Violinist Rita Manning.

Boyne music festival next week

Some of the world’s finest singers, musicians and visual artists are performing in the third annual Boyne Music Festival, a showcase for international chamber music, poetry and song, running from 6th to 9th of August in Townley Hall.
Artists of international acclaim including Irish star mezzo Tara Erraught, jazz legend John Serman, tenor Micheal Spyres, cellist William Butt and violinist Rita Manning will present six diverse and intimate concerts, alongside a wide range of other inspiring events.
Among the concerts are four exciting evening programmes. The Thursday, Friday and Sunday evening concerts feature classical chamber music and vocal works including masterpieces by Tchaikovsky, Beethoven and Mozart. Saturday’s evening concert explores the music of renowned jazz saxophonist John Surman. Education is a central tenant of the Boyne Music Festival and Friday morning gives the public a rare chance to observe how performances are rehearsed and refined as BMF artists give a masterclass to talented 'Young Associated Artists’. These same young artists will be presented in a showcase concert on Sunday afternoon. For children between the ages of six and 12, Saturday features a creative musical workshop which includes both composition and performance.
Following this workshop will be a playful family concert based on the theme of fairytales, a programme designed to delight both young and old.
The festival invites the public to participate in a wide range of other exciting events, including tours of the historic Townley Hall, built in 1799 by Francis Johnston, an art exhibition curated by The Molesworth Gallery, one of Ireland’s leading contemporary art galleries, and a poetry reading by Irish poet Billy Ramsell.
Tickets to all individual events as well as weekend passes may be purchased online at www.boynemusicfestival.com or by calling (087) 439 6040. More information on the festival, including artist biographies, concert details and directions to Townley Hall, is available at www.boynemusicfestival.com.