The fifth Ipswich School Festival of Music returns to its classical roots this year with leading historical performance ensembles La Serenissima topping the bill.
The Gramaphone Award winners, who celebrate their 20th anniversary this year, specialise in the music of Antonio Vivaldi and his contemporaries and will open the week with The Four Seasons and other works by the composer on October 2.
Sponsored by Seven Telematics, the programme also include four members of BBC Radio 2 Folk Award winners The Full English, folk duo Megson, jazz saxophonist Alan Barnes who returns as a special guest with George Double and Jazz at the Movies and the traditional Big Band Bonanza featuring the Ipswich School Big Band and the Ipswich Musicians’ Union Big Band.
The Family Orchestral Concert, billed as the perfect introduction to live classical music, features the Suffolk Concert Band and Travelling by Tuba to tell the musical tale of Tubby the Tuba as well as some film and family favourites.
The festival will also host one of the 2014 series of Ipswich Chamber Music Society concerts in the shape of The Hieronymus Quartet, a young international quartet formed in 2011 at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama.
An essential part of the week is the education programme – From School Hall to Concert Hall - which gives youngsters the chance to learn from some of the world’s top musicians.
This year Mr Junk Orchestra will demonstrate his Flip Flop pipes and Tube Trombones, the Jazz at the Movies stars will give a workshop for aspiring jazz musicians and there will be a Folk Day with workshops lead by The Full English Quartet for pupils 11-18 and a Family Folk show for ages three-seven featuring Megson.
Andrew Leach, the festival’s artistic director and director of music at Ipswich School, said: “We are going back to our classical roots this year with the wonderful Four Seasons and introducing something new with our Folk Night. But as ever, we are delighted to be welcoming another great line-up of top musicians to Ipswich this year.
“As well as offering our special early bird reduction of 10% on most tickets bought before the beginning of July, we have also introduced a new £5 student ticket this year for most of the Festival concerts. I would encourage people to book their tickets now, ready for some memorable concerts in the autumn.”
The full line-up is:
• October 2 Oct: Vivaldi - The Four Seasons, La Serenissima, 7.30pm, Great School.
• October 3: Jazz Night. Jazz at the Movies with special guest Alan Barnes, 7.30pm, Great School.
• October 4: Ipswich Chamber Music Society presents The Hieronymus String Quartet, 7.30pm, Great School.
• October 5: Family Orchestral Concert, 2pm, Great School.
• October 5: Festival Evensong, 6.30pm, Chapel.
• October 6: Folk Evening featuring The Full English Quartet and guests Megson, 7.30pm, Great School.
• October 7: Big Band Bonanza featuring Ipswich Musicians’ Union Big Band and Ipswich School Big Band, 7.30pm, Great School.
Tickets are available from April 1 from the Ipswich Regent box office on 01473 433100 or www.ipswichregent.com. For more details www.ipswichschoolfestival.org.uk.
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