The club’s house band ‘The James Pearson Trio’ will be one of the impressive acts performing at the exciting ten-day Kew Music Festival, which runs from 17th to 26th June 2011.
One of the finest Jazz Trios in Europe, the James Pearon Trio’s most recent album ‘Swing the Club’ was ranked No.6 in the Sunday Times albums of 2009. They will be performing ‘A Portrait of Ella’ – celebrating the life of jazz legend Ella Fitzgerald – with singer Lizzie Ball on Friday 24th June at Watermans.
Families will also have the unique opportunity of performing alongside each other in the Kew Music Festival family orchestra – run by the same team behind the hugely successful BBC Proms Family Orchestra.
The event, which is held on Sunday 19th June at the Queen’s School in Kew, gives family members of all ages and standards – whether they plan an instrument or not – the chance to experience being part of an orchestra under the guidance of expert musicians.
The Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, pianist Lucy Parham and actors Martin Jarvis and Samuel West are also among the line up at this year’s Kew Music Festival.
Audiences will see these top-class acts perform in stunning and historic venues across this leafy part of London during the exciting ten-day festival, which runs from 17th to 26th June 2011.
Some of the acts will be performing in the drawing rooms and dining rooms of Georgian houses across Kew – giving people the rare chance to hear chamber music as it used to be heard.
Soloists from the OAE will bring the festival to a close on Sunday 26th June with a performance of Stravinsky’s 20th century masterpiece ‘The Soldiers Tale’ which is narrated by BAFTA-nominated actor Samuel West.
Pianist Lucy Parham will perform her acclaimed ‘Odyssey of Love’on Sunday 19th June at a private house on Kew Green. The work, which chronicles the life of Franz Liszt through music and words, features actors Martin Jarvis OBE and Joanna David.
The Kew Music Festival also celebrates the best of the area’s rich cultural talent with concerts by local groups such as the award-winning Kew Wind Orchestra and Kew Sinfonia.
Talented young musicians from local schools will also take part. Pupils from the Broomfield House School will perform Mozart’s ‘Impressario’ and Leoncavello’s ‘Pagliacci’ alongside the Garden Opera company, while youngsters from the Queen’s School will stage a bicentenary concert.
Other highlights include a ‘Summer Serenade’ concert by fluatist Karen Jones and harpist Rachel Masters. The renowned duo will also share their first hand experiences of playing with some of the country’s top orchestras.
In a joint statement, Kew Music Festival Directors Catherine Bromley and Clare Warren said: “The Kew Music Festival has really captured the imagination of the community with its special mix of high calibre musicians and actors performing alongside talented local groups and young people.
“It also offers people the chance to see music performed in some of London’s most stunning venues from Kew Palace to the drawing rooms of Grade II listed Georgian houses.”
Kew Music Festival’s Musical Director Spencer Down said: “This year’s festival promises to be even bigger and better. It is fantastic that we have attracted soloists from the OAE and Ronnie Scotts’ own house band to perform at the festival in only our second year.
“We are also looking forward to holding the first ever Kew Music Festival family orchestra. This will be a fun and exciting event that offers every family member the chance to take part – whether they play a musical instrument or not.”
The Kew Music Festival has attracted the support of high profile local patrons including double bassist and BBC Radio 3 presenter Chi-chi Nwanoku MBE, writer and photographer Lady Camilla Panufnik and historian Dr David Blomfield MBE.
Events take place in stunning venues across Kew including Kew Palace, local churches, private residences and pubs.
For more information about performances, artists and booking, please visit www.kewmusicfestival.com or contact the box office on 07771 565 140.
