| DATE | EVENT | TIME | VENUE |
| Thursday 14th | The Brass Volcanoes – walk with them as they play enroute to the Kingsway Hall for the concert. | 6.30pm | The Bandstand |
| “ | The Brass Volcanoes – a band inspired by the New Orleans brass band tradition but also incorporating influences from many other cultures and genres – Jamaican, Eastern European, Funk, Latin, Gospel, Jazz. This is all tied together with a sense of humour and fun giving the band their own unique sound. Sousaphone player put the Brass Volcanoes together in 2007, surrounding himself with a collection of highly versatile jazz musicians who could take a melody and turn it into an arrangement on the spot. The band is about spontaneity, energy, interaction and fun, and their repertoire is ever evolving. Tonight’s concert will feature a selection of songs from their current repertoire. | 7.30pm | Kingsway Hall |
| Friday 15th | The Cremona Piano Trio – One of our favourite performers from recent festivals, John Paul Ekins is back with his new piano trio playing a lovely programme of warm-hearted chamber music from the 19th century and an exciting recent piece by Nicholas Bacri which, as its name suggests alternates a peaceful lyricism with a sense of torment and vehemence, | 1.00pm | St Nicholas Church |
| “ | Meet the Performers – The Cremona Piano Trio | 2.00pm | The Alma Inn |
| “ | Ulrika Eleonora Kyrkokor – The Scandinavian countries are true lands of song, and Sweden is no exception. With excellebt choirs and tradition of heart-breakingly beautiful folk melodies, an evening in the company of some of its musicians will be an unforgettable experience. Tonight we give a warm welcome to the Ulrika Eleonaora Kyrkoker. This choir, based at the Swedish Church in London will sing an enticing mix of pieces by living composers interspersed with Swedish folk songs. There will also be some traditional Swedish refreshments for you to enjoy. | 7.30pm | St Nicholas Church |
| Saturday 16th | Essex Symphony Orchestra – From Finland, the land of snow, silver birch trees and dramatic Northern Lights comes Sibelius, one of music’s most original and distinctive composers. His second symphony with its beautiful stirring theme in the last movement is one of the best-loved orchestral works. Performed here with his ‘Valse Triste’ and music from Tchaikovsky’s ever popular ‘Swan Lake, this concert will be a very special experience. | 7.30pm | St Nicholas Church |
| Sunday 17th | Colchester Chamber Choir – A programme of beautiful German sacred music staring with the majestic and rousing motet by Bach – ‘Lobet den Herrn’ and ending with two pieces by another much-loved composer, Johannes Brahms. Along the way we’ll hear works by Wolf, Reger, Schein and Mendelssohn – less well-known perhaps, but wonderful pieces full of colour and emotion. Only 2 years old, the Colchester Chamber Choir has already forged a reputation for performances of unusual quality, musicality, drama and imagination. These musicians were a great success at their concert in St Nicholas in March this year and it is with great pleasure that we welcome them back tonight with their conductor, the Festival President, Roderick Earle. | 7.00pm | St Nicholas Church |
| Monday 18th | Richard Fallas and Philip Mead – An outpouring of continuous melody from Romantic musical giants Brahms and Verdi. Songs and piano pieces by Brahms together with magnificent arias from Verdi’s Don Carlo and Simon Boccannegra track a journey from love, light and joy, through loss, darkness and despair, to affirmation, faith, hope and love. | 1.00pm | St Nicholas Church |
| “ | Meet the Performers – Richard Fallas and Philip Mead | 2.00pm | The Alma Inn |
| “ | Festival Folk Club – A variety of acts including Burning Glass, Harwich Shanty Crew and Twisted String Theory. | 9.00pm | The Alma Inn |
| Tuesday 19th | Allen/Pells Guitar Duo – A fascinating recital of three contrasting works for two guitars. The music of the Brazilian guitarist Celso Machado is characterised by a vigorous rhythm and sudden changes of mood and texture, whilst the illustrious jazz pianist Chick Corea’s ‘Childrens Songs’ are full of simple sounds and succinct musical ideas. In his ‘Suite for Guitar Duo’ Vincent Lindsay-Clark plays with Impressionistic textures and harmonies, a fresh and unusual technique in the modern guitar repertoire. | 1.00pm | St Nicholas Church |
| “ | Meet the Performers – Allen/Pells Guitar Duo | 2.00pm | The Alma Inn |
| “ | Oboe and Electronics – Not just new music but a new instrument! Chris has developed a radical new oboe designed specifically for the performance of 21st century repertoire. This will be the first complete recital on the new instrument. Central to the recital is a new work by Richard Barrett commissioned by Redgate (with funding from the AHRC) for the new instrument. This edgy new work explores many aspects of the new instrument and is driven by a powerful extreme virtuosity. No technical stone is left unturned as Barrett puts the new instrument and the performer through their paces as he explores new and uncharted territories. Music by some of the other most exciting composers working today completes the programme. Outrageous, action-packed pieces, this concert must not be missed. | 6.00pm | LV18 Lightship |
| “ | Captain Noah and his floating Zoo – The combined schools of Harwich. Enjoy the dynamic singing of around 150 local children representing: All Saints, Chase Lane, Harwich Community, Harwich Senior, Mayflower, St. Josephs, Spring Meadows & Two Village schools as they join together for a staged performance of ‘Captain Noah and His Floating Zoo’, a cantata written by Michael Flanders and Joseph Horovitz. As the title suggests the musical tells the Old Testament story of Noah and the flood through song, using the witty lyrics of Michael Flanders and superb music of Joseph Horovitz tied into our own narration and drama. It promises to be quite a colourful spectacle. The songs have been put together by all the schools music coordinators under the musical direction of Antony Sanders and John Morgan. Trudi Swettenham and James Martin are leading the musicians with the drama again coordinated by individual schools under the overall direction of Suszan Rudland. | 7.30pm | St Nicholas Church |
| Wednesday 20th | Jane Manning and Stace Constantinou – ‘Philomel’. We are proud to welcome internationally-renowned soprano Jane Manning to Harwich. Jane is passionate about the music of our own time in all its colourful and rich diversity, and many of our greatest composers have written works especially for her. Milton Babbitt’s ‘Philomel’ is one such piece. It is based on a grisly Greek legend. Philomel, having had her tongue cut out, wanders into the forest and listens to the birds, gradually regaining her voice as a nightingale. The evocative sounds of birds and jungle noise on the tape creates a magical sound-world. An amusing ‘opera’ for a single performer by Judith Weir and an atmospheric new work by Stace Constantinou completes this recital. | 1.00pm | St Nicholas Church |
| “ | Meet the Performers – Jane Manning and Stace Constantinou | 2.00pm | The Alma Inn |
| Thursday 21st | John Paul Ekins – Solo Piano Recital. A second chance to hear this talented young musician in the Festival, this time as a solo performer. | 1.00pm | St Nicholas Church |
| “ | Meet the Performer – John Paul Ekins | 2.00pm | The Alma Inn |
| “ | Folk Concert – Vicki Swan and Jonny Dyer are taking the folk world by storm. With their impressive skills on Scottish smallpipes, accordion, guitar, flute, double bass and Swedish nyckelharpa, they are establishing themselves as one of the best duos around on the international folk scene today. As songwriters they effortlessly blend their self-penned songs with British traditional music, music with a Swedish influence, and completely original tunes that are entirely at home in the tradition, all leading to a sound that is both familiar and fresh. | 7.30 | Kingsway Hall |
| Friday 22nd | Potiphar’s Apprentices – This lively folk group have based their recital on their show ‘ Return to Ingrave’, which tells the story of the composer Ralph Vaughan Williams’ visit to Ingrave in Essex, the folksongs he collected there and the singers he met. The group takes its name from the first of these, Charles Potiphar. Prepare to be transported back to another age as you enjoy these songs which are so rich in poetry, drama and humour. | 1.00pm | St Nicholas Church |
| “ | Meet the Performers – Potiphar’s Apprentices | 2.00pm | The Alma Inn |
| “ | British Legion Band – The town’s ever-popular Harwich Royal British Legion Brass Band under the musical direction of Antony Sanders will present their usual varied & entertaining mix of music, ranging from traditional brass band items, solo features, classical as well as popular & swing music, maybe even a sing-a-long or two for good measure. This year the ever increasing audience will be treated to a performance of the famous Haydn Trumpet Concerto, performed by the band’s own fifteen-year-old soloist Peter Gibson. Also included in the programme will be ‘Olympus’, an original work for brass band by well-known composer Philip Harper, written especially for this year’s third section Regional championships of Great Britain. It depicts elements of the Ancient Greek Olympic Games including the exciting chariot racing. | 7.30pm | St Nicholas Church |
| Saturday 23rd | David Titterington – One of the most exciting and internationally-respected organists working today, David Titterington consistently attracts outstanding reviews. Of a recent performance one critic wrote…’a performance of spellbinding authority…of staggering intensity and brilliance.’ | 1.00pm | St Nicholas Church |
| “ | Meet the Performer – David Titterington | 2.00pm | The Alma Inn |
| “ | Essential Sounds – The Essential Sounds Swing/Big Band was formed in October 2010 and boasts a full big band line up of trumpets, saxophones, trombones and rhythm section together with experienced vocalists who perform a wide range of music from the 1930’s right up to the present day, featuring songs by Frank Sinatra, Michael Bublé and many others. Whether it’s the Pink Panther theme that gets you going, the theme from Cagney and Lacey, or perennial favourite ‘ In the mood’, the band are confident that, under the expert leadership of Frank Watson they can guarantee you a great Saturday night out! | 7.30pm | St Nicholas Church |
| Sunday 24th | Final Concert – DOVERCOURT CHORAL SOCIETY & WITHAM CHORAL SOCIETY with singers from COLCHESTER AND IPSWICH BACH CHOIRS; COLCHESTER BACH ORCHESTRA LEADER – Peter Ivey; CONDUCTOR – Patrick McCarthy; SOLOISTS – James Mather – violin, Lindsay Gowers – soprano Elaine Henson – mezzo-soprano, John Upperton – tenor, Richard Fallas – bass. There is nothing quite like the sound of a large choir with glittering trumpets and dark, rhythmic drums to stir the soul! This year’s Harwich Festival concludes with a concert, packed with baroque and classical favourites, plus a Bach concerto. Music of unfathomable beauty and drama is brought to life by the Dovercourt Choral Society and a splendid team of vocal soloists and other choristers from Essex and Suffolk. | 7.00pm | St Nicholas Church |