Booking is now open for Wiltshire Music Centre’s Community Concert which will take place from 12pm to 4pm on Saturday, September 26.

The free-to-attend concert will celebrate the musical community at WMC, featuring performances by many of the local ensembles and groups who regularly rehearse and perform there, including Wiltshire Young Musicians, the Zone Club and many more, plus a special performance by sensational West-Country folk duo, the Carrivick Sisters.

Taking place on the back lawn of the Centre with allocated areas for families to picnic in a socially distanced way, the event is the perfect way to enjoy live music in the last of the summer sunshine. For many of the musicians, this will be the first live performance for many months and will celebrate both their return to music-making and the important role WMC plays in the creative community of Wiltshire.

“We have been anticipating this moment for months. There have been many sleepless nights wondering when and even if we might get back to sharing live music together again here at WMC.

“So we couldn’t be more delighted that this moment has arrived and it is completely fitting that we celebrate our return to live events with the young musicians and local ensembles who are the beating heart of the Centre,” said James Slater, Artistic Director at Wiltshire Music Centre.

Any donation received on the day will be in aid of the Centre’s Community Fundraising Appeal, which aims to raise £60,000 to enable its reopening and ambitious community engagement programme.

Through its work as a community centre, concert hall and creative learning hub, Wiltshire Music Centre supports the wellbeing of over 65,000 a year.

So far, almost £40,000 has been received towards the Appeal, including match-funding of £10,000 from the Medlock Charitable Trust.

The full concert line-up includes an exciting mix of classical, jazz and folk performances by local ensembles of all ages and abilities.

Providing group performance opportunities for young players at beginner and intermediate stages, the Wiltshire Young Musicians have called WMC home since the Centre opened 23 years ago.

WMC’s Wiltshire Jazz Academy was launched during lockdown in partnership with the National Youth Jazz Orchestra (NYJO).

During lockdown, virtual monthly sessions with Mike Daniels and NYJO tutors have provided an opportunity for players to develop their technique and improvisation skills, and learn more about the world of jazz music.

Also taking to the stage will be members of Zone Club, WMC’s award-winning monthly creative group for young learning-disabled adults. The ‘Clubbers’ meet monthly to create their own music, lyrics, dance and films and will be performing songs written during virtual sessions live for the first time.

Several of the groups that use the rehearsal space at the Centre will also be performing. There will be a swinging set by Jazz Factory, which offers members a chance to play and sing all styles of jazz in rehearsals and performances at WMC. Local musicians Mike Daniels and Felicity Courage will also bring groups to perform. The Cantamus Chamber Choir, run by Mike, regularly performs a wide range of chamber music and occasionally larger works often with other local and national groups.

Mike will also bring his Brass Quintet which was formed to perform concerts for toddlers and now entertains listeners of all ages across Bath and Wiltshire.

Meanwhile, Felicity Courage will bring together her singing students to perform solos and in small groups.

“It’s absolutely marvellous to be singing together at WMC after 6 months in. We’ve been rehearsing in much reduced numbers and socially distanced - but it feels super!

We’re really looking forward to our first post-lockdown performance at the Community Concert.” Mike Daniels, Director of the Cantamus Chamber Choir

The Concert’s energetic finale performance will come from local folk stars The Carrivick Sisters who are one of the UK's top young bluegrass and folk acts.

Twins Laura and Charlotte perform their original songs and instrumentals along with a few carefully chosen covers on guitar, mandolin, fiddle, dobro, and clawhammer banjo.

Having grown up in South Devon, the duo are known for their entertaining live performances and tight vocal harmonies, and have previously run Sunday Folk sessions for young players at the Centre.

To find out more about the event and book free tickets, visit:

https://www.wiltshiremusic.org.uk/whats-on/wmccommunityconcert