Pewsey-based violinist Tom Bott is producing another season of Sunday afternoon music in the Assembly Room of the Town Hall with his High Society Orchestra.
After this season is over, he’s organising a Town Hall Ball with a guest appearance by internationally known ballroom dancers Morgan Hemphill and Richard Still.
With the experience of his first seasons behind him, this autumn’s events will be more like concerts with high tea – even a champagne tea – attached.
These concerts are the perfect way for a family to mark a special celebration – a birthday, an anniversary or a reunion. As a happy customer said after one of last season’s Sunday afternoons: “Fabulous experience. England needs more of this type of event.”
Tom’s original idea was to have two sittings, but he found the early sitting conflicted with ‘Sunday lunch’ and the later sitting was more popular. So for four Sunday’s this autumn the concerts will run from 3.00 pm to 5.00 pm with a short midway break – offering more music than the last series.
The emphasis will still be on light, Ritz-style English music from the 1930s through to the ever-popular Hollywood film scores of the 1950s. And there’s still the opportunity to dance.
As Tom Bott says, “It’s all about atmosphere”, and the Assembly Hall, with the orchestra on the stage, is the perfect venue.
Tom has found a new caterer for this series: Rachel Firth of Square Root Events is from Burbage. The concerts are sponsored by Charlotte Quest of Marlborough High Street and are in association with Jigsaw who will have a presence each Sunday.
The concerts will be on Sundays September 22; October 20; November 17; and December 15. Tickets can be bought at Charlotte Quest in the High Street or direct from Tom Bott on 01672 563501. There’s more information on the High Society Orchestra website.
Not content with the complexities of organising these four concerts, Tom is going for gold with a High Society Ball on Sunday, January 18. This will feature his full thirteen piece High Society Orchestra.
As a sure-fire highlight, it will also have a ‘Strictly’ ballroom dance display by Morgan Hemphill and Richard Still who have won the rigorous Ten Dance Championships no less than six times. They should prove a major attraction for this black-tie-or-ball-gown event.
The 7.30pm to midnight ball will include a charity raffle and silent auction in aid of the Wiltshire Air Ambulance and the Finlay Foundation set-up in memory of the young schoolboy killed by a school bus outside Woodborough school.
There will be canapés served all evening by waitresses – and a complimentary drink on arrival. The food is being provided by Jackamole from Burbage. Jackamole was set up in 2011 by John Handley and Tim West to provide pop-up restaurants around the area.
Tom Bott told Marlborough News Online: “I’m really, really excited about our High Society Ball. Experiencing a live orchestra with a ‘Strictly-style’ display from the UK Ballroom Dance Champions – what a sensational way to start the year!”
Tickets can now also be bought through the Marlborough Box Office website.
Photo of Morgan Hemphill & Richard Still is the copright of Lee Rushton of Added Flash. Thanks to him for its use.
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