THE FIRST Westbury Area Music Festival has been hailed as a great success, after a weekend of performances in and around Westbury.
Jointly organised by Westbury Lions and Westbury Rotary Club, the music festival featured a diverse array of musical styles.
The festival kicked off with an evening of music from The Brigade of Rifles Military Band, at Edington Priory. The well attended concert, in aid of Help For Heroes, saw the band perform a selection of war songs, traditional tunes and some film soundtracks. The band even performed a rendition of The Huntsman using traffic cones, shower hoses and a kettle for percussion.
Westbury MP Dr Andrew Murrison, a former Royal Navy medical officer, described it as “absolutely brilliant”. Rotary president Jim Heath echoed that verdict, calling the band, “fantastic.”
Other concerts put on during the course of the festival included an ABBA tribute band at the Westbury Country Club, Matravers pupils playing at All Saints Church on Saturday afternoon, and an evening concert from various artists in the church on Saturday evening.
The highlight of the Saturday evening was a performance from Ukrainian mezzo soprano Nina Alupii Morton, accompanied on piano by Nadia Quick.
Lions member Roy Inwood said of Nina’s singing, “It was absolutely fabulous. As soon as she started singing you could see people were just agog. I don’t think people had ever heard anything like that around here before, and the setting was very good as well. They both received a longstanding ovation.”
On Sunday 27th September celebrated classical guitarist, John Mills, played at Dilton Marsh Holy Trinity Church with his Dutch partner Cobie, for a second time in the village.
Lions president Mike Healy said of John’s performance, “It was a privilege to be there, it was a wonderful performance by both of the classical guitarists.
“I think by the end of it people were scared to take a breath in case they missed a note. There was an encore at the end, and it was very well attended.”
Generally across the weekend the performances were very well attended and supported by the people of Westbury. The Lions and Rotarians are hoping that they have raised some money towards the good causes that they support in and around the town, although as White Horse News went to print a total was still being calculated.
Roy said, “I think it went very well. It looks like we’ve come out the right side. We didn’t expect to make a lot of money but to come out on the right side makes it all worthwhile.
Mike added, “Yes it was of course about raising money for the local community, but it was also getting the community out and doing things together. Generally I think it’s gone very well, and we’re certainly considering doing it next year. I wouldn’t say it’s a certainty, but a probability.”
If the festival is repeated next year, the organisers are hoping that they can build on this year’s success and make it even bigger and better in 2010.
Jim said, “Overall I think it went very well. Hopefully the people who attended enjoyed themselves, and those that didn’t attend have been told by their friends how good it was. Maybe next year we can get more support and start to build it up.”
Roy, Jim and Mike all said that they would like to say a big thank you to all those who attended the various performances over the weekend, and especially to the organisers and musicians who took part.
