Photo caption: Celebrating news of a $2,500 grant for Armidale’s New England Bach Festival, which will run from 27-30 April this year, musician Alana Blackburn, left, Festival Artistic Director Dr Benjamin Thorn and Northern Tablelands MP Adam Marshall.
Wednesday, 19 April 2023
THE hills of the Armidale Region will be alive with the sound of music later this month, with the 2023 New England Bach Festival ready to entertain with the announcement today of a $2,500 State Government grant to assist the biennial four-day event.
Member for Northern Tablelands Adam Marshall announced the support under the NSW Rescue Restart Fund today and said the festival, dedicated to the great classical composer Johann Sebastian Bach, would run from the 27 to 30 April this year.
“This is great news for this year’s festival and for Artistic Director Dr Benjamin Thorn, who has made an outstanding contribution to the event over many years,” Mr Marshall said.
“The New England Bach Festival, established in 2003, brings together the best available visiting and local performers and attracts audiences locally, regionally and interstate.
“It has always aimed to present a broad scope of Bach influenced music, including new arrangements and compositions, jazz fusion and improvisations as well as historically informed performances that can to appeal to a wide audience.”
Mr Marshall said a committee of around 10 people were responsible for planning and staging the festival, which this year will feature 40 performers.
“Hundreds of locals and visitors from Sydney and inter-state are expected to attend this year’s musical extravaganza, which includes free events including the performance of the Peasant Cantata in Hanna’s Arcade,” Mr Marshall said.
Bach Festival Artistic Director Dr Benjamin Thorn said he was grateful to receive the funding support.
“The Bach Festival has become an important part of Armidale’s cultural life,” Dr Thorn said.
“In some ways it is unique as far as baroque music festivals are concerned because it makes contemporary creativity an integral part or its program.
“This is something that is worth continuing, and support from the State Government will help this to happen.
“The grant will help ensure that the festival has sufficient reserves to viably continue to present festivals in the future.”