HOLYWOOD MUSIC FESTIVAL SYLLABUS LAUNCH and SIGNING CHOIR WORKSHOP

Saturday 4^th of June was an exciting day in the Holywood Music Festival calendar of events!

The launch of this year’s syllabus took place alongside the Festival’s first ever Signing Choir workshop in the Parish Centre on Church Road in Holywood.

The Festival President, Michael Alexander, unveiled some innovative additions to this year’s Festival which will take place 11-19 November in the Queen’s Hall, Holywood.

As well as introducing a new performance class, the Katy Major Trophy and cash prize, Holywood Music Festival will be the first in the UK to include a class for Signing Choirs!

The Workshop on Saturday was run with the generous support of North Down Borough Council and was enjoyed thoroughly by all participants.

Lady Sylvia Hermon, Councillor James McKerrow, North Down Mayor and Councillor Larry Thompson thoroughly enjoyed observing the workshop being given by Dr Paul Whittaker who flew in from Manchester for the day. Dr Whittaker is the Founder of “Music and the Deaf”, a talented sign performer, a graduate of Wadham College, Oxford and Post Graduate of the Royal Northern College of Music . He is frequently invited to give signing workshops, talks and keynote speeches across the UK and Europe. He is keen to emphasise that his workshops are for both deaf and hearing equally.

Dr Whittaker will return in November to adjudicate the Festival’s new Signing Choir Class. The Festival wants to encourage as many entries for this year’s competition as possible, not only for the new classes, but for all the many choral, instrumental, vocal, traditional and music theatre sections.

For further information on Holywood Music Festival please visit the website; www.holywoodmusicfestival.com or Email contactus@holywoodmusicfestival.com

Or contact Linda Alexander on 07545808171