Special performances at local Folds will take live music direct to new audiences
The Mourne Chamber Music Festival returns for its third year from 25-29 August, with a programme of world-class classical music in Newcastle Community Cinema and Donard Methodist Church.
In partnership with Radius, Clanmil Housing Association and Arbour Housing Association, the festival is also expanding its community reach with special performances in Donard and Glen Fold Independent Living Schemes, bringing live classical music directly to new audiences.
Founded to bring high-quality classical music to rural Northern Ireland, the festival presents a diverse programme that combines celebrated masterpieces with lesser-known works, championing female composers and composers from the Global Majority.
This year's four-day festival celebrates love in all its forms, from heart-wrenching laments to passionate serenades, featuring music by Beethoven, Strauss and Tchaikovsky, through to Emilie Frøssner Wegener, George Walker, Ethel Smyth and many more. The festival also provides performance opportunities for emerging professional musicians.
The community programme is proudly supported by the NI Executive Together: Building a United Community Strategy, which reflects the Executive’s commitment to improving community relations and continuing the journey towards a more united and shared society.
Approximately £6.7million is being invested through the three housing developments across the Newcastle area, and their associated five-year Good Relations Plans.
The shared housing developments’ Good Relations Plans within Newcastle includes ‘Bridging’ events which are delivered to the wider community to encourage a range of good relations outcomes which include Health and Wellbeing, Training, Education and Employment, Arts and Culture, Advice and Advocacy and Community Development.
Radius, Arbour and Clanmil Housing Associations continue to work in partnership with the local Newcastle Advisory Group, stakeholders and with residents to develop the shared housing developments’ Good Relations Plans. The Advisory group is merged with Newcastle’s existing Interagency group primarily held by Paula Nixon from County Down Rural Community Network. Radius, Arbour and Clanmil Housing Associations currently have 37 shared housing developments between them across Northern Ireland.
Find out more at: www.mournecmf.co.uk
Further information:
The Executive Office - Together: Building a United Community
Department for Communities - Shared Housing Programme
Northern Ireland Housing Executive - Shared Housing Programme