Since revealing that the much-loved Grand Easter Parade was to return for 2012, Festival fans have been eagerly awaiting confirmation of the line-up for the rest of this year’s Harrogate International Youth Festival; and now the wait is over.
Organisers have confirmed groups from Canada, Poland, Singapore and Germany as well as a host of local talent, and with tickets now available form Harrogate Theatre Box Office, it has never been easier to get involved.
- St Aelred’s Irish Dance Group
Here is how the 2012 event is shaping up:
Saturday 7th April: Grand Easter Parade – 11.00am, Harrogate Town Centre. Local groups join forces with international visitors to resurrect this fantastic Festival opener.
Saturday 7th April: Grand Opening Concert – 7.00pm, The Royal Hall. Wetaskiwin Concert Winds, Crescent Heights Senior Band, St Aelred’s Irish Dance Group, St Mary’s Wind Orchestra, Jugendkapelle Rangendingen, Guzheng Ensemble, Vale of Atholl Pipe Band, Leeds Silver Sparrows, Katrina Hughes School of Dance and Performing Arts and St Aidan’s Combined Winds.
Sunday 8th April: Community concerts at Harewood House, Fountains Abbey and Newby Hall.
Harewood House: 3.00pm-4.00pm – St Mary’s High School Ensemble
Fountains Abbey: 2.00pm-2.30pm – St Aelred’s Irish Dance Group & 3.00pm-4.00pm – Crescent Heights Senior Band.
Newby Hall: 2.30pm-3.30pm – Jugendkapelle Rangendingen
Sunday 8th April: Jazz and Big Band Evening – 7.00pm, The Crown Hotel. Featuring; Wetaskiwin Jazz Cats, Wetaskiwin The Wong Big Band, St Mary’s Jazz Band, St John Fisher Swing Band, Ripon Grammar Jazz Band, Harrogate High Jazz and St Aidan’s Swing Band.
Monday 9th April: Community concerts at Harewood House and Fountains Abbey.
Harewood House: 2.30pm-3.00pm – St Aelred’s Irish Dance Group
Fountains Abbey: 2.00pm-3.00pm – Wetaskiwin Ensembles & 3.00pm-4.00pm – St Mary’s Ensembles
Monday 9th April: Tewit and Friends’ Tea Concert (Matinee) – 2.30pm. Featuring Tewit Youth Band, Jugendkapelle Rangendingen and Guzheng Ensemble.
Tuesday 10th April: An Evening of Choral Music at Ripon Cathedral – 7.30pm. Featuring Wetaskiwin Concert Voices, Wetaskiwin Chamber Choir, St Mary’s Concert Choir, Camerata Scholarum, Guzheng Ensemble, St Aidan’s Chamber Choir, St Aidan’s Symphony Orchestra, Trombone Quartet, Massed Choir and Orchestra and Crescent Heights Senior Band.
Wednesday 11th April: Grand Finale Concert 7.00pm, The Royal Hall. A celebration of the Festival where participants come together in a series of incredible performances to celebrate international youth performing talent in one of the region’s finest venues.
The Box Office is now open and tickets can be purchased through Harrogate Theatre’s Box Office located on Oxford Street, via 01423 502116, securely online at www.harrogatetheatre.co.uk or by emailing boxoffice@harrogatetheatre.co.uk.
Excitement for the 2012 event is palpable as people prepare to welcome back the parade and enjoy over 500 performers from near and far.
- St Mary’s Concert Choir
Councillor Caroline Bayliss commented:
I am absolutely delighted that our Harrogate International Youth Festival Easter Parade is back. It is a traditional delight of the town’s Easter period. Many, many thanks to the Knaresborough Lions and the Rotary Club of Harrogate for their support in making it possible once again.
I hope to see lots of people out supporting it with Easter hats in tow!
Festival alumni Paul Sweet from Wetaskiwin High School in Canada came as a student and performer to the Festival in 1973 and has since returned on numerous occasions as a Musical Director.
Paul Sweet said:
I have thoroughly enjoyed the hospitality of the people and the fabulous opportunity to perform in venues like the Royal Hall and Ripon Cathedral. I love the fact that the Festival is all about sharing music as opposed to being a competitive festival which is most often the case in Canada.
The organisers of the Festival really look after all of needs for each performance, a major feature for music directors. All in all, it is truly a musical, historical and cultural experience that I have not seen equalled anywhere.
For more information please visit www.hiyf.co.uk or call 0844 858 1545.
