Pontefract Music

 Festival

More recently.....

Pontefract Music Festival is the only one of its kind under the present local authority and beside giving pleasure to many hundreds of all ages, it provides a platform where students of music and drama can begin to familiarise themselves with public performance of their accomplishments, whilst at the same time comparing their work with others and profiting by the comments and advice of highly experienced professionals.

By 1999, the Town Hall had deteriorated a great deal and as New Hall had been built at King’s High School, it was decide to try there for school choirs. This proved successful and has remained on our list of venues for the time being. At the closing concerts, long-service awards were announced for Mrs. Ackling, Mrs. Glassby, and Mr. Leach.

The year 2000 was marked by the Festival having a new cover designed for the syllabus. Harris Brothers Printers of Featherstone and Mr. Anderson Kidd, Festival Publicity did this for us from a Christmas card print by a local artist, William Shone. At the age of ninety he was pleased to give his permission in memory of his wife Muriel – a long-standing committee member. The picture depicted St Giles Church in Shoemarket and was well received.

Also for the Millennium, we ventured into the world of pop music, big bands and brass bands. Wakefield College was helpful and enthusiastic. The audience stayed until the end of the performances rather than leaving early, as frequently seemed to be the case of other venues. The standard of playing was very high and this resulted in Ossett Music Centre Big Band going forward to play as our representatives in music at Federations Millennium Concert which was held in Leeds. Inglebrook School’s Choral Speaking Group age 9 and under represented Speech and Drama for us. 

One of our members, Mr Paul Reid organised a Millennium Showcase Concerts and several of our regular performers and winners were invited to appear at Micklegate Methodist Church in Pontefract as our way of saying ‘Thank You’ for their support over the years. They must be named here because they gave such wonderful performances to a full, appreciative audience.

Ackworth Youth Choir                                        

Kathryn Fish and Laura Kitson

Laura Bennett and Chloe Padgett            

Helen Reid * 

Michael Twaddle                                             

 Michael Garforth

Eleanor Walter                                   

 Judith Carlyle

Helen Cosgrove                                            

Simon Cosgrove *

Joanne Slater                                                    

* Finalists in BBC Young Musician of  the Year