AFTER coming so close to ending because of Arts Council funding cuts, Whittington Music Festival showed this week why thousands of pounds was raised to ensure it went ahead in 2023.

With one confirmed sell-out on Saturday to hear Roderick Williams OBE – who sang for King Charles III at his coronation – and packed houses for all events, the festival was a success from start to finish.  

And for artistic director and piano extraordinaire Sophia Rahman, the role of the Whittington and Oswestry communities was vital as they threw their support behind the performers and organisers.

“It’s fantastic to see so many local people turning out and supporting,” she said

“When we were rejected twice by the Arts Council, local people came and supported us with donations, whether it was a small amount or a large amount or whatever they could afford.

“Some people put £10 and £20 through the letterbox of our Friends’ secretary and then some people gave very large, very generous amounts to help us keep running it.

“Now we’ve the support this year, the work starts for next year.

Border Counties Advertizer: Roderick Williams OBE and Sophia Rahman on piano.

“We’ve got people who have come from Cornwall and all over the UK but a lot of local people clearly feel connection with and ownership of the festival.

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“That’s important as to whether we continue or not, that we’re part of this community and that helps by going into schools and being part of the community.

“We’re seeing that in our musicians on Friday night, who were local and of all ages including Sue Turner and Kizzy Lumley-Edwards who is a fantastic soprano who lives down the road.”

Sophia also had the joy of playing live with her siblings Zoe and Idris for the first time in their professional careers, with the brilliant Le Coucou from Carnival of the Animals.

The Advertizer was lucky to be present on Friday for ‘From Bach to Bollywood’ which Sophia began with a beautiful rendition of JS Bach’s Aria from the Goldberg Variations, used in Anthony Minghella’s The English Patient.

The audience was tickled by accordion player Dermot Dunne’s interpretation of Bach’s Badinerie but the Irishman came into his own joining with Sophia on piano with violinists, cellists and a double bass for ‘Le Weekend’.

This was written by Whittington composer-in-chief Jeremy Sams and was clearly much-loved by the audience.

Kizzy showed her vocal talents with David Shaw, who also played viola, during Villa Lobos while Zoe and Idris Rahman brought the night to a close with stunning music that represented their Bengal heritage.

The need for 2024 to include a festival was summed up by Roderick.

He said: “It’s vital that events on this scale go ahead as it’s the whole idea of levelling up.

Border Counties Advertizer: Roderick Williams OBE with Kizzy Lumley-Edwards.

“There’s a feeling that international singers wouldn’t come to places like Whittington but in a strange way, it’s more exciting as you’re up close and personal with the audience.

“It’s a feeling of letting your hair down – it’s great to come here and sing after the biggest moment of my career so far.

“It’s connecting intimately with an audience and I also get to meet people and say hello when I’m not singing.

“In a city, you do the performance and that’s it, but here, you can go to the pub and have a jam session.”

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