After 52 concerts (44 of which were free of charge), and a record breaking 4,000+ visitors, Waterlooville Music Festival is now over for another year. What a great festival it was! The town buzzing on the opening Saturday with Market Place Music and concerts going on every way you turned, then our fabulous dance party in the evening to ‘Contrast’, then there was Bollywood Experience, absolutely breathtaking, stunning colour, costumes, dancing, music and delicious Indian food, and at the end a cram-packed church saw the audience dancing in the aisles to the final number ‘Lets Party’. This followed the next evening by the Band of the Hampshire Constabulary with a magnificent performance greatly enjoyed by a packed audience which included our guests the Mayor and Mayoress of Havant, and the Bishop of Portsmouth. There followed a highly entertaining visit by the choir of Portsmouth Cathedral, then the Nadina String Quartet and Wind Ensemble brought a performance of the very highest quality with a selection of much loved classics. Meanwhile concerts were going on all day, with visiting schools, the stunning voice of Caira O’Connor, Organ Recitals, and workshops, including on the Friday a Ukulele workshop from Ukulele Junction with our lunchtime audience having the opportunity to play the instrument. This was followed in the afternoon by Palm Court Cream Teas with real Cornish cream teas served to the relaxing music of Paul Taylor on the Pianoforte. On the final Saturday lunchtime heavy rain forced the planned outdoor event inside, but this did not deter Bands on the Lawn drawing an audience of around 200 to see the four top local acts, which included the Portsmouth Music Festival 2011 winners Dark White. Then the grand finale, Last Night of the Proms, an awesome performance from the Meridian Wind Band from Southampton, and from their director Don Lloyd, what an amazing atmosphere all culminating in the traditional Jerusalem, Fantasia on British Sea Songs, and then Pomp and Circumstance, truly rousing stuff, the massive church organ belting out the melody but hardly heard above the power of the band and the singing of the guest vocalist. What an evening!

Sorry if you missed it all. Make a point of not missing it next year. If you join the mailing list you will be advised of the 2012 programme when it is announced, and kept posted on when tickets are available at the On-Line box office and on special offers that will be around for early purchasers.

To join the mailing list go to www.stgeorgesnews.org/wmf/mailinglist

Summer Edition 2011

Waterlooville Music Festival