Next concert
Keswick Music Society promotes classical music concerts. It was formed in 1947 and one of the founder members, Mrs Joan Sparey, is its president and still an active musician. The Society is one of many thriving organisations in Keswick and contributes to the wide variety of attractions on offer to residents and visitors alike, in addition to the well known scenic attributes of the Lake District.
The Society has benefited greatly from the opening in 1999 of the new Theatre by the Lake, pictured above, where all concerts are now held. Not only does the Theatre offer comfortable seating and excellent viewing for almost 400 people, together with refreshment facilities and easy concert booking for visitors, it was a significant plus factor in enabling the Society to obtain National Lottery funding for a new Steinway grand piano.The Society currently has a full membership of over 185 members and membership entitles them to reserved seats at all concerts in a season that runs from September to April. As well as eight concerts by professional musicians, the Society promotes one concert each season given by local young amateurs as part of its aim to foster an interest in music at an early age. Members also enjoy one or two social functions during the season.
Applications for Subscription/Membership tickets for the Forthcoming 61st Season 2008-9 have now been completed, our membership for the forthcoming season is now full. Contact the Membership Secretary, Elaine Moor on 017687 71162 for membership details.
Non-members can book seats directly with the Theatre box office for individual concerts.
General enquiries can be made to the Hon. Secretary, Mary Cooke on 017687 77235.
Most of the concerts are given by soloists or small ensembles. In recent years these have included Angela Hewitt (piano), Emma Johnson (clarinet), the rising star Alison Balsam (trumpet) and Nicolai Demidenko (piano), Kathryn Tickell (Northumbrian Pipes), John Lill (piano), Moray Welsh (cello), The Hermitage String Trio and The Fitzwilliam Quartet . The Society has also formed a good relationship with the Northern Sinfonia, who give one concert in each season.
More recently, a second orchestral concert has been added to the annual programme through the ‘Orchestra Live’ scheme which, with funding from Arts Council England and the Northern Rock Foundation, has the aim of taking orchestras to the more remote parts of the country. This enabled the Manchester Camerata to perform in April 2007 and Tasmin Little and the Mozart Players in April 2008.
The Society also receives financial support from Making Music, the former National Federation of Music Societies.
| For more details of this season's concerts and how to book a ticket, please click on the appropriate link to the left. |
Joan Sparey "Keswick's Pillar of Society" - to see the feature article on our president and Keswick Music Society click this link to the Cumberland News
2007-8