ORGANISERS of Malvern and Worcester’s Elgar Festival (Saturday, May 24 to Sunday, June 1) have announced relaxed concerts for those living with dementia.
The annual celebration of the life and music of Worcestershire’s most famous composer will feature three free concerts performed by ESO Winds and DownsideUp String Duo for people with dementia.
In Worcester, events be held at 11am in St George’s Church, Barbourne on Thursday, May 22 (DownsideUp String Duo) and at 3pm in Henry Sandon Hall on Friday, May 30 (ESO Winds).
The third concert will be held at 11am in Malvern Priory on Friday, May 30 (ESO Winds).
DownsideUp is made up of duo Corinne Frost and Stephen Warner. They perform an ecletic mix of music for cello and double bass, alongside guitar, clapping, piano and voice.
Invited by the National Trust, the duo were involved in the making of a DVD for people no longer able to access live music, such as those in care homes and hospices, filmed at Worcestershire’s Croome Court.
ESO Winds is part of the world renowned English Symphony Orchestra.
Kenneth Woods, artistic director of The Elgar Festival said: “These hour long concerts are bursting with beautiful music.
“They are particularly suited to those living with dementia and other similar health conditions, as well as adults and children with additional learning needs, their carers and anybody who wishes to experience classical music in a relaxed and informal environment.”
This year’s festival is themed ‘celebrate with Elgar’ and as every year, brings together world class professional musicians and artists alongside local choirs and ensembles placing the music of Worcester’s most famous son alongside some of today’s leading composers and arrangers.
There are several free events, relaxed concerts, an exhibition, choral events, a film screening, Q and As, a guided walk, a new performance partnership with students from the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire and a Club Elgar event.
Since its inauguration in 2018, when it was a Critic’s Pick in both The Guardian and The Times, the festival has doubled in size and scale and continues to grow annually through an innovative development programme of appealing and accessible events, working with hundreds of both internationally renowned professional artists and amateur musicians and performers of all ages to ensure Elgar really is for everyone.
Visit www.elgarfestival.org for more information.
