The Bear Pit : music

Rudolf Kempe Society

The Rudolf Kempe Society was founded in 1980 by English musicians in memory of the great German conductor. Under the Artistic Directorship of his widow, Cordula Kemp, and with the encouragement of many eminent fellow artists - has for nearly 30 years supported young musicians through master classes and workshops. Public performances take place both in Stratford-upon-Avon and Germany throughout the year.

For further information visit: www.rudolfkempesociety.org
Or email: cordulakempe@btinternet.com

Stratford Concert Band

Formed in 1977 the Stratford Concert Band is the principal community band of the town’s Wind Bands Association (SAWBA). They are an established concert band of some thirty-five players with activities centred on the town and the surrounding villages with a range of formal concerts and outdoor appearances. They support both fundraising by local charities and civic occasions throughout the year including the Shakespeare Birthday celebrations.

For further information visit: www.stratfordconcertband.org.uk
Or contact June Farrow: 01789 266124

Stratford Music Centre

Stratford Music Centre is the largest independent Music Centre in South Warwickshire, serving Stratford-on-Avon and the surrounding area, facilitating the provision of individual lessons and group activities for students of all ages. We aim to provide a quality professional service and to encourage students of all ages to learn, enjoy and appreciate different types of music, dance and drama.

For further information visit: www.stratfordmusiccentre.org.uk
Or call: 01789 263620 or 01789 266245 ext 3204

Stratford Symphony Orchestra

The Stratford-upon-Avon Symphony Orchestra was founded over forty years ago. Its size and standards have made steady progress; there are currently nearly sixty playing members. Programmes consist of a wide variety of well-known (and some less well-known), tuneful music ranging from the 17th to the 20th century. Solo works have featured members of the string, woodwind and brass sections.

For further information visit: www.stratfordsymphony.org.uk
Or contact: Andrew Swinn (Conductor): 01789 763954
Or Diana Lucas (Leader): 01386 853125

Stratford on Avon Music Festival

The Stratford on Avon Music Festival is an annual autumn event funded by the Stratford-upon-Avon Town Trust and Arts Council England with additional contributions from sponsors, trusts and other supporters. Each year the Stratford on Avon Music Festival includes a lively education programme featuring many of the artists performing at the Festival.

For further information contact: 01789 207100
Or visit: www.stratfordmusicfestival.com

Stratford Chamber Music Society

For more than forty seasons, the Stratford-upon-Avon Chamber Music Society has been promoting fully professional concerts monthly between October and March. Members of the Society are eligible for a considerable reduction on the entry charge for separate concerts, but visitors are welcome to attend single concerts if they wish.

The concerts are held in the specially-designed music room at the Shakespeare Institute, or Mason Croft as it was originally called, which provides a sympathetic acoustic, ideal for smaller groups, and performers have many times commented favourably on it. Tea and coffee are available in the interval, and the atmosphere is informal and welcoming. There are very favourable reductions for students. Come along and try us !

For further information visit: www.stratfordchambermusic.co.uk

Stratford Chamber Choir

The Stratford Chamber Choir was founded in 1993 and has established itself as the leading small choir in the area. In addition to arranging its own concerts and services of choral evensong, the choir has frequently been invited to sing by other organisations and charities. It has regularly performed in the Stratford Music Festival. In 1996 the choir was particularly honoured to be invited to sing for HM The Queen on the occasion of her visit to Stratford for the 800th anniversary celebrations.

Away from the town the choir has led services in Beverley Minster, Tewkesbury Abbey, Wells, Gloucester, Lincoln, Worcester, Norwich, Lichfield and Winchester Cathedrals, York Minster, Queens’ College Cambridge and several times in Westminster Abbey.

For further information visit www.chamberchoir.org.uk

Stratford upon Avon Art Society
The Society has a membership of 280 and is still growing! There are regular lectures and demonstrations and the Society likes to visit London several times throughout the year. The Society also holds an Annual Exhibition for three weeks in August. We meet every second Thursday in the month at 7.30pm (except August.) Meetings are held in St Andrews Parish Centre, Shottery. For further information : Telephone Mrs Pauline Bamber on: 01386 870821  Studio Art Club Members are free to work in any medium. Demonstrations and talks are held on the third Thursday of each month except April, July and December at 7.30 p.m. in St Andrew's Church Hall, Church Lane Shottery.

We hold our Annual Exhibition and Sale at Easter in Refectory of King Edward's School,Chapel Lane, Stratford for around 10 days. Regular meetings are held in Luddington Village Hall, Luddington Village. Contact: Mr Peter Rafferty (Membership Secretary) on: 01926 842568.

Visual Arts Forum
Visual Arts was set up to raise the profile of the extent of local visual arts talent in a community that has been starved of exposure to this aspect of the arts and to develop new audiences and greater understanding of what we visual artists have to offer. To this end Visual Arts has staged 5 exhibitions, offering 70 exhibition days in total over the past two years. These have been staged in a variety of venues attracting many people who have not previously had much access to visual arts. In addition Visual Arts has run a range of workshops for local people to get involved and has established a very attractive web site which has the potential to reach an even wider audience. For further information please visit: www.visula-arts-stratford.co.uk

CRAFTS Hathaway Quilters was formed in April 1993. We are a thriving and friendly group of about 30 enthusiastic members. Over the years we have made group quilts for Stratford Hospice, the Linus Project (providing quilts for sick and terminally ill children), quilts for orphaned children in Romania, miniature quilts for a special baby unit and lap quilts for a residential home.We aim for a varied programme which includes speakers, practical demonstrations and workshops. Most months there is a sit and sew which provides an opportunity to exchange ideas, share knowledge, seek advice and to solve any problems. This also provides an opportunity to show current projects. We have a vast amount of knowledge and experience, if you have a problem there is always someone who can help or at least guide you to where help can be found. We meet at the Methodist Church Hall Annexe Old Town, Stratford upon Avon on the first and third Wednesday of the month, apart from December and January when we only meet once. Meetings are held from 7.30 to 9.30, and a warm welcome is given to new members and visitors. Contact: hathawayquilters@hotmail.co.uk

HEART OF ENGLAND WOODTURNERS
The aim of the group is to build on the woodturner's skills and provide a local forum for the interchange of ideas and the development of the abilities of woodturners at all levels. Meetings are held nine Fridays at 7.30 pm plus two all day Saturday sessions at the Scout Hut, Tiddington, Stratford upon Avon. Please telephone for details of dates. For further information contact: Mr Bob Harris (Secretary) Telephone: 01564 702463 or email: goldbar@uwclub.net