Ryedale Festival 16th July to 1st August

World Class Music on our Doorstep!

          Ryedale Festival, now 10 years young has a programme of varied events in venues all round Ryedale, with a theme of voyages and homecomings. Pickering has a share of the events – on Tuesday 20th at 10am we can listen in to a rehearsal of the Fitzwilliam Quartet, for free, in the Parish Church. Wednesday 21st at  8.00pm “A history of Ragtime”, with Helen Crayford on the piano, with entertaining stories of how Ragtime became the early Jazz. On Friday 30th is a Schumann Day in the Parish Church – piano recital at 11am, Fitzwilliam Quartet at 3.00pm and 7.30pm.

          There is always something new in the Festival and the Community Opera (musical) is performing a new work, “Homer`s Odyessy”. This gives young people of all ages, a chance to perform and others to make the scenery, costumes and the music and is led by Em Whitfields and Tim Brooks. It will be held on 16th July at 6pm and 17th July at 5pm, in St Peters' Church in Norton. North Tyneside Steel Band will play at Ryedale Show(11am) and in Malton Market Place(3pm) on July 27th. Regular features include short Coffee Concerts in different towns and villages, as well as evening concerts in venues such as Sledmere House, Castle Howard  and Hovingham.

          Artists will also be playing short and informal concerts in residential homes and community venues. Inquiries - to Kate Rangeley rfto@aol.com

Festival Brochures listing the 49 events are available in the Library, Memorial Hall, Tourist Information and many venues in the town. A booking form is included – main booking is by post.

Ryedale Festival Box Office at Memorial Hall, 475777 or email: tickets@ryedalefestival.co.uk

Judy Dixon.