It has only been a month since WMC reopened as a community centre, but what a month!
Our COVID-secure building is now buzzing again with (socially-distanced) life and activities. Projects like Celebrating Age Wiltshire have resumed with the most exciting plans for the next few months and beyond, live performances have finally returned in the form of the most fabulous free community concert on the lawn last Saturday (and it was sunny!). Priority booking opened for our Autumn Winter mini-season with general booking opening on Monday, Zone Club is about to deliver its 7th digital creative session since lockdown, we are gearing up for the Wiltshire Youth Jazz Orchestra autumn course, our amazing community heroes are challenging their own limits to support our fundraising efforts, the list goes on...
This is WMC getting back into full swing, isn’t it? We all know how big a difference live music can make in our lives, and I would like to thank all the generous, committed and energetic people involved in making this happen.
It will soon be time for me to say ‘au revoir’ to WMC as I move back to my home country at the end of November. But I firmly intend to spread the WMC word and philosophy in Lyon. This 590-mile and important personal journey will be guided by the wonderful WMC examples of live music inspiring, enriching and transforming people’s lives. I am delighted to hand over the baton to James as Interim Chief Executive, and I know that he and the wonderful WMC team will do a great job looking after this very special place.
For now, read on and brighten your day with the latest WMC news.
Autumn Winter season: General Booking opens on Monday
Save the date! General Booking opens on Monday 5th October for our new concert season, which opens with a sensational night of jazz cabaret by leading ladies Claire Martin and Nikki Iles (16 Oct). WMC’s Orchestra in Residence, the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment will return for two diverse programmes, accompanied by leading British baritone Roderick Williams (28 Oct) and forte pianist Steven Devine (25 Nov). International pianist Tom Poster also returns to present a mini chamber festival with his all-star chamber ensemble, the Kaleidoscope Chamber Collective (10-11 Nov).
We continue our support for young and emerging artists with lunchtime concerts by Gramophone Young Artist of the year Iyad Sughayer (21 Oct) and virtuoso pianist Cordelia Williams (9 Dec). Bellowhead star Sam Sweeney also returns with his folk supergroup Leveret to present an exclusive performance of music from their new album (20 Nov).
⭐ NEW: WATCH ONLINE ⭐
Having recently transformed our recording studio into a new state-of-the-art broadcast suite, we will be livestreaming concerts by every visiting artist this season!
This week we are celebrating Silver Sunday and International Day of Older Persons by launching our first online performance for Celebrating Age Wiltshire Phase 2. We commissioned local singer/songwriter and historian, Louise Jordan, to create a very special storytelling one-woman show with original songs for everyone to enjoy. Louise recorded the show in the WMC auditorium on 23rd September 2020. We hope you enjoy it…
Live music returns at Community Concert
We were delighted to welcome over 350 people to our Community Concert last Saturday for a brilliant afternoon of live music in the glorious sunshine. Thank you to everyone who performed, volunteered and attended to help to make this such a special event - it was wonderful to celebrate our reopening with our community centre stage. The concert also raised an extra £600 towards our Community Fundraising Appeal - thank you to everyone who donated!
For the October session of Zone Club, we welcome back the amazing players of the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment (OAE). With new pieces, traditional instruments and wonderful humour, we are delighted to welcome back the baroque masters to work alongside the musicians of Zone Club. Find out more and book your place
WILTSHIRE JAZZ ACADEMY
SAT 10 OCT 10AM
Join Wiltshire Jazz Academy from home for a fantastic morning of jazz led by Mike Daniels and Rod Oughton, and Ambassadors from the National Youth Jazz Orchestra (NYJO) - perfect for developing young musicians who want to learn new pieces and develop their performance and improvisation skills. Find out more and book your place
THANK YOU
Sponsor Spotlight: Steers McGillan Eves Design
Sponsorship plays a vital role in underpinning WMC's artistic, creative learning and community engagement programmes, which support the wellbeing of over 65,000 people across Wiltshire and beyond every year.
Reopening the Centre, gradually reintroducing live events and committing to vital community projects would not be possible without early donations to the Centre’s Community Fundraising Appeal and the generous support of our Friends, sponsors and supporters. Thank you!
Now, we need your help to reach our £60,000 target to fulfil our plans to put the community centre stage.
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