Whittington’s seventh music festival, which starts this Tuesday (21st May) and runs till Sunday, is one eleven-year-old’s dream come true. Harry Pinsent from Shrewsbury will be playing his viola in one of the festival’s six concerts with Parisien violist Léa Hennino in a ten-minute musical arrangement written specially for him. A year ago Harry played his violin at the festival and was so inspired by Léa that he took up the viola the following weekend. Harry has already achieved Grade 5 and came first in the 12-and-under Strings Class at the Oswestry Youth Music Festival in March.
“I can’t wait for the festival”, says Harry. “Léa is a brilliant musician, and I look forward to learning so much from her”. Harry will be playing an arrangement of well-known tunes by Bohemian composers Dvorak and Smetana with nine other young Shropshire musicians together with the professionals at the concert on Friday (24th). The now traditional young musicians’ contribution has become a highlight of Whittington’s annual festival, which this year is entitled Czech Mates.
Léa Hennino is an international artist who has belonged to different prestigious ensembles across Europe and the USA, and recently performed with the European Union Chamber Orchestra in Oswestry as part of the Oswestry School Recital Series. She is now back again as one of the eleven world-class musicians who are staying in the area to rehearse and perform at the Whittington festival.
Tickets are available for the festival’s remaining concerts at the door of St John the Baptist Church Whittington. Full details may be found at www.whittingtonmusicfestival.org.uk
Contact: Lawrence Mortimer 01691 657986, 07802 636108
Pictured: Harry Pinsent at Whittington’s 2018 festival
Pictured: French violist Léa Hennino
