NEW Voices join established music festival A new community choir will help a top music festival celebrate its 50th anniversary and two other major milestones.
established by brothers Robert and Jonathan Guy, who come from Wrexham. The aim of NEW Sinfonia, which is also the festival’s resident Organisers of the North Wales
orchestra, is to provide a platform for talented young musicians.
International Music Festival say that the launch concert at St
Robert Guy, the orchestra’s musical director, said the
Asaph Cathedral on Saturday 4th June will be a “big, brassy
programme for the launch concert had been picked
choral spectacular and it’s going to be loud!”
specifically with the triple celebration in mind. “It’ll have Zadok the Priest, music that is associated with the Coronation
The concert is a curtain raiser for the main festival’s Golden
and Royal Weddings as well as music commissioned for the
Jubilee event that’s taking place from 17th September to 1st
NEW Sinfonia by the festival during our residency plus some
October. It’s all being made possible thanks to the support
music by my brother, Jonathan,” he said. “We’re going to have a
of the Arts Council of Wales and the headline sponsor, the
brass ensemble for a big, brassy choral spectacular. It’s going
Pendine Arts and Community Trust, that was set up by the
to be loud!”
Pendine Park care organisation to provide funding for arts and community activities. Other sponsors include Jones Bros
The main festival straddles three weekends in the autumn
and Salisburys Accountants.
and one of the concerts will be dementia-friendly. Community events, performances in local schools and music workshops
According to artistic director Ann Atkinson, the launch
will be taking place during the fortnight.
concert is being timed to coincide with the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee while this year also marks ten years since St Asaph
“I can safely say the 50th anniversary festival will be a fitting
was officially recognised as a city.
celebration and there’s going to be some really exciting concerts that involve young people and members of the
“St Asaph Cathedral is the perfect acoustic environment to
community working with leading international soloists,”
showcase our highly talented line-up at the launch concert
added Ann. “We are incredibly grateful to the Arts Council of
and the festival itself,” commented Ann, who is also a talented
Wales, Tŷ Cerdd, Pendine Park care organisation, Salisburys
mezzo soprano. “The combination of the stone and the wood
Accountants, Jones Bros., and all our other sponsors because
creates something really magical somehow. I have also
it would not be possible to stage the festival without their
performed in the concert hall at Sydney Opera House and,
support.” n
while it has a brilliant acoustic, I must say that St Asaph Cathedral is actually a much better venue acoustically.”
Tickets are £12 (£6 for children) and available online 24/7 at https://nwimf.com, or via Theatr Clwyd by phone on 01352
She added the cathedral would be the perfect place to
344101 (Monday - Saturday, 10.00 - 18.00), or in person from
showcase the new community choir, NEW Voices, which
Cathedral Frames, St Asaph - 01745 582929 (Wednesday -
was launched by the NEW Sinfonia orchestra that was
Friday, 10.00 - 16.30)
NWM 2022 Page 27
