The Marlborough area is soon to be presented with a new, exciting and prestigious festival that will be happening in one month from now. The White Horse Festival. Running between 2nd and 5th October it’s the brainchild of Julia Hudson and Hilary Davan Wetton (both of Military Wives Choirs fame). Hilary is one of the UK’s most versatile and dynamic conductors whilst Julia, who has extensive arts management experience across the sector grew up here – it’s her home. And the new festival sets out to bring top class musical performance and much more to this area using a range of superb and suited venues for the musical, educational, environmental and culinary features on offer.
The White Horse Festival will be presenting something for everyone. Turning classical music on its head and working with artists of all kinds including Michelin-starred Chef James Graham, trumpeter Crispian Steele-Perkins, soprano Hilary Cronin and tenor Michael Lafferty, Jo Harrop and her band, David Homer for farming, the environment and folk music, and much more. Details of what’s on, where, and how to secure tickets can be accessed by clicking here.
At the core of the Festival runs a theme of nature. Celebrating the beautiful natural landscapes and rural ecosystems around us and complementing our musical experiences. That is exemplified by the range of venues being used such as the newly and beautifully restored Wick Bottom Barn in Rockley, the Ridgeway Barns between Aldbourne and Liddington, Warren Farm in Savernake and in Ramsbury The Bell and the Village Hall. And of course St Mary’s in Great Bedwyn and Eastmanton House in Sparsholt. The White Horse Festival covers the Marlborough area.
Founded by Julia Hudson with Artistic Director Hilary Davan Wetton the Festival is a registered charity setting out to bring innovative, fresh programming to more rural communities outside of London.
The Board of Trustees have long-standing connections through music. Hilary, Julia and Trustee Richard Stringfellow were involved with the Military Wives Choirs, a charity connecting 2000 women with a military connection through singing, and their last project involved the release of ‘November Sunday’, a single to celebrate HM The King’s birthday, written by White Horse Festival Trustee John McLaren. Meanwhile, Trustee Eliza Thompson is a composer, director and music consultant who runs a choir with Julia, while Trustee David Empson was taught and inspired by Hilary at school. All these connections have the same thing at their heart; the power of music to bring people together, build communities and increase wellbeing. This is never more needed than in rural communities in this day and age, and this is at the heart of the White Horse Festival’s mission.
The inaugural White Horse Festival features seven gorgeous local venues, some noted above. Venues such as the Ramsbury Memorial Hall – for live children’s sessions, The Bell at Ramsbury – for a fine dining, opera and wine themed evening with soprano Hilary Cronin and tenor Michael Lafferty, the Ridgeway Barns featuring jazz artist Jo Harrop and her band and more. Artists performing include star South Korean pianist Seonghyeon Leem flying from Leipzig to make her UK solo debut at Wick Bottom Barn in Rockley, trumpeter Crispian Steele-Perkins alongside Hilary Davan Wetton in St Mary’s, Great Bedwyn. Plenty of rich performances, for all.
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