NOTICE BOARD

FRANT THREE CHOIRS FESTIVAL

 Some of the finest musicians and singers will be performing in a superb series of  concerts in Frant over the weekend of 12/13/14 March 2010. All concerts will take place in the lovely old Church of St Alban, Frant, near Tunbridge Wells, TN3 9DX.

The festival begins on Friday 12 March at 7pm, with The Chancel Singers, a wonderful choir who have performed in many of our finest cathedrals, including Salisbury, Winchester, Bath, Lincoln, Gloucester, Chichester, and St Paul's. The evening also feature an organ recital by Christopher Harris, MA FRCO. Christopher has given recitals at Westminster Abbey, Chichester Cathedral etc., and will be playing on the historic Frant Church pipe organ. The evening will include the inaugural performance by the Frant Primary School Ukulele Orchestra , and a recital by the school choir. A great evening's entertainment is assured.

On Saturday 13 March, an afternoon concert for two cellos and piano, with the Joanna Powell Trio, gets under way at 3pm, followed in the evening, (at 7.30pm) by a spectacular concert by the superb Paddock Wood Choral Society. The choir is led by Music Director Antony Pitts, whose CV includes broadcasts on BBC Radio Three, and with the BBC 'Choir of the Year' finals in 2007. A recital on the church organ will also be performed during the evening by well known organist Paul Jeffery. Following an intermission, the evening will present internationally renowned pianist David Rees-Williams and his trio. David plays jazz variations on the classical repertoire, anything from Bach to Ravel, and his virtuoso technique is a joy to behold. This part of the concert will be devoted to music from David's fifth CD (one of his previous CDs was recorded by the BBC) which is being launched as part of the festival.

Sunday 14 March will also feature an afternoon concert, starting at 3pm, with a duet for piano and flute, with the distinguished pianist Pamela Travis and flautist Lianna Jeffery. Pamela,  a Fellow of Trinity College, and Associate of the Royal College of Music, has given concerts at many top UK venues, including St Martin-in-the-Fields, the Edinburgh Festival, etc., and has worked with English National Opera, Glyndebourne Opera and many others. Lianna's CV includes a great variety of orchestral experience, with appearances at The Royal Albert Hall, Snape Maltings, Southwark Cathedral, etc., etc.
The evening concert, starting at 7.30pm, will star the world famous organist Simon Preston. In a singularly distinguished career, Simon Preston has established himself not only as one of the great organists of the 20th century, but also as one of the most illustrious musicians in the history of English Cathedral Music. As a soloist and choral director, he has appeared with many of the world's leading orchestras, and his recordings have won universal acclaim. The second half of the evening will present The Oriana Singers. Founded in 1966, this marvellous choir have given recitals all over the UK, including Westminster Abbey, St Martin-in-the-Fields, Westminster Cathedral, and have also sung in Chartres Cathedral and Notre Dame Cathedral, Paris. In addition to appearances at many cathedrals, the Oriana Singers have broadcast many times on radio and television. On this last night, to conclude the festival, we hope to bring members of all three choirs together for a grand finale.

Tickets are available from Frant Stores, (or by telephone from Paul Barber 01892 750665, or David Cragg 01892 750845) at £10 per day, or tickets for all three days at just £20.

The festival is in aid of the new community hall in Frant, also the church tower fund and the organ maintenance fund.