News

Great news from Juice Vocal Ensemble.  The shortlist for the 2011 British Composer Awards has just been announced and Dai Fujikura’s away we play which received its world premiere during the 2010 Festival performed by Juice has made the shortlist in the vocal category.  http://www.britishcomposerawards.com/

The Festival may now be over, however, there is still the opportunity to enjoy the concert featuring the BBC National Orchestra of Wales with Jean-Michael Lavoie (conductor) and soloists Gerard McChrystal (saxophone) and Oliver Coates (Cello).  Follow the link for details of the BBC Radio 3 Broadcast this Saturday.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b014m38q

The Festival looks forward to welcoming His Excellency, Mr Eduards Stiprais, Latvian Ambassador to the UK, Irena Hamilton, Cultural Attaché, Embassy of Latvia and Mr Andy Taurins, Latvian Honorary Consul to Wales to the performance on Tuesday 6th September at St Augustine’s Church by the Latvian Radio Choir.    The festival is very grateful to the Latvian Embassy for supporting the Choir’s visit and we are sure that once again, this astounding choir’s perofrmance will be as dazzling as ever.   Previous performances by the LRC  have sold out so please book in advance and don’t rely on getting your ticket on the door!

Joining Paul Mealor, composer Gareth Glyn will also be with us for the sold-out Gala Concert at Fonmon Castle on Wednesday 7th September when extracts from his works Songs of the Marches and Chwarae Plant/Child’s Play will be performed by Jeremy Huw Williams and Elinor Bennett.

We are delighted to confirm that Dr Paul Mealor will be joining Festival audiences at Fonmon Castle on Wednesday 7th September to hear the world premiere of his new arrangement of Twilight commissioned by Jeremy Huw Williams and performed by Elinor Bennett, Matthew Jones and Jeremy.

With just over two weeks to go before the 2011 Vale of Glamorgan Festival begins, two concerts are close to sell out – Gala Concert (Fonmon Castle, Wed 7th Sept) and Piano Duo Sandra & Jeroen van Veen (Ewenny Priory Church, Sat 10th Sept). Avoid disappointment, and buy your tickets now!

We’re delighted that composer and performer Peter Bannister will give a pre-concert talk before the concert on 9 September at the BBC Hoddinott Hall. At 6pm he’ll talk about In spe, the Festival’s new Arvo Pärt commission, and Arlene Sierra’s new Piano Concerto, in advance of both pieces’ world premieres later that evening.

Expert on Estonian cuisine, Kaie Collins, will join forces with a local Vale of Glamorgan caterer to create the menu for the 2010 Vale of Glamorgan Festival’s first event, on Sunday 5 September at St Donats Arts Centre.

Kaie – an Estonian now living in Kent, and soon to have a book published on Estonian culinary delights – will work with Tracy Sanderson of Vale Catering to put together a supper blending Baltic elements with local Welsh produce. The event, featuring performance by extraordinary ensemble Resonabilis, and poetry from Penarth-based Philip Gross, promises to launch this year’s festival in style.

Booking for this opening event closes at the close of play on Tuesday 31 August – so purchase your tickets now!