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Welcome to the Sutton Music Festival Past, Present and Future It is hard to imagine that at the
beginning of the Twentieth Century, when the Festival Movement evolved, there
was very little opportunity for amateurs learning music, dance, speech and drama
to perform in public. Neither were the performing arts a part of the school
curriculum. So, in order to satisfy
demand, local competitive music and drama festivals were set up to provide a
unique opportunity for performers in these disciplines to gain vital hands-on
experience and specialist appraisal. Our own Festival began in February 1928,
when Mr Frank Dewey chaired the first Committee meeting in his Music Shop in
Grove Road Sutton – now the home of Safeways in the
one-way system. It soon gained the recognition of the British Federation of
Music Festivals (as it was then known) and has operated every year since,
apart from a five-year lapse during World War 2. Records show that, during
its 75 year history, the Festival has benefited well over one hundred
thousand entrants - not only those aspiring to become professional performers
but more importantly those aged from 5 to 80 who participate purely for
enjoyment and satisfaction. Despite its title, the Festival has
always included a Speech and Drama Section, but regrettably Dance was
discontinued in 1955. During the 1950’s and early sixties the Festival grew
in size and stature, moving from the
original Sutton Public Hall, which was demolished in the early 1970’s to make
way for the present one-way traffic system, via a series of venues including
Sutton High School for Girls, Homefield Preparatory School, SCOLA, Cheam High School and, since 1998,
Overton Grange School. Entry numbers peaked in the fifties and sixties -
indeed my own initiation was as a competitor in a piano class where 160
eight-year olds played the same short set piece. Festival
appearances certainly helped to shape my own musical development; something
which I’m sure will be endorsed by our two accompanists, Alan Brown and
Christina Ward, and also opera singer and adjudicator Marilyn Hill Smith, all
of whom were regular SMF participants. Today the
Festival is one of about 300 members of
the British & International Federation of Festivals. It provides a
platform for solo and group performers of all ages and abilities and caters
for a variety of tastes and styles, by offering some 240 classes in the main
sections - Piano, Instrumental, Choral Singing, Vocal and Speech. Provision is made for beginners with little
or no stage exposure, ranging through to classes for people with much more
performing experience. Throughout, the emphasis is on fun and enjoyment. It is run as a charity by a dedicated team of
volunteers, several of whom have had their contributions of more than 25
years recognised through Federation long service awards. An initial loss of £47.96 was recorded in 1928, but
our financial affairs are now much healthier, largely due to generous help
from the Sutton Arts Council, and support from the H.R.Taylor
Charitable Trust, the Blüthner Piano Centre, Mazars,
Reed Business Information and other valued sponsors. Without this help the
Festival could not operate and we are indebted to them all. In 2000, the Millennium was marked by
an exciting Soloists Competition, which attracted young instrumentalists and
vocalists of national and international calibre, all under the age of thirty.
More recently in 2008 the Festival celebrated its 75th Anniversary
with a special Anniversary Concerto Competition, which proved to be a
fascinating showcase for some of the finest young pianists and
instrumentalists under the age of 24, currently studying in London and the
South East. The well-known and respected team of adjudicators were highly impressed with the standards of excellence
and also the enthusiasm and commitment of all those who took part. The
eventual winner – Maria Marchant – performed her
winning piano concerto with the Stoneleigh Youth Orchestra in a London
Concert on March 29th 2010. We now look to the future. Who will help
take the Festival forward in these rapidly changing times? Our workforce is constantly decreasing and
we are urgently looking for people with administrative and personnel skills,
and time during the day (especially during October and November), who would
be prepared to join our team and take over the role of Festival
Organiser/Secretary. This would ensure that our highly regarded cultural
event continues to flourish not only for the promotion of the performing arts
but also for the future enjoyment and benefit of the community. JUDITH BURTON Further or by telephoning 07706 100856
(September – December only) |