Numerous international acts have already confirmed their attendance at this year’s much loved Harrogate International Youth Festival – Music and Performing Arts 2014. Groups from as far as Moscow, Russia and Newfoundland, Canada will participate, enriching the event with colourful and traditional music reminiscent of their cultures. Efforts are also underway to help fund a Rwanda youth choir, consisting mainly of orphans, participate in the event.
Taking place from 18thApril to the 24th April 2014, HIYF is once again delivering the much anticipated Easter Parade which will be led, collectively, by all five borough mayors from Harrogate, Knaresborough, Boroughbridge, Pately Bridge and Ripon. Of course no event in Yorkshire 2014 will be complete without a gesture to the world famed Grand Depart, Tour de France which will take place the month following the festival and plans are underway to entertain the crowd with bicycle themed activities during the parade.
HIYF always draws a strong interest from performance groups and judging by the distances being travelled by international guests for 2014; it promises to be worth the wait. Participants will include Big Band, Choirs, Wind Ensembles, Youth and String Orchestras and much more.
Currently confirmed groups include: Nadezda Violine Ensemble from Moscow, with performers aged between 8 and 15 years, Burnaby South Secondary School, BC tour choir from Vancouver, Canada and the Holy Heart Concert Band from Newfoundland, Canada.
Grant Etchegary of Holy Heart of Mary High School said: We are honoured and thrilled to be representing our province of Newfoundland and Labrador (Canada) at the Harrogate International Youth Music Festival. The community of Harrogate has always demonstrated exceptional support for the fine arts. We are extremely excited to share our musical talents with the fine people of Harrogate and look forward to collaborating with our HIYMF friends.
Local groups will, as ever, feature heavily and comprise local schools, performance dance groups, bands and more. The Ripon Stage Academy and National Youth Marching Band (from West Yorkshire)will be treating crowds to a military style ‘beat the retreat’ at the end of the parade outside Victoria Shopping Centre.
Mike Clark, Managing Director of ECE Travel LTD, organisers of the Festival said: This event now in its 41st year has stood the test of time. The high standard of performances combined with a consistently high level of international participation is testimony to the high regard with which the Festival is viewed.
For more information please visit www.hiyf.co.uk or call 0844 858 1545
