The Festival Fanfare

Right click to download the Fanfare in zipped .aif format

Norfolk County Music Festival enjoyed a double celebration on Thursday 7th October 2004. Not only is the Festival now in its eightieth year but it is also proud to welcome its first president, Paul Harris.

The event took place in the wonderful King's Centre, Norwich, where many of the Festival's classes are held. it was a fitting tribute to the high esteem in which the Festival is held that over seventy people attended including the Lord Mayor of Norwich Councillor Joyce Divers, her consort Alistair Pitty, and the Mayor of North Walsham Councillor P. Moore. Mike Snowling, Chairman of Broadland District Council represented the public aspect of the Festival, which is by far the largest and most important in the county.

Although the Festival's classes are designed for people of every age from pre-school to over eighty, the largest number of entrants are from the younger age band. We were especially delighted, that Fred Corbett, Assistant Director of Education Advisory Services and Maureen Hanke, Head of Norfolk Music Education Service were present, and that Maureen gave the concluding vote of thanks. Sharon Choa from the UEA was also present, and expressed a keen interest in forging closer links between the Festival and the University's Music Department. There were, of course, many music teachers from all over the County representing both schools and the private sector, and it was a particular pleasure to welcome Chris Bell, Director of Music at St John RC Cathedral and Taverham Hall School.

For most of its eighty years the Festival was organised and run by Norfolk Education Music Department and although we are now a separate independent charitable organisation we still maintain very close links with the authority, and constantly look for ways of supporting and encouraging work within schools.

Given this link, it is particularly fitting that our first president should be Paul Harris. In addition to being a very accomplished clarinettist and composer he has developed an international reputation as a teacher and educator. He has published over four hundred books on practical music making and has been part of the team formulating the national curriculum policy for the government. His lectures at seminars for teachers are greeted with acclaim in this country and world wide.

Paul composed a special fanfare for the Festival which was performed twice during the evening by three trumpeters, appropriately heralding a stimulating and exciting future for us all.

The launch also gave an opportunity to publicly thank our benefactors without whom the Festival could not exist. Apart from the Administrator all the work of running the Festival, which last year involved over four thousand entrants in over forty separate classes in eleven different venues, was carried out by the committee and a team of more than thirty stewards, all of whom are volunteers. Our costs continue to rise, but we are ever mindful that if we raise entrance fees too high the very people we exist to support will be discouraged from entering. For this reason we look to our benefactors to help us meet the shortfall between income and expenditure and we are grateful for all donations large and small. As Paul Harris said in his address, the gift of music and the ability to perform and share in live music-making is one of the most rewarding and long lasting skills that we can offer each new generation. There can be no better platform to encourage musicians of any ability than our Festival where they can share and learn together in a supportive and professional atmosphere.

The launch was a great success and all involved were delighted that our Festival was able to enter its eightieth season with the added kudos of securing a President who is determined to promote and encourage us to even greater heights in the future.