Starting in 2008, the Oxford Music Festival must be a comparatively new event in Oxford, initiated by a couple of outstanding musicians and music scholars – Jack Liebeck, an outstanding young violinist and Brian Foster, an Oxford Professor of Experimental Physics and keen violin player. The venue – Holywell Music Room though, is one of the oldest buildings in Oxford built in 1742. It is claimed to be the oldest purpose built music room in Europe, hence the first concert hall in England. It is situated in Holywell Street in Oxford city centre, close to Kings Arms, one of the best known pubs in Oxford.
2010 is the third year running of the festival (28th April-3rd May), which has attracted many supportors from the Oxford musical community. The final concert is called Music for Clarinet, String Quartet and Piano played by musicians Jack Liebeck (Violin), Maximiliano Martin (Clarinet), Matthew Jones (Viola), Victoria Sayles (Violin), Kate Gould (Cello) and Bengt Forsbery (Piano).
Parking in Oxford was terrible, especially around the city centre area, even in the evenings. The weather on the day was pretty bad too - cold, windy and wet, typical kind of English bank holiday tune. To avoid the trouble, I borrowed my husband's University parking permit and parked right next to the Science library. It did not take me and the children long to walk to the music room and sit down in warm seats (thank goodness for that)!
What I like the Oxford Music Festival the most are not only the professionalism from the musicians, but also the commitment from the organisers to promote music among the youngsters.All events during the festival are free to kids and full-time students age 8 - 25. This is an enormous boost of ploughing seeds of music among young people, especially when time is hard like now.
The programme for next year is being put together as well as events for 2011. I am sure that music lovers like me in Oxford and nearby cities will carry on supporting this event for years to come. Long live the wonderful music notes and long live the musicians all over the world who have brought us joy, peace and happiness!
