Arts in the Valley festival another laudable success
1 Jun 11
The weekend of fine music, augmented by the garden sculpture exhibition and the show-casing of local food products got off to an encouraging start when after more than a week of rain, the Valley put on the best of autumn weather.
The festival had an unexpected and welcome introduction on Friday evening with the announcement of the Don Banks Music Prize to Belinda Webster, the festival’s Artistic Director, who received $60,000 for the award.
The award was made for her outstanding contribution to the Australian music scene. Congratulations Belinda, you are indeed in esteemed company, including that of fellow Kangaroo Valley resident Martin Wesley- Smith.
What other community the size of Kangaroo Valley can boast two recipients of this major national music award?
It should also be noted here that the 2009 Arts in the Valley Festival was one of four national finalists for “best regional music event “ in the APRA/AMCOS annual awards.
This category was won by Four Winds which hosts an annual classical musical event each Easter in Bermagui.
Following this award ceremony at Jing Jos, the program of concerts began in the Valley Hall with a virtuoso performance by pianist Ian Munro and violinist Wilma Smith who was a last minute replacement for John Harding who had to pull out as he was suffering from the musical equivalent of tennis elbow.
To be able to secure someone of Wilma’s calibre and reputation at such short notice just shows how influential Belinda is in Australia’s classical music scene.
The opening concert was succeeded by nine others, not only in the Hall but also in private homes around the Valley.
Seven of the concerts were sold out before the Festival commenced. The concerts in private homes were a really popular choice for music lovers with Barrengarry House, Cedar Grove and Villa Music being choice venues for both patrons and performers alike.
Thank you to the owners of these houses for opening them up in such wonderful style.
The award winning Crystal Creek Meadows hosted the Garden Sculpture Exhibition.
The garden was beautifully prepared and was a wonderful setting for the display of the 52 sculptures that were submitted for show.
In addition to the sculptures, Chris Warren had set up a walk around the grounds to highlight the improvements he and Sophie had undertaken and how environmentally friendly the property is.
Chris also gave talks on environmental gardening and Michael Bligh, a well known landscape architect from Goulburn gave most interesting talks on his experiences.
A coffee station (bottom right)and a garden raffle were also part of the attractions.
Thank you very much Chris and Sophie for opening your garden up to so many visitors.
The festival office was located outside the Red and White Servo in the centre of the village. Local produce was sourced, packaged and superbly presented on the stall by Toni Moran, Denise Wright and Larraine Hahlos.
Our Village and its surrounds produced some very appealing gourmet delights.
We are indebted to Bill Lawson for allowing us to use his forecourt for the festival.
A unique feature of the festival was our patron, Peter Thompson, interviewing cellist David Pereira, using Peter’s distinctive “Talking Heads” format.
It certainly gets the interviewees to open up and it was a great experience to be part of the audience for this intimate interview.
Of course the Festival would never have been the apparent seamless, smooth event it was without the generosity and tireless work of the small army of volunteers who contributed so much to put the show on the road.
Thank you one and all.
Festival 2013 here we come!
Kathy Harrington