A weekend music festival for Wanstead

Photo: Geoff Wilkinson

A new music festival is taking place in Wanstead this weekend – but not the kind with tents and wellies.

It’s a four-day festival at St Mary’s Church on Overton Drive, inspired by the centenary of the installation of the new organ at the church which took place on 27 May 1923.

Organiser Alison Wells, whose day job is as a vocal professor at the Royal College of Music, has put together a programme of four events, including:

  • Friday 26 at 7.30pm
    An acapella vocal quartet, Sonare, singing works by Mendelssohn, Stanford, Elgar and Sullivan and others. Entry £15 on the door.
  • Saturday 27 at 4.30pm
    A talk about the organ by organ builder Michael Brighton followed by a recital by the parish’s seven organists. Entry free.
  • Sunday 28 at 5.30pm
    A concert of instrumental music featuring local musicians Sue FitzGerald and Alison Wells, Jane Miller, Clive Miller and John Garner, and Jonny Fong and Jacqueline Li in a programme including, Brahms, Poulenc, Rutter, Piazzolla and more. Entry £10 on the door.
  • Monday 29 at 12.00pm
    A ukulele workshop led by Martin Wheatley, with a picnic in the grounds. Pre-booking essential via email to alisongwells@me.com

More details are available on the festival programme available here.