After months of planning the Christian Community Music Festival came to fruition on the 18th November 2009. Over the 5-days 797 people took an active part in the festival. Over the 5-days 1,400 people attended the concerts some of which attended two, three and four concerts. Overall the festival touched the lives of 2,230 people and it is estimated double that number were made aware of the festival though our publicity.
Looking back over the festival we had, including the competitors for the East Coast Youth Competition 43 individual performers, 4 groups, 6 Senior Choirs, 6 Schools Choirs, one Steel Band, one Jazz Orchestra, two Wind Bands, one Brass Band, two Chamber Groups, the Festival Orchestra, the Riding Lights Theatre Company and the Bridlington Boys Brigade.
We were very grateful to the 50 patrons, the Bridlington and East Worlds Lions, The Friends of the East Riding Orchestra, Garry Carter Financial Planners and Lloyd Dowson who between them contributed who in total contributed £3,170.00 to the festival funds.
The Festival got underway in the 7th November when Sewerby Methodist Church hosted the heats for the East Coast Youth Musician Competition. 34 contests took part in this event, which lasted form 11:am to 5:00pm. The musical talent of these young people was of a high quality and 14 were chosen to take art in the final in the Spa Royal Hall on Saturday 21st November.
The 5-days of concerts had some great surprises. Individual performances, groups, choirs, wind bands, brass bands demonstrating the rich musical heritage within our local churches and community organisations. Thursday night demonstrated the wealth of talent we have at Christ Church. Some of our worship leaders and worship band members took on a different role as Men in Black, The Shamrock Irish Band and the Parker Band revealed a different side to their musical ability. The performance of York University Gospel Choir and the individual talent of the blind gospel singer Marilyn Baker enriched the Friday evening. Saturday evening saw the fulfilment of weeks of practice as the 70 members of the Churches Together choir led by Anthony Clark performed the Jimmy and Carol Owen musical “Come Together” with the Salvation Army band and Songsters from Castleford providing a fitting opening to the evening.
Sunday saw the climax of the festival with two memorable concerts. The afternoon performance by local schools treated the audience to a steel band, recorder band, schools choirs, drama group, string quartets and a jazz orchestra. Altogether some 250 young people participated in this event. A packed Bridlington Spa Theatre enjoyed the final concert of the festival. Performances by the Beverley Male Voice Choir, Longcroft Performing Arts College Gospel Choir, not forgetting the contribution by the Bridlington Methodist Singers, Ben Couper accompanied by Garth Blackburn performing a special piece written by Ben for the festival, Adam Walker and our own lads form the Boys Brigade. Truly a night to remember as audience joined the festival orchestra led by Jim Gillespie singing some of the great hymns of past and present.
Can we do it again in 2010? Together we can. Thank you Jonathan Couper and member of Christ Church for all your support.
Paul Lowe.
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