Harrogate was brought to a standstill today when the Harrogate International Youth Festival kicked off with the return of its long-awaited Easter Parade.
Long-term festival supporters, passers-by and tourists wowed at the spectacle as hundreds of Youth Music performers from the region and around the world were paraded through the town. The event delivered a warming nostalgia and real sense of a community turning out to support young talent.
More than a few spectators remarked on how pleased they were to see the return of the Parade, which formed a huge part of Easter weekend for many years.
The march was headed by the incredible and commanding sounds of the Vale of Atholl Pipe Band, a group which has a long standing relationship with this Festival. A real taste of the Festival was on offer with local groups including Tewit Youth Band walking alongside international guests from Singapore, Germany and Canada.
The Parade was an exciting pre-cursor to the Grand Opening concert which takes place at the Royal Hall this evening and is followed by an exciting line up which carries on in Harrogate and some excellent community venues (Harewood House, Fountains Abbey and Newby Hall) before coming to a spectacular close at Wednesday night’s Grand Finale.
Tickets are still available for some of the events, but take-up has far surpassed last year so interested Festival-goers that are yet to book are encouraged to purchase tickets as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.
The Box Office will be open up to and throughout the event. 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
The rest of the events are as follows:
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, Paya Lebar Methodist Girls’ School (Secondary) 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 Paya Lebar Methodist Girls’ School (Secondary) 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.
