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Thursday, 12 January 2012 10:18 |
 BANDS vying for success at this year’s Hastings Musical Festival will be judged by the former lead singer of rock band The Stranglers.
Paul Roberts, who replaced original frontman Hugh Cornwell in 1990, is returning to the annual event to offer his experienced words of advice and encouragement.
Last year the 52-year-old singer was joined by The Who legend Roger Daltrey as a guest judge.
Molly Townson, chairman of Hastings Musical Festival, said: “Paul is absolutely superb at judging because he is so good with the young people, amazing and very much able to be at their level.
“Paul is altogether a nice guy and talented man, who will be very encouraging to bands.”
Mr Roberts, who left the band in 2006, said: “As a child who grew up with nothing but my dreams, it gives me 100 per cent pleasure to encourage young performers to be creative with their music, whether as a hobby or as a potential career.
“Last year I was completely gobsmacked at the high calibre of performance, and simply shocked and surprised by the young singers in the pop vocal classes. I’d never heard anything like it for quality and individuality of performance.
“I’m really looking forward to returning to the Hastings Musical Festival in March.”
Festival organisers are desperate for more bands to sign up for this year’s event, held at the White Rock Theatre.
There are six which have signed up but at least another half a dozen are needed for the rock bands and vocal pops category.
Any rock band wanting to play on the stage at Hastings Musical Festival should contact Brenda Bailey on 01424 430923 over the next few days.
Cash prizes will again be awarded by Bonners Music Superstore, and 2012 will also see the new John Wesley Harding Prize for best original composition in each class.
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Monday, 30 January 2012 11:12 |
The Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Cup
 The Executive Committee of Hastings Musical Festival
is delighted to announce
THE QUEEN ELIZABETH II DIAMOND JUBILEE CUP 2012
FOR OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN THE
HASTINGS MUSICAL FESTIVAL
This prestigious new special award plus £200 will be presented
at the Festival Finale on Saturday 24th March.
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Thursday, 13 October 2011 16:41 |
An important date for your Diary.
Hastings Musical Festival will present:
The Queens Diamond Jubilee Celebration Concert
The White Rock Theatre
Saturday 2nd June 2012 7.00pm
A celebration of the Queen's 60 years on the throne
in Music, Dance and Drama
* Hastings Diamond Jubilee Children's Choir
* HMF Dancers, Actors and Musicians.
* The Sussex Concert Orchestra and Singers. Including a new work by Kenneth Roberts especially commissioned for the occasion with original words invited from Festival entrants and Festival friends. You still have time to submit poetry on the theme of "THE SEA" for consideration in this exciting new project.
* 'End of the Proms' Finale with Audience Participation
This promises to be an exciting evening involving as many HMF performers as possible, the Sussex Concert Orchestra, Massed School Choirs, Dancing, Drama and Music, together with a variety of solo and ensemble performances, much flag-waving and an 'End of the Proms' Finale.
Please put the date in your diary.
Further details will be published on the Festival website as soon they become available.
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Tuesday, 08 November 2011 17:18 |
Online Entries
Despite our best efforts, we are unable to offer Online entries in time for the 2012 Festival. Rest assured that our IT team is still working on this and we hope to have this, and many other ways you can support our Festival online soon.
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Sunday, 13 June 2010 11:53 |
Meet our President!
 Hastings Musical Festival is pleased and proud to have Petula Clark CBE as our President. Petula is a world renowned singer, actress and composer with a career that has spanned seven decades. She is best known and loved for her 1960s hits which include “Down Town”, “ Don’t sleep in the Subway” and many more.
She made her radio debut in 1942 with a radio broadcast whilst she attended the BBC with her father when an air raid occurred and the producer requested that someone perform to settle the jittery audience.
This was subsequently broadcast and triggered a series of some 500 appearances in programmes designed to entertain the troops. During 1944, Petula was spotted in a performance at the Royal Albert Hall and this led into a career in films, which was closely followed by television performances in 1946 including her own show titled simply “Petula Clark”.
Petula branched into recording during 1949 and continued through the 1950s releasing hits such as "The Little Shoemaker" (1954), "Majorca" (1955), "Suddenly There's a Valley" (1955) and "With All My Heart" (1956).
Since then, together with her recordings, TV and film appearances, Petula has never been far from the public eye and in 2009 she was honoured by being made a Commander of the British Empire after becoming Britain’s biggest selling female artist.
Petula continues to delight sell-out audiences all over the world, and it was wonderful that she found the time to be with us at our 2011 Festival Finale, first presenting the special awards, and then enjoying the performances of our young and talented 2011 winners.
Petula has said that subject to her touring commitments, she will try her best to attend the 2012 Festival and that she is delighted to be our President.
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