History & Organisation
PATRONS
FOUNDER PATRON
SIR NEVILLE MARRINER CH, CBE
(15 April 1924 – 2 October 2016)
ALASDAIR BEATSON
LAURENCE CUMMINGS
DAME EMMA KIRKBY
ANDREW MARRINER
Concerts in the West
Charity no 1139301
TRUSTEES
John Bartholomew
Peter Lansdown
Andrew Maddocks Chairman
Catherine Maddocks (Hodgson)
Director of Concerts in the West
Elizabeth Coleman independent examiner
Publicity – social media – Stephen Upshaw
General PR – Shiry Rashkovsky
A NOTE FROM SIR NEVILLE MARRINER
Concerts in the West goes from strength to strength, providing a much needed service, bringing the best young musicians to perform music from jazz to Monteverdi.
A NOTE FROM LAURENCE CUMMINGS
I am proud to be a patron of the Concerts in the West series. They provide high quality music-making, supporting and encouraging the younger generation of musicians who reap huge benefits from this high-profile platform. The programming is highly imaginative and the venues are so charming that the series also manages to draw in audiences who are not so familiar with the enriching qualities of classical music as well as the die-hard fans.
HISTORY OF CONCERTS IN THE WEST
CONCERTS IN THE WEST launched in 2006 when I was asked if I would like to organise a concert in Ilminster as there was no Classical music being performed there at the time. As I was very new to the town it seemed like a good way to meet people and so it proved!
One concert quickly became four in the first year with Lyme Regis joining in. We have continued inviting young professional musicians to perform for us as they are embarking on a difficult and demanding career. When we started CONCERTS IN THE WEST I was still Festival Director of the London Handel Festival, from which I retired in June 2016. Working with very fine musicians in London I was determined to have a very high standard of performance in the West Country. The musicians, all of whom are trained to at least postgraduate level, find the tours quite useful in embedding repertoire and working towards recordings or a big concert in London.
VENUES
We started putting on concerts in ILMINSTER ARTS CENTRE . We then added two other main venues – BRIDPORT ARTS CENTRE (since 2011) and LOWER PULWORTHY near Okehampton (2007-2018). We also spent many years in Lyme Regis at the MARINE THEATRE (2006-2016). In addition we branch out for single concerts to out-of-the-way places.
In 2019 we went to ILMINSTER ARTS CENTRE (10 concerts); BRIDPORT ARTS CENTRE (10 concerts), THE DANCE HOUSE, Crewkerne (7 concerts); PENDOMER near Yeovil (one concert), UPLYME Church, Lyme Regis (one concert) and St Peter and St Paul, BISHOPS HULL, Taunton (one concert) and Jordans Courtyard (one concert). We held four concerts at CICCIC in Taunton and five at WELLHAYES VINEYARD near Waterrow/ Wiveliscombe.
In 2020 we went to ILMINSTER ARTS CENTRE (3 concerts); BRIDPORT ARTS CENTRE (3 concerts); THE DANCE HOUSE, Crewkerne (3 concerts); Seven tours were then cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic. We organised an ONLINE SERIES of 18 concerts from August to October.
In 2021 we went to ILMINSTER ARTS CENTRE (5 concerts); BRIDPORT ARTS CENTRE (6 concerts); THE DANCE HOUSE, Crewkerne (6 concerts); BISHOPS HULL HUB (1 concert); SS PETER & PAUL CHURCH, UPLYME (1 concert); ST LAURENCE CHURCH, Upwey (2 concerts).
In 2022 we went to ILMINSTER ARTS CENTRE (9 concerts); BRIDPORT ARTS CENTRE (9 concerts); THE DANCE HOUSE, Crewkerne (9 concerts); MINEHEAD METHODIST CHURCH (3 concerts); CHURCH OF ST ROCH, Pendomer (1 concert); ST LAURENCE CHURCH, Upwey (3 concerts).
In 2023 we go to ILMINSTER ARTS CENTRE (9 concerts); BRIDPORT ARTS CENTRE (9 concerts); THE DANCE HOUSE, Crewkerne (9 concerts); CHURCH OF ST ROCH, Pendomer (1 concert); ST LAURENCE CHURCH, Upwey (2 concerts); SS PETER & PAUL CHURCH, UPLYME (1 concert).
PIANOS
Alan King, Milverton Pianos piano tuning
Piano in Bridport Arts Centre – Yamaha C7
(1980s)
Piano in Ilminster Arts Centre – Kuwai RG2 (1974)
Piano at The Dance House Crewkerne – Yamaha C3 (1980s)
CONCERTS IN THE WEST is run by a small group of Trustees. They are all very committed and hands-on, bringing their expertise to the charity.
We are also indebted to our hosts who look after the musicians during their stay as we could not afford hotels or B&Bs.
We are a small charity and, as with many arts organisations, have to work hard on the finances and fundraising and are very grateful to those that support us and without whom we would not survive! As our venues are not big and often in towns and villages with relatively small surrounding populations, ticket sales only cover about half the costs of running the series. In addition to paying our performers we need to publicise the concerts, which involves advertising and print. Then there are other costs like piano tuning and venue hire. If you feel you can help us financially please get in touch.
CATHERINE MADDOCKS (HODGSON) concertsinthewest@gmail.com
01823 252658 & 07776 995789
