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Dartington (North Devon) Trust YOUNG MUSICIANS' SUPPORT Young Musicians Support Newsletter 2010 NEWSLETTER Dear Friend This has been a great year for YMS, both in terms of fund-raising success and for our young awardees. The YMS year always gets started in March with our annual auditions and this year we were delighted to meet a whole new group of young musicians as well as some of our old favourites. We were able to make awards totalling £4,500 to 20 youngsters in North Devon. If we are to continue helping local families in this way, our fund-raising activities must be effective and we made a good start in April with our first event of 2010. Sir Thomas Allen proved to be a most charming and affable guest, captivating his audience with tales of his life in opera. His after-dinner conversation with local opera buff, Richard Holberry, was interspersed with the soaring music of his favourite songs and arias, ranging from the folk songs of his Northumbrian origins to some highlights from his illustrious career at Covent Garden. We were thrilled that he was able to enjoy the evening in the company of his delightful family, while finding time to chat with some of his many fans. As the year warmed to summer, YMS musicians added to the bucolic atmosphere at a couple of open air events, both of which enjoyed lovely sunny weather. The Eggesford Church Fete and Jevington Hall Garden Party both raised funds for other good causes as well as making a contribution to YMS funds. Senior awardees also contributed to the success of the annual Green Man Day Concert at Pilton, this year celebrating 'Our World' in poetry, prose and music. In July, St Swithin's Day indeed, YMS supporters braved the most dreadful stormy weather to gather in the beautifully restored Music Room at Woolhanger Manor near Parracombe. Organist, pianist, former Master of Choristers and now performer and raconteur, Barry Ferguson entertained his audience with an evocation of the history, countryside and people of North Devon. We hope to take advantage of Graham and Beverley Mellstrom's generous offer of hospitality with a return visit to Woolhanger next year. The eagerly-anticipated highlight of our year was to be the return visit to Barnstaple Queen's Theatre by YMS patron, Imogen Cooper, in October. Unfortunately, an accident put the world-renowned pianist out of action, forcing her to postpone her recital until next year. However the replacement, arranged by YMS Friend Ambrose Miller, proved to be a brilliant substitute. Young Italian pianist, Alessandro Taverna, gave a thrilling concert of works ranging from Bach to modern jazz, prompting a rave review in the North Devon Journal which concluded "You almost felt sorry for those who gave the event a miss because the star couldn't be there." So we have the best of both worlds - an introduction to a stunning newcomer and the promise of a recital by Imogen Cooper still to look forward to in 2011. This year's fund-raisers brought in a total of some £5,000 so YMS is in a strong position to continue supporting our awardees through the coming year. We are very proud of their achievements, including the involvement of several youngsters in the County Ensembles and saxophonist Ellie Hubble winning the prestigious Young Musician of the Year at the recent North Devon Festival of the Performing Arts. We are also aware of our commitment to providing formal performance opportunities for our awardees. One such will be the Winter Concert featuring Zoe Cartlidge and some of her fellow students from Chetham's School of Music, at the Braunton Methodist Church on 4th December - the enclosed leaflet gives details. We are at the early stages of planning events for 2011, including a dinner dance in July featuring the Devon Youth Jazz Orchestra, a recital to be given by Tamsin Waley Cohen's Honeymead Ensemble and a couple of lunchtime concerts. We will also be promoting a 'Percussion Experience' day for local children, introducing them to the possibilities beyond banging a drum! Further details of these events will be released in March. As ever, we are most grateful for your support throughout the year and look forward to seeing you at our events in 2011. If you have any ideas for future fund-raisers, are planning a special occasion which would be enhanced by a group of young musicians or would like to make a donation, we would be delighted to hear from you! All our very best wishes for the holiday season, from Heather Shorten & the YMS committee YMS, Crick Hollow, Lower Loxhore, Barnstaple, Devon EX31 4SY Tel 01271 850547
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