Shaldon Festival 30th Anniversary Project

Shaldon is celebrating its 30th Classical Music Festival

This is a special year for Shaldon Festival – its 30th anniversary! One of the festival’s missions is to engage young people with high-quality music-making. The Festival decided to commission an ambitious project in conjunction with Bath Philharmonia to create a violin concerto from scratch and to perform it to the public. The Helen Foundation was the lead sponsor of this project. 

Young people from Dawlish College and Orchard Manor School (a special school) worked under the guidance of Jason Thornton, Musical Director of Bath Philharmonia. Bath Phil violinist Katy Rowe worked with Jason and his team of animateurs. The results were outstanding!

At the world première of their new violin concerto on Thursday 20th June, the children gave a performance that received a standing ovation. This was a very special occasion for all involved that will live long in the memory. 

We wish to thank Shaldon Festival, all the teachers and helpers who guided the performance and especially to the young people for giving the project their whole-hearted and enthusiastic commitment, ensuring a truly remarkable outcome.