Home Festival 2012 Gallery Venues Films Supporters Contact Links Archives ArchivesBrief History - Eileen Jones started Woolpit Music Week in the mid 1970s,being a progression from the Mill House Singers,a Choir of some 70 singing members formed by Eileen in 1972. In the Wfs archives we have a 1975 programme, provided by Mike Canning, of a Concert comprising a programme of "Gems from the Light Operas of Gilbert & Sullivan." Concerts were given mainly by talented local musicians and a choir of local people of all ages, performing works such as Handel's 'Messiah', Mendelssohn's 'Elijah', 'The Requiem' by Gabriel Faure, Bach Cantatas and a touring production of Gilbert & Sullivan's 'Mikado'. Popular Musicals followed, including two particular favourites, 'Oliver' and 'Jesus Christ Superstar'. These events usually took place in St Marys Church, the Village Hall or the Institute and were often followed by a party or barbecue. Several well known people came to Music Week, including Jake Thackray, Iris Williams, James Blades, Robert Docker and Victoria Wood, with the Church filled to overflowing for a memorable concert by cellist Julian Lloyd Webber. In 1987 Eileen retired and the Committee that she had by then set up carried on and became the Woolpit Festival Society. After Anne-Marie Mlinaric's interim chairmanship for the first year, David Cordon was elected as Chairman and combined the role with his existing position as festival artistic director. He introduced a radical change of style turning the week long Woolpit Music Week, which used primarily local amatuer groups with a headline professional artiste into a professionally based festival. David instituted the change of name from Woolpit Music Week to the Woolpit Festival in order to broaden the scope of the organisation and changed the annual event from a week long programme to two extended weekends thereby giving the organisers, who were all unpaid volunteers, the time needed to mount the festival without having to sacrifice their paid work. Further improvements were instituted such as the formation of a supporters group, an organised year long fundraising campaign, an easily and readily identifiable corporate logo, a dress code for staff and a bar facility for all festival events. After ten succesful years in the twin roles of Chaiman and Artistic Director, David stepped down from the position of Chairman to concentrate on running the Festival and after a further six years as Director he retired from the Festival, leaving it financially sound and with a deserved and well earned reputation for excellence in the arts. Among the artistes who appeared during his tenure were The Academy of St Martins in the Fields; John Julius Norwich; Janet Suzman; Sylvia Sims; Moira Shearer; Ludovic Kennedy; Jenny Agutter; The Allegri String Quartet; Cantabile; Richard Baker; Tim Piggot Smith; Frank Middlemas; Josephine Tewson and Anthony Hopkins. David was awarded an MBE in the Queens 2004 New Year's honours list for his services to the Woolpit Festival.David Cordon was followed in 2002/03 as Festival Director by Ray Melvin, who worked alongside his wife, Ros Melvin who had followed David Cordon as Chairman, and worked tirelessly and very effectively in this role for many years, until succeeded in 2010 by Jenny Semmens. Ray was instrumental in bringing some excellent artistes to Woolpit to perform in our Festival, such as Pam Ayres, Rodney Bewes, Sir Jonathan Miller, the Locrian Ensemble, and some real Jazz greats, such as Terry Lightfoot, Kenny Ball and the Temperance 7. There were many memorable evenings enjoyed by excellent audiences and after six succesful years as Director, Ray retired and in 2009, Lionel Denny was appointed as Director, and enjoyed a sell out finale concert in his first year in the role, from Jacqui Dankworth and her Band. The 2010 Festival was another great success, with a host of great performances, including Richard Digance in top form, entertaining yet another sell out audience in his inimitable way! And in 2011 the headliners, Chris Barber and his Big Band thrilled a packed Woolpit audience with a superb performance. Woolpit Festival is now a well established, and popular event, thanks to the hard work and efforts of the Committee, the foresight of Eileen Jones, and the skills and expertise of David Cordon, and Ros and Ray Melvin. Jenny Semmens and her Committee are very happy to build on the work of these wonderful people to maintain Woolpit Festival's standing and reputation as a top class festival, with a programme to match. Brief History of Woolpit Festival (L)Picture from Chris Barber's Festival 2011 appearance. On (R) Richard Digance,headlined Festival 2010. Both Woolpit sell out Shows http://www.woolpit-festival.com To see all content, you will need the current version of Adobe Flash Player to view it. |