Welcome to the Cornwall Music Summer Camp, where melodies float through the air like the gentle breeze off the coast, and harmonies harmonise with the crashing waves. Get ready to turn up the volume on your musical adventure as you dive into a symphony of sun-soaked days. Whether you're a virtuoso violinist, a rock 'n' roll drummer, or a budding Beethoven, this camp is your stage to shine. So pack your instrument, tune up your vocal cords, and prepare for a summer that hits all the right notes!
A small music festival in a quiet corner of the West Country is ripping up the rule-book on shanty festivals and putting the community and genuine local culture centre-stage. Saltash Songs & Shanties Festival launched in 2022 as part of a project to help bring joy and culture back to five Cornish towns that were recovering from the Covid pandemic. Determined to improve on the increasingly samey, tourist-orientated model of music Festivals in other Cornish seaside towns, the Saltash Songs & Shanties programme takes risks with contemporary music, includes workshops and opportunities to join in and collaborates with organisations from the community. Superb professional performers share stages equally with musicians from the region’s rich amateur music scene. The result is a festival truly inspired by the local people, culture and environment, that defies expectations and both challenges and entertains audiences.
Festival producer Lindsay Endean says “Music in this region is diverse and constantly changing. Even sea shanties have developed from pirates and fishing to celebrating feminism and local LGBTQ+ communities. The modern shanty scene is full of surprises. There is also a huge tradition of local music making in towns and villages across the county and an equal appetite from audiences to hear home-grown talent as much as visiting artists. We are constantly surprised by the fearless nature of our audiences – one of our most popular events last year was a concert of contemporary music inspired by local horse riders.
Highlights of this year’s programme (18-25 June) include a performance of handpan music for swimmers at the recently-saved-from-closure local pool, an evening celebrating women in the Cornish rock scene, and a programme of music by Cornish composer Judy Whitlock which is inspired by the night sky and features brass players from internationally renowned orchestras.
Having fun with friends and family is also central to the Festival’s ethos and there will be opportunities to have a go on the award-winning Town Band’s instruments, a street piano to play on the waterfront and an invasion of renaissance Spanish music into a house once lived in by Sir Francis Drake’s wife.
Several acclaimed shanty and folk-music groups also feature, including the hugely popular Barrett’s Privateers, Femmes de la Mer, who celebrate the stories of Cornwall’s women and Plymouth/Saltash group Windjammer who have recently released a highly original and beautiful album produced by Sean Lakeman.
Tickets are sold with pay-what-you-feel options, keeping events accessible to all. All events take place in historic buildings around Saltash. The Festival has been made possible thanks to funding from Arts Council England through its open access National Lottery Project Grants, FEAST Cornwall, Cornwall County Council and Saltash Town Council.
Full events listings and tickets for Saltash Songs & Shanties Festival are available at:
www.songsandshanties.co.uk
Sunday 18 June, 3pm
Livewire Youth Music
Girls Rock workshop
Join The Eyelids, a 4 piece all female, double-bass driven, garage rock band from Cornwall, for a fun workshop in all things rock.
Sunday 18 June, 7pm
Livewire Youth Music
The Eyelids + support
The queens of the burgeoning Cornish rock scene bring their potent brew of garage, blues and punk to
Saltash for a night celebrating women who rock.
Wednesday 21 June, 6.30pm
Isambard House
Blow Your Own Trumpet
Saltash Town Band invite you to have a go on their brass instruments.
Wednesday 21 June, 8pm
Isambard House
Film: Son of Cornwall
The moving biopic of John Treleaven, who left his home in Cornwall to become an international opera
star.
Thursday 22 June, 7pm
Saltash Swimming Pool
Water Music
Take a relaxing dip accompanied by lovely handpan music combining West African technique with Celtic
rhythms.
Friday 23 June, 10.15 & 11.15am
Saltash Library
Tipil: Music for little people
Family band Tipil perform a session of Cornish traditional and contemporary tunes, with opportunities
for mini-musicians to sing, dance and join in.
Friday 23 June, 7.30pm
Isambard House
Sea Shanty Workshop
Come an learn traditional and contemporary sea shanties.
Saturday 24 June, 11am & 12.15pm
Mary Newman’s Cottage
Temps Clar Ensemble
Music from medieval and renaissance Europe performed in full period costume.
Saturday 24 June, 1.30pm
Church of St Nicholas & St Faith
Barrett’s Privateers
Local shanty stars who blend male and female voices in lively and hugely entertaining performances.
Saturday 24 June, 3pm
Victoria Gardens
Saltash Town Band
The award-winning Saltash Town Band entertain with classics, jazz and contemporary favourites.
Saturday 24 June, 6pm
Church of St Nicholas & St Faith
Sirinu’s Songs for Saltash
A concert of beautiful ballads and tunes of the Tamar Valley and moors of East Cornwall, written in the
1960s an 70s and celebrating local stories, landmarks and characters.
Saturday 24 June, 8pm
Church of St Nicholas & St Faith
Music for the Night Sky
Abbey Brass Quintet are joined by Cornish musicians to perform music inspired by the night sky and
written by Judy Whitlock.
Sunday 25 June, 3pm
Saltash Waterfront
Pop-Up Piano Session
Local pianists take centre stage with the Festival’s street piano.
Sunday 25 June, 6pm
Saltash Social Club
Femmes de la Mer
A 15 strong group of women+, hailing from across Cornwall who share stories of inspirational Cornish
women and are passionate about singing traditional shanties and folk songs of the sea.
Sunday 25 June, 7.30pm
Saltash Social Club
Windjammer
An up-and-coming trio who blend self-penned songs and instrumentals with original versions of music
drawn from the best traditions of British folk. Their creative approach blends vocals, guitar, whistles,
accordion, synthesiser and percussion into beautiful and adventurous musical arrangements.
We are pleased to present the spring newsletter, which highlights our activities and accomplishments during the previous term.
Are you looking for a fantastic way to spend your Sunday afternoon? If so, then you are in luck! On Sunday, the 26th of March, St Endellion Church is hosting a free ticketed concert between 3-5pm. This is your chance to experience a wonderful show of talented performers.
At this concert, you will be able to see a variety of performers ranging from amateurs to professionals. All of them will be showcasing their favourite pieces. It’s a great opportunity to discover some new music and to enjoy the beautiful atmosphere of St Endellion Church.
So why not grab some friends and come along to this fantastic free concert? This is the perfect opportunity to spend time with friends while listening to amazing music. Not to mention, you will be able to experience the beauty of St Endellion Church.
Don’t miss out on this unique experience! Please get your tickets now and join us for a beautiful afternoon of music and fun.
Pianist Libby Burgess is undertaking a monumental challenge, performing Bach’s epic “48” in every one of England’s 48 counties, to raise funds for musical charities. The opportunity to hear them in Cornwall will be spread across four concerts between 10th – 12th March.
Bach’s “48”, also known as The Well-Tempered Clavier is a masterpiece of Western art, only rarely performed in its entirety. Each of the 48 preludes and fugues lasts only a few minutes, but they explore a wealth of characters, styles, and moods, journeying through the whole gamut of human emotional experience.
Bach wrote this magnificent collection “for the benefit and use of the musical youth eager to learn, as well as for the special pastime of those already skilful in this study.” Inspired by Bach’s dedication, Project 48 is supporting the charities Help Musicians, Live Music Now, Future Talent and Youth Music; between them they help hundreds of thousands of musicians every year, offering financial support, creating opportunities, addressing inequalities, and altogether safeguarding the future of the music world.
Libby Burgess is well-known on concert stages across Britain, playing in the country’s major halls and festivals, on Radio 3, and on a range of recordings. Praised by The Observer for her ‘warm, sensitive pianism’, she collaborates with many of the UK’s finest instrumentalists and singers when not taking on crazy country-wide solo projects. Libby is Artistic Director of New Paths Music, is Co-Artistic Director with Martin Roscoe of the Beverley Chamber Music Festival, was formerly Head of Keyboard at Eton College, and is also in demand as coach, speaker and writer.
Audiences can join Libby for these special performances on:
Friday 10th March
Chycara House, nr Carnon Downs
Saturday 11th March
The Old School, Stoke Climsland at 11am
Lavethan Barn nr Blisland at 4.30pm. A Cornish cream tea and a chance to explore the gardens in included in the ticket price.
Sunday 12th March
Chapel Street Methodist Church, Penzance at 3pm. Tea will be served at 4.20pm, followed by a Masterclass with students Jago James, Ben Pitchell and Julian Tozer at 5pm.
Tickets for Libby Burgess can be booked through the Carn to Cove website: www.carntocove.co.uk
Cornwall has a deep and long-standing relationship with the sea and water. From the rugged coastline and pristine beaches to the bustling ports and historic harbours, Cornwall's rich maritime heritage is evident in every aspect of our culture and daily life.
It is no wonder that water has become the central theme for our students' music project this school year.
Through exploring the sounds and rhythms of the sea, rivers, and rain, our students are discovering the unique musical expressions that water can inspire. This theme not only connects our students to the local environment and community but also encourages them to think about the universal importance of water and its role in our world.
By embracing the theme of water music, our students are developing their musical skills while also gaining a deeper appreciation for the beauty and power of the natural world.
All of the songs in our first set, based on the theme of water, are sung by talented young vocalists from West Cornwall. These vocalists will showcase the power of water as a source of strength, beauty, and emotion in their performances.
Mousehole School’s performance of A River’s Tale
Pencoys School’s performance of Haul Away Joe
Cornwall Youth Chamber Choir’s performance of The Sea Lullbay
Come and join in with this amazing performance opportunity in the world-renowned St Endellion Church. To sign up, click the button below.
The Cornwall Horn Festival is back for its 6th year. Come along for sessions, masterclasses, ensembles and recitals aimed at all ages and abilities, culminating in a performance on the Sunday.
Come along for a special event featuring historical horn specialist Anneke Scott.
Trigg invited a large group of friends both young and old to come and perform with them at yesterday’s Burn’s Night performance at Wadebridge School.
A bonus shot: when the teacher becomes the student or in this case… music stand? An amazing first time conducting Trigg for Rowan also!
Come along for an exciting day of music-making and learning for Primary Teachers at The Sands Resort, Newquay.
To find out more or sign up then, contact Christine:
Find out about all of the amazing things which our students and teachers have been up to this past term!
