By Ginette Eady, Musica Kirklees Area Manager - Holme Valley:
Every year Holmfirth Festival of Folk brings musicians and dancers together from around the country for a weekend of music and merriment - this year's festival didn't disappoint!
Pupils from schools around the valley had been practising with their teachers for the Schools' Concert, held at Holmfirth Civic Hall on Saturday. It featured a brass group from Netherthong, a String Group from Holme, Recorders from Hepworth, and groups from Musica Holme Valley as well as guitarists and musicians from Holmfirth High and Honley High. The concert, which played out to capacity audience, concluded with a new work based on the the story of SF Said's Varjak Paw giving instrumentalists (aged 6-18 from twelve different schools) the opportunity of working together with the choir from Holmfirth Junior in a unique and truly outstanding performance. It really was very special!
Drummers and percussionists had a wonderful family Samba workshop led by Katie Mallard (Honley Samba Band) and Phil Needham (Musica Holme Valley African Drummers). Drumming featured highly at this year's festival with several performances throughout the day from the Honley Samba Band and the Musica Holme Valley African Drummers. It was great to see them performing in the parade too which was a colourful feast for the eyes and ears.
There was an absolutely fabulous turnout for the Intergenerational Ukulele Jamboree too. So good to see our Friends from Beaumont Park, and other community ukulele groups performing with school children from Holme, Hinchliffe Mill, Meltham CE, Netherthong, as well as Musica Holme Valley, of course! Hollowgate was once again brought to a standstill by the incredible strumming and singing which is so much fun and just gets bigger and better every year.
Thanks to all involved. See you again next year!!
Watch the Ukulele Jamboree's performance of 'The Lion Sleeps Tonight' here:
