The world famous London Community Gospel Choir have been unveiled as one of the acts performing at this year’s Ipswich School Festival of Music in the autumn, in a first for the Festival.
As well as performing on Saturday evening, members of the choir will also lead an exciting workshop for local choirs and singers in the afternoon of Saturday 8 October, so that workshop attendees can perform in the evening concert with the choir.
The Festival opens on Thursday 6 October with the British Army Band from Colchester performing a variety of music and showcasing some of the best musicians the army have on offer. The concert will also feature young wind players from Ipswich School and local secondary schools performing alongside the Army Band in some pieces.
Polly Gibbons, twice-nominated as Jazz Vocalist of the Year by Jazz FM, and pianist James Pearson, who is also artistic director at Ronnie Scotts, will be performing at the Jazz Night on Friday evening, while the Alkyona Quartet will close the Festival on Monday 10 October with their imaginative interpretations of both well-known and hidden gems of the string quartet repertoire.
Polly Gibbons 
James Pearson 
Alkyona Quartet 
British Army Band 
London Community Gospel Choir
Mrs Beverley Steensma, Director of Music at Ipswich School and the Festival’s artistic director said: “I am delighted that we have another strong line-up of professional musicians coming to Ipswich School in the autumn. I’m particularly looking forward to welcoming back the British Army Band, who performed a memorable march past for us in Christchurch Park when they played here in 2019 as the Parachute Regiment Band.”
She added: “And I am also really excited about the London Community Gospel Choir, who will be leading workshops with pupils before the Festival, and with local choirs and singers on the Saturday afternoon of the festival. Their uplifting Gospel music is a first for the Festival.”
We are grateful to our principal Festival of Music sponsor, Mr Karl Daniels, for his generous support of this year’s event. Tickets for all concerts are now on sale via the New Wolsey Theatre Box Office: www.wolseytheatre.co.uk and there is a 10% discount available on some tickets until 1 July.
FESTIVAL LINE UP
British Army Band
Thursday 6 October, 7.30pm, Great School
Tickets: £18 Concessions: £15 Students: £7
Jazz Night with Polly Gibbons & James Pearson
Friday 7 October, 7.30pm, Great School
Tickets: £18 Concessions: £15 Students: £7
London Community Gospel Choir
Saturday 8 October, 7.30pm, Great School
Tickets: £25 Concessions: £22 Students: £7
SPECIAL WORKSHOP with the London Community Gospel Choir, 2-4pm
Workshop tickets are £35, including the evening concert
Festival Evensong
Sunday 9 October, 6.30pm, Chapel
Admission free; retiring collection for charity.
Alkyona Quartet
Monday 10 October, 7.30pm, Great School
Tickets: £18 Concessions: £15 Students: £7
For more information visit our Festival of Music page
