As I write this the house is being battered by the high winds of Storm Ciara – how fortunate that we didn’t have a workshop scheduled for this weekend! But before we know it, our spring and summer workshops will be here, and there is a lot to look forward to: you can see the full list here, but I’d particularly like to mention the AGM workshop, to be led by SWEMF favourite David Allinson, on June 27th. It will take place at Turnberries community centre in Thornbury, an excellent venue which we have used several times in the past. Thornbury has plenty of free parking, and can be accessed by bus from Bristol Parkway station, so I hope that many of you will be there, not only to enjoy a day of music-making but also to have your say at the AGM.
Plans are well advanced now for the second Bristol Early Music Festival, and as last year, SWEMF is sponsoring an event – this time, it’s an afternoon workshop for renaissance instruments led by members of His Majestys Sackbutts and Cornetts. Full details of this, and all the other exciting concerts and workshops, can be found on the Festival website at https://bristolearlymusicfestival.uk/.
You will find my report on the recent ‘West Country Carols’ workshop here. That excursion into an unfamiliar repertoire made me reflect that there is a vast wealth of music out there still waiting to be explored, so if you have ideas for events which might take us out of our ‘comfort zone’ – and even better, suggestions for tutors who might run such events – do let us know. After all, SWEMF is your organisation!
– Clare Griffel