Top Musicians Coming To Guildford For International Festival

Published on: 6 Feb, 2015
Updated on: 6 Feb, 2015

Everyone has the rare opportunity of seeing some of the world’s best musicians at the Guildford International Music Festival taking place in March.

Now in its 13th year, the festival, presented by the University of Surrey, will take place over 10 days with each performance taking place in different venues across Guildford.

Tenebrae.

Catering for all tastes and ages, the highlights of the festival include internationally renowned choir Tenebrae, who have received rave reviews from the New York Times and the Evening Standard, performing at Holy Trinity Church to open the Festival on Friday, March 13.

Mugenkyo.

The Mugenkyo Taiko Drummers will be performing the Japanese art of thundering rhythms on huge taiko drums at the Electric Theatre on Thursday, March 19, and an evening celebrating the Great American Songbook at Loseley Park on Friday, March 20, with critically acclaimed singer Claire Martin OBE and one of the world’s finest pianists, Joe Stilgoe.

To celebrate Guildford Guitar Day on Saturday, March 14, events will be taking place on the university’s campus, including a number of concerts and talks.

Mark Lewney.

The Boileroom will also host an event looking at the physics of rock, featuring Famelab winner Mark Lewney, ideal for anyone studying GCSE physics and above. There will also be some busking in the town centre to entertain shoppers.

The 150th anniversary of the publication of Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland falls on the final weekend of the festival and will be marked through a number of events including a storytelling workshop, a Lewis Carroll walk celebrating the life and times of the Rev’d Charles Lutwidge Dodgson – better known as Lewis Carroll – and his connections with Guildford and the surrounding area.

There will also be a ‘Wonderland’ family concert on Saturday, March 21, featuring music written by 12 leading composers, including Elvis Costello and Mark Anthony Turnage, which has been inspired by chapters of the book.

The pieces will be performed in order, telling the narrative through music, and will be interspersed with readings. The performance will take place in St Mary’s Church, where the Rev’d Dodgson preached.

For full listings and to book tickets, visit: http://www.surrey.ac.uk/arts/festivals/guildford-international-music-festival