Bexhill Music Festival preview

TOP-name jazz and classical musicians, a ceilidh day, concert hall performance and free music around the pavilion and on the terrace, Bexhill Festival of Music promises something for everyone.The big event is launched next Friday.

Organising committee chairman and former professional singer Tony Mansi, De La Warr Pavilion director Alan Haydon and head of communications Sally-Ann Lycett have been talking through the 10-day festival.

Tony Mansi's concept of a Bexhill Festival of Music has evolved as a partnership venture with the pavilion, backed by Bexhill Chamber of Commerce and Tourism, Earls Bakery and the Bexhill Observer.

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Alan Haydon said: "It was about a year ago that Tony Mansi and I sat down to talk about this.

"From my point of view, it was playing on the strengths that I believe we have in Bexhill.

"In terms of music and of the schools and the community and their enthusiasm for music it is a very strong town.

"As the project has progressed it has given us at the pavilion much more encouragement to go further in what we are doing musically. Music will become one of the important strands in the auditorium. That, I believe should be the legacy of this festival."

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The pavilion director believes there is both scope and hope in future years for local organisations to expand the festival into other parts of the town.

Tony Mansi said: "There has been unprecedented support for the festival."

For Bexhill Chamber of Commerce and Tourism, the festival is the first event of its kind that the organisation has backed

Pavilion head of communications Sally-Ann Lycett says the festival will be a combination of professional and the non-professional. elements.

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"This is very important to us because we want to have a festival worth backing and a unique festival. It is important to have headline people coming into Bexhill to perform such as Cleo Laine and John Dankworth and the London Mozart Players as well as a celebration of local talent, which we know we have got.

"It seems to have come together very smoothly in those terms because we have the support of the Bexhill Schools Consortium. Tony has been running around the local organisations and pavilion staff have been assisting with publicity and marketing and some programming.

"It really is a joint operation."

Tony Mansi says: "It is brilliant to have the pavilion behind you."

Cleo Laine and John Dankworth launch the festival on Friday, July 6.

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Unaccompanied madrigal signers Waits And Measures perform free in the bar area the following afternoon.

The London Mozart Players contrast Vivaldi's The Four Seasons with Piazzola's Four Seasons Of Buenos Aires in the evening.

Sunday, July 8's offerings range from the Linda Murray Trio, featuring Mike Hatchard, in the auditorium in the morning, Battle Town Battle free on the terrace in the afternoon and talented local singer Victoria Howarth, who charmed Tony Mansi's first fund-raising concert, with the Rufus Stone Band on the terrace in the afternoon.

Budding young local musicians play free at the bar and on the terrace from the Monday to the Friday at lunch-times and during the afternoon.

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The acclaimed East Sussex Music Service presents Wind At The Warr in the concert hall on the Monday evening with a programme ranging from Swan Lake to the Pink Panther.

Bexhill Schools Consortium Showcase on the Tuesday evening will show the public the wealth of talent in local schools and colleges.

Thursday, July 12 will be Loud And Live in the auditorium as eight youth bands from Bexhill and Hastings perform.

The free Cafe Music in the afternoon is a taster for the evening' concert hall Garden Party featuring four soloists from major international opera companies with a selection of best-loved arias.

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Victoria Howarth returns on Saturday, July 14 with free lunch-time Cafe Music.

The Saturday will be a folk day with the Fiddle Choir and The Dawgs free in the afternoon with Breton dance groupTwm Twp inviting dancers to take part in a free tea-time session.

After a terrace barbecue, Fee Locke will be the caller for a ceilidh with Twm Twp drawing on Welsh traditional music.

There's more Music Around The Building on the final Sunday, with Andy Jackson playing popular classics on the bandstand.

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A Summer Sunday Sing with local choirs under Jozik Koc in the auditorium sees a free morning rehearsal and a paid afternoon session with massed choir finale.

The Spookymen's Chorale from the Blue Mountains round off the ten-day festival.

Additionally, concert pianist and Bexhill resident Peter Katin gives a fund-raising recital on Wednesday, July 11 for the Friends of the De La Warr Pavilion.

Alan Haydon's festival tip for music-lovers is "Book early to avoid disappointment."