2010 Prizewinner's Concert

Exciting News!

Calling All Guitarists.
 

Hastings Musical Festival is pleased to announce that we have no fewer than six classes devoted to electric guitar in the 2010 syllabus.
Contrary to popular belief, we are not just classical! Why not pop over to our Syllabus page and have a look at classes 3308 to 3348
 

New Rock Band Class!!

Paul Roberts.
 

Paul Roberts is to adjudicate the Rock Band classes in the 2010 Musical Festival. He is probably best known for fronting the iconic major British band The Stranglers for 16 years, from 1990 – 2006. This period saw The Stranglers releasing 8 albums and 13 singles including Peaches, Heaven or Hell, Golden Brown and Big Thing Coming. Paul left The Stranglers in May 2006 after hitting the top of the charts again with the release of their highly acclaimed album Norfolk Coast.

Paul has recorded, written and appeared on over 30 albums and singles with artists including The Lightning Seeds, OMD and Nigel Kennedy.His work has been recorded with some of the best names in music including Alan Winstanley, Cenzo Townshend, Nicky Graham and Pete Glenister amongst others. Paul formed and still performs regularly with his band Soulsec.In 2008 Ivor Novello award winner Martin Phipps asked Paul to join him to record songs for the BBC drama department.

Additional Rock Instrument Classes!

Guest Appearance for 2011

Major Singing!

Singing has always been a major part of Hastings Musical Festival.  In 2007 there were 23 sessions of singing with 89 classes for solos, duets, ensembles and choirs in a variety of styles.   We encourage wide participation of all age groups and abilities, and have classes ranging from those aimed at novice singers, who may never have sung at a Festival, through to our medal classes for experienced singers, both junior and adult.  The Festival provides an opportunity to try new repertoire, to gain experience of performing in public, and to learn from listening to other singers and to the comments of our friendly and helpful adjudicators.
 

It's Not All Music!

The Hastings Musical Festival is not entirely musical!  The Speech and Drama and Mime Section offers over 70 Classes ranging from Shakespeare to Humorous Verse to One-act Plays.

Welcome to
Festival 2010

Piano Concerto entry forms
 

The brochure for the 6th 2010 Piano Concerto Competition  sponsored by the Kowitz Family Foundation is available for download here.
Please be advised that it is a large file (5.5MByte).

 

2010 Programme now available.

2011 Syllabus

The Summer term is coming to its close and pupils and teachers alike are looking forward to six weeks away from school and hopefully lots of sunshine and a carefree holiday. The Hastings Musical Festival is very busy assembling what is possibly the most exciting syllabus for many years.

There are to be many new and very different classes next year.

In the Dancing section we have the introduction of hip-hop/street dancing. The classes will be held in the Sussex Hall which has the advantage of a fully sprung floor which is essential for the genre of dance. There will be a specialist adjudicator and a completely separate set of rules – please be sure to read them carefully.

In the Instrumental section the Rock classes are being expanded, meaning that the PA system will be in situ for 2 days, with new classes in Contemporary Electric Guitar and Drum Kits. Also in this section the Festival is introducing a Primary School Day aimed at schools who participate in the Wide Opportunities Scheme.

In the Speech and Drama Section the plays take on an entirely new look. Being performed in the intimate setting of the Sussex Hall the new play classes will be performed in the modern studio style as offered in most Drama Schools. Cash prizes are introduced to celebrate this exciting project and to encourage entries.