10/05/2011 - Permalink

Brass ensemble needed for Shropshire Olympian Festival

Related topics: Leisure, culture and heritage

A brass ensemble is being sought to play a specially-composed fanfare and to accompany the specially composed Shropshire Olympian Festival Anthem for the closing ceremony of the Festival on Sunday 19 June 2011.

This is an opportunity to be a part of history – literally – as the event marks the celebration of 1864 Shropshire Olympian Festival. This evolved from the pioneering Olympian Games, started by William Penny Brookes in nearby Much Wenlock, and went on to inspire the Olympics we recognise today.

Music Director Mary Keith will provide a CD and a written guide for rehearsal of the fanfare and anthem, which will also available as a downloadable MP3 on www.shropshire1864.org.uk.

Mary Keith said:

“This ensemble can be made up of individual players or an existing group, between 4-10 players, trumpets, trombones, horns etc.  Instrumentation is flexible and the music is relatively simple.  The choir, made up of many local singers, will be sounding magnificent, but the brass will be the icing on the cake.”

The rehearsal for the fanfare and anthem with up to 1000 singers will take place on Sunday 15 May 2011 at 2pm at Shrewsbury High School, Town Walls, Shrewsbury.

Councillor Steve Charmley, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member for culture and leisure, said:

“We would welcome musicians to join together from all over the county to celebrate our rich cultural heritage and honour the achievements of everyone who’s participated in the Shropshire Olympian Festival during the previous three days.”

Helen Ball, Town Clerk for Shrewsbury Town Council said:

“There are so many aspects of our fantastic county town to blow our trumpets about, so what better way to mark the closing ceremony of the Shropshire Olympian Festival than to fill The Quarry with a brass fanfare?”

The Shropshire Olympian Festival has won a Government Inspire Mark in recognition of its significance to London 2012 ,and it is free to everyone through the generous support of the Heritage Lottery Fund and Arts Council England.

Shropshire Council is also working in partnership with Shrewsbury Town Council, Shrewsbury Carnival and BBC Radio Shropshire to deliver this historic event.

To find out more call 01743 252305 or email sarah.rollason@shropshire.gov.uk.

To contact Festival Music Director Mary Keith, call 07875 637786 or email maryskeith@aol.com.