FESTIVAL 2009
 

Fri 25 September – Sat 3 October

About us:

Hexham Abbey Festival began in 1953. In its 57 or so years it has maintained a strong local reputation for quality concerts of predominantly sacred and classical music. In recent years, in common with the development of Festivals both British and International it has realised the need to develop greater accessibility, wider appeal and ownership and involvement by the wider community, and a programme that reflects a broad range of tastes in music.

Our mission states:
Hexham Abbey Festival is a charitable organisation which exists to promote an annual festival of music and cultural events accessible to all those who live, work and study in, and visit Hexham, the Tynedale district, Northumberland county and the north east region.

Integrated into a high quality artistic programme with artists of national and international standing, Hexham Abbey Festival celebrates local artistic talent, professional and amateur, as well as the local environment, with a programme of community & education activities, encouraging and enhancing the sense of community.

The Festival since 2006 has expanded in scope and size from approximately 12-15 events to some 26-28 2007-8. The classical music core, with vocal and especially choral music, remains to the fore, represented by the Festival chorus and orchestra concert and candlelit finale, traditionally given by one of the nationally recognised top vocal ensembles.

Innovations in 2007, in response to the first audience surveys carried out in 2006, included new day time events, the Young Artist Platform (offering opportunities to young professional artists at the threshold of their careers), a more prominent showcase for the growing community & education programme and exhibitions.

Priorities for the way forward incorporate government objectives: 1) inclusion of more people from harder to reach communities; 2) raising self understanding and regional identity, and 3) making a positive economic impact.

Hexham Abbey Festival is a registered charity number 245282