51°21′05″N2°15′40″W/ 51.3515°N 2.261°W Wiltshire Music Centreis a 300-seatconcert hallinBradford-on-Avon,Wiltshire, England which has been described as having "the finest acoustic outside London".[1]The Centre puts on over 150 concerts a year[2]including critically acclaimed artists such asClaire Martin,Richard Rodney Bennett,Courtney Pine,[3]John Williams,[4]Imogen Cooperand theOrchestra of the Age of Enlightenment.
The centre is in the north-west of Bradford-on-Avon and is adjacent to the town's secondary school,St Laurence School.Wiltshire Music Centre Trust Ltd is anindependent charityrun by a small team of 10 employees, who are supported by a team of approximately 85 volunteer stewards.[5]
History
editWiltshire Music Centre opened in 1998, built with funding from one of the firstNational Lotterygrants for art projects: £1.74 million towards overall design and build costs.[6]
The first event to take place at the Centre was theBBC Radio 4Any Questions?programme in January 1998.[7]Any Questions?returned to the Centre on 1 July 2011 withBilly Bragg,Deborah Meaden,Shaun WoodwardandSteve Webbas panellists.[8][9]
The Princess Royalopened the Centre on 29 April 1998[7]and the first concert was performed by international pianistJohn Lillon 7 March 1998. In May 2004, the Trust was invited to a reception atNumber 10 Downing Streetto celebrate outstanding achievements in the arts.[10]
Concert programme
editThe Centre's programme and visitor levels grew year-on-year during its first decade, and in recent years the Centre has offered a programme ofclassical,jazz,folkandworld musicto more than 20,000 audience members.[11]
The Centre promotes on average 50 professional concerts every year, as well as providing a performance venue for 30 local amateur and professional groups and on average 30 local young people's participation events.[11]In 2011 the Centre's concerts and participation events were attended by more than 60,000 people.[11]
Education work
editThe Centre is home to a variety oforchestras,choirsand other music groups.[12]The Centre was founded on a commitment to nurture musical ability or interest, regardless of age or background, and runs projects aimed at delivering strong musical experiences.[5]
The Centre has worked with mostspecial schoolsand many of theprimary schoolsinWiltshire,as well as a number of the county'ssecondary schools.[11]In 2007 the Centre played a key role in launching South West Music School, avirtual schoolwhich provides advanced training for gifted young musicians and singers aged 8 to 18.[13]
References
edit- ^Sean Rafferty, BBC Radio 3,November 2006
- ^"Our story".Wiltshire Music Centre.Retrieved11 February2018.
- ^Courtney Pine press coverage
- ^John Williams review
- ^abCharity Commission listing
- ^Wiltshire Music Centre 'about us'
- ^abSt Laurence School history
- ^"Chance to quiz panellists at Bradford on Avon".Wiltshire Times.28 May 2011.Retrieved13 September2023.
- ^BBC Iplayer version of July 2011 ‘Any Questions?’ show broadcast from Wiltshire Music Centre
- ^Details of 2004 activities(PDF)
- ^abcdWiltshire Music Centre Trust Ltd. Annual review(PDF),2011
- ^Jazz Factory
- ^South West Music School Associate members
