The Future .......
by Maureen Lehane Wishart
When I founded Jackdaws in 1993 as a major extension of the Great Elm Festival, it was because of my great desire to see classical music made more accessible and less intimidating. I felt that if I could achieve that, there were many people who would be inspired and nourished by it, as I have been all my life.
Over the years it has become something so special to so many, I have watched you arrive on a Friday, often stressed by everyday life, to leave on a Sunday walking on air. It has brought me great joy, thank you all. I have also been enormously excited and fulfilled by the many, varied outreach projects we have developed over the years and have been so inspired and astonished by the future generations and what they have achieved, there is so much talent and generosity.
Now it is time for another major development in our history – I have decided the time has come to retire as Artistic Director and to hand on the baton to a new generation. Although I am very sad to be retiring from full time involvement with Jackdaws, I am delighted to tell you that we have appointed the wonderful Saffron van Zwanenberg as my successor.
She has worked in the UK, Europe and Japan as a singer and director and in recent years has had a particular passion for music education, directing large projects for English National Opera, Mid Wales Opera, Garden Opera and of course Jackdaws where she has worked often in the last 4 years, she directed our Ring Cycle to great acclaim. She is very in tune with the ethos of Jackdaws and has some fantastic ideas for the future, she has my full support and I look forward to an exciting time for us all.
Jackdaws is based in the picturesque
Vallis Vale at
Great Elm in Somerset
"I see in Jackdaws something quite unique and so very, very worthwhile. The experience of people there is so positive, and the atmosphere so supportive (and the food so good!!) that it must, must continue and go from strength to strength".
Alison Wray - a weekend workshop participant. |
Young Artists Programme
The Jackdaws Vocal Awards 2010
Sponsored by Ludmilla Andrew
Open to singers aged between 22 and 30, the competition offers a First Prize of £2,000.
The Judges for this year’s competition will be Ludmilla Andrew, Audrey Hyland, Maureen Lehane and Rosa Mannion.
Candidates will offer, for the preliminary round, a song or aria by Handel, a song or aria by Peter Wishart and a song or aria of their own choice.
The Finals will be held at the Wigmore Hall on Tuesday 19 October 2010.
Click here for details
Sir Charles Mackerras
It is with sadness that we note the passing of Jackdaws Vice Patron, the great musician and conductor Sir Charles Mackerras, who died in London on 14 July 2010.
His extraordinary career was always marked by the kind of passion and enthusiasm for music that Jackdaws stands for.
It is a great honour to have had his support, for which we will always be grateful.
Telegraph obituary |
