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Other Music Festivals similar to Wantage Music Festival
(i.e.not “muddy wellies” festivals).

Wantage Music Festival was affiliated to The British and International Federation of Festivals for Music, Dance and Speech (BIFF), which has nearly 250 member festivals. The Federation also provides adjudicators and accompanists. Federation adjudicators, who are already highly qualified musicians as performers and/or educators, receive training and assessment in the particular skills of adjudication.

Nearby festivals include:

Abingdon Music Festival,
Chipping Norton Music Festival
Oxford Music Festival
Royal Wootton Bassett Arts Festival
Swindon Music Festival
Woodley Festival of Music and Art

Other Music Societies in or near Wantage

Below are just some of the societies we know in the Wantage area for those who enjoy making music:

Caritas Children’s Choir
Wantage Choral Society
Wantage Orchestra
Wantage Parish Church Choir
Wantage Silver Band

A Very Big Thank You

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A very big thank you to all those who have contributed towards the Festival’s success over the years.

The Trustees would like to thank:

All the committee members over the years who have given their time to organise the Festival.

Particular gratitude is owed to Bob McLatchie, who was instrumental in founding the Festival in 1977 and has been active in organising the Festival in roles such as Chairman and President ever since. Also to the late Graham Blyth, a long-time supporter of the Festival and Chairman from 2014 to 2020, who made the Hall at Challow Park, with its exceptional pianos and organ, available after the previous venue at St Mary’s School was closed in 2007.

The volunteers who helped to ensure the smooth running of the Festival weekends each year, undertaking such tasks as manning the doors and welcome desk, assisting the adjudicator with sheet music, certificates and mark sheets, producing refreshments etc.

Our sponsors and those who have donated grants or prizes, including:

Arts-Hub Wantage
The Challow Park Music Trust
Challow Park Studios
Co-operative Society Community Fund
The Guild of King Alfred Players
John Lewis & Partners
Kutana Ltd
Opera Unmasked
Vale of White Horse District Council
Waitrose
The Wantage Bunting Project
Wantage Town Council

as well as other sponsors who prefer to remain anonymous.

Thank you also to 34SP.com, who offer free Web hosting for charities and have been very patient when we have needed support.

Thanks must also go to:

Our highly experienced adjudicators, who have encouraged many with their helpful tips and advice.

Our versatile accompanists, who have so ably supported our entrants whatever their choice of music.

Those teachers, parents and friends who have helped and encouraged our entrants during their rehearsals and performances,

Our supportive audiences who helped to provide a sense of occasion.

And, most of all we would like to thank our entrants who have had the courage to submit themselves to an adjudicator’s judgement in public. Their performances have brought joy to our audiences and all have learnt from the adjudicators’ comments. Without our entrants there would have been no Festival!

 

Our Legacy

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There were enough funds to run at least one more annual festival when the decision was taken to close it – there were just not enough remaining volunteers with time available to organise it.

The Trustees decided to distribute the remaining funds to other organisations that can further the Festival’s activities of promoting music performance and education, with a particular emphasis on children and young people, and focussing on the Wantage area. Continue reading Our Legacy