 2009 Festival Season in March, I am now pleased to offer you our 2010 Syllabus. In addition to the numerous, very popular Classes that appear year-on-year, I am delighted to tell you that our Committee are offering a number of new and innovative Classes in all Disciplines to lead us into our 80th Festival Year.
At this point, I would like to offer my personal appreciation to all who helped make this year’s Festival so successful. Many thanks to all our competitors, their teachers and supporters and especially to our band of Festival volunteers who make it all happen. Of course, I must pay particular tribute to all those who support us financially throughout the year. Without our Patrons, Sponsors, Advertisers and all who offer their service to us free of charge, or at a greatly reduced cost, the Festival Committee would be unable to go the extra mile required to stage such a prestigious and popular 3 week event.
Among the friendly faces who have stood down from their volunteer posts with the Festival, I would like to say a special thanks to Lena Walton-Green – our Treasurer, Deborah Clarke – our Secretary and Phyllis Wills – our Speech and Drama Co-ordinator for over 60 years! We welcome Victoria Maynard-Sibley, Janet Coates and Joyce Johnson, who have now taken over the vacant posts and joined us on the Executive Committee, along with Ben Houfton in his capacity as Sponsorship and Donations Officer. I also convey a very warm welcome to all other volunteers who have come on board since the last Festival.
Many of you will remember that we offered two Bursaries in 2009, giving the opportunity for a young competitor to secure financial support to attend a Summer School for Music and for Drama. The Bursary Scheme was highly successful with many applications in both Sections. The winners were Roberta Keating in the Music Section and Matthew Johnson in Speech and Drama. Both Roberta and Matthew greatly valued and enjoyed all that the Summer Schools had to offer and each has written a letter of thanks to the Festival Committee outlining what unique experiences were offered to them both. I am pleased to tell you that the Festival Committee is offering a similar Bursary for 2010 – this time in the Dance Section. Further details are to be found elsewhere in this Syllabus.
I would like to thank all those who supported our 2009 Gala Concert of Song and Dance at Medina Theatre, following the Festival in March. The Gala proved to be a fantastic success and was an absolute sell out. You will be delighted to know that, as a Grand Finale to our Festival Competitions, we will be celebrating our 80th Year with a special Celebratory Gala Concert on the afternoon of Sunday 21st March 2010. Once again the venue will be Medina Theatre and this time performers taking part will represent the Speech, Drama, Vocal Instrumental and Dance Disciplines. Please do keep this date in your diary.
It will be a pleasure to see you all once again in March 2010. In the meantime, please peruse this Syllabus and check out the various Classes – the well-established ones, together with the newcomers! Let’s hope for a bumper entry to help us celebrate our 80th year in style. Please note the Closing Date for all Sections is December 1st 2009. Don’t leave it until the last minute, folks, send those entries in as soon as you can.
Barry Allen – Chairman
