Fife Festival of Music News
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Entries have recently closed for the 40th, 2020, Fife Festival of Music January/February events with activities likely to be scheduled in Kirkcaldy, Cupar and Dunfermline.
The Festival has changed in many ways since the first in 1981 but basic principles persist viz. providing a platform for the performance of music. Nowadays, there is an equal balance between competitive and non-competitive classes and a strong emphasis on encouragement and enjoyment in music making. For the 2020 Festival there are 415 entries across a wide range of classes and the schedule of events is currently under construction.
Festival officials recently took part in one of the conversations between Fife Cultural Trust and individual regular users of the Adam Smith Theatre where they learned of proposals to upgrade the building. The Festival has concerns for certain aspects notably the plan to remove from performance use the Beveridge Studio in favour of office accommodation for the Trust and also the reduction of space in the theatre foyer.
For the moment, all eyes are focussed on January 2020 when Fife Festival of Music 40 will open.
Graeme Wilson Chairman
4 November 2019
The Festival has changed in many ways since the first in 1981 but basic principles persist viz. providing a platform for the performance of music. Nowadays, there is an equal balance between competitive and non-competitive classes and a strong emphasis on encouragement and enjoyment in music making. For the 2020 Festival there are 415 entries across a wide range of classes and the schedule of events is currently under construction.
Festival officials recently took part in one of the conversations between Fife Cultural Trust and individual regular users of the Adam Smith Theatre where they learned of proposals to upgrade the building. The Festival has concerns for certain aspects notably the plan to remove from performance use the Beveridge Studio in favour of office accommodation for the Trust and also the reduction of space in the theatre foyer.
For the moment, all eyes are focussed on January 2020 when Fife Festival of Music 40 will open.
Graeme Wilson Chairman
4 November 2019
Press Launch - Fife Festival of Music 2020
Pupils from Madras College mixed voice choir
January 27th 2020 sees the start of the 40th Fife Festival of Music and the prospectus for the events during the January/February period is now available.
As always, the main aim is to provide a platform for performance, this year in Kirkcaldy, Dunfermline and St. Andrews. Opportunities for schools and community groups, individuals and ensembles are all catered for in both competitive and non-competitive classes and the Committee looks forward to welcoming participants and prospective audiences to ten days of exciting music-making.
Entry forms, which must be completed and returned by October 1st 2019, are available from schools, libraries and on-line, with early entries, received by September 15th, attracting a discount!
Further information can be found on the Festival’s website; ffom.org.uk and on Facebook and full details of the event will be available before things get underway in January.
Arrangements for the now firmly-established Family Fun-day in November 2019 are well underway; this will take place in Parkhll Primary School in Leven on Sunday 24th November when activities including music workshops, ‘come and try’ sessions in a variety of instruments e.g. ukulele, samba, drum kit, pipe band drumming will be available. The youngest family members can participate in drawing, face painting and enjoy the return of ‘Travelling by Tuba’.
Meantime, the committee looks forward to welcoming participants, friends and the wider community to the 40th Fife Festival of Music and hopes as many as possible will take the opportunity to join in the vibrant music-making event taking place in January/February 2020.
As always, the main aim is to provide a platform for performance, this year in Kirkcaldy, Dunfermline and St. Andrews. Opportunities for schools and community groups, individuals and ensembles are all catered for in both competitive and non-competitive classes and the Committee looks forward to welcoming participants and prospective audiences to ten days of exciting music-making.
Entry forms, which must be completed and returned by October 1st 2019, are available from schools, libraries and on-line, with early entries, received by September 15th, attracting a discount!
Further information can be found on the Festival’s website; ffom.org.uk and on Facebook and full details of the event will be available before things get underway in January.
Arrangements for the now firmly-established Family Fun-day in November 2019 are well underway; this will take place in Parkhll Primary School in Leven on Sunday 24th November when activities including music workshops, ‘come and try’ sessions in a variety of instruments e.g. ukulele, samba, drum kit, pipe band drumming will be available. The youngest family members can participate in drawing, face painting and enjoy the return of ‘Travelling by Tuba’.
Meantime, the committee looks forward to welcoming participants, friends and the wider community to the 40th Fife Festival of Music and hopes as many as possible will take the opportunity to join in the vibrant music-making event taking place in January/February 2020.
Report from Chairman
The 39th AGM of Fife Festival of Music took place on 21st August 2019 when Members and Friends heard Chairman Graeme Wilson's positive and encouraging report on the year's activities.
Success was noted at the November 2018 Family Funday of MusicMaking held in Dunfermline High School, the occasion in the year when the Festival welcomes people of all ages who might never otherwise hear of or engage with the Festival. All the usual music and fun activities took place running in conjunction with a brass workshop for young players. The afternoon concluded with a memorable recital given by Travelling by Tuba from Manchester. Note was made of the generous grant funding received from Carnegie Dunfermline Trust and Fife Youth Music Activities Charitable Trust.
Entries for the January/February events, the Festival's main block of work in the year, were on a par with the previous year and there were, once again, two weeks filled with music performances in Kirkcaldy, Dunfermline and Cupar. The Festival is truly one for the whole community and while many of the daytime slots are filled with school entries from Primary through to Senior school pupils, community groups dominate the evening sessions. One of the more popular events keeps growing. The Community Choir class, a non-competitive event, continues to attract entrants and requires two evenings to allow all to take part. Equally, the Community instrumental musicmaking class is a very busy evening.
In May at Auchmuty High School, the Festival hosted another successful Traditional Music Experience for young string players, honing their skills on fiddling, dancing, singing and spoon playing!
FFoM's sincerity and integrity in offering trusted platform opportunities to musicians of all ages and stages continues to be a key aim of the organisation.
Financial news is always important at an AGM and Treasurer Jean Galloway presented her accounts and findings to the delight of those present. Healthy figures indicating good trading were well received, the caveat being that the Festival like many other similar organisations has to look carefully at how it proceeds. FFoM is fortunate to have many Friends and Donors, Sponsors and Advertisers who support throughout the year. Some major donations to the work of the Festival were acknowledged.
Elections as required took place and the Committee now sets sail on its next year of activity.
The next Family Funday of MusicMaking will take place on Sunday 24th November in Parkhill Primary School, Leven. Meanwhile , the Prospectus for the 40th, the 2020 January/February period is published and available in schools, libraries and at venues.
Graeme Wilson
Chair, Fife Festival of Music
23 August 2019
For Minutes of AGM 2019 click here
