Music In Felixstowe
Professional concerts in Felixstowe

by Hattie Bennett

Having lived in Suffolk for over 30 years I have come to know and love many of the fine musicians living here. Many, like us, have lived in the big cities and moved to Suffolk to get a quieter lifestyle whilst still pursuing a playing career.	Champagne Strings at St Andrews
One of the first I met was Wendy Poulston. We were playing in a theatre pit and found we shared common ideas about music both light and classical and now play in the Ward Quartet, Sudbourne Ensemble and Champagne Quartet together. Her brother, Paul Gudgin conducted the Faure Messiah in March 2010.	Sudbourne Ensemble
Another musician I met in the pit was Caroline Ball, who plays in the same ensembles. Again we struck an instant rapport. Jim Macleod, who was principal 2nd violin in the RPO, was introduced to me by Hugh Maguire (whose wife Tricia played with us at Christmas) as was Roland Roberts. Roland's brother-in-law, Charles Hart (lyricist of Phantom of the Opera) played with us in July 2009.	Roland Roberts and Charles Hart
Cliff Wybrow and I also met in the theatre pit and used to spend the car journeys between Felixstowe and the Wolsey Theatre putting the world to rights. Chris Gould was a very early connection playing in the Champagne Quartet since its inception and it is now a pleasure to work with his wife Rosemary Gould too. I have to thank Mark Messenger for my job at Colchester and it is a great pleasure to be playing with him again in the February sextet concert as with the fine musician Martin Thomas who also taught cello at the Institute in those days.	Cliff Wybrow and Mark Messenger
Two musicians who came up from London to play in the Last Night of the Proms concert, husband and wife Charles Beldom and Donna Chapman have Suffolk connections as they frequently come up to play in the Champagne Quartet when local musicians aren't available. I first met them playing in a Gypsy Orchestra led by Donna in the London parks. Also playing in this concert another Felixstowe musician Isobel Reaville and her brother Richard Reaville our tenor soloist in that concert. The soprano soloist in the Faure Requiem was Esen Thorley who I met whilst teaching at Colchester Institute. She sang in our memorable Good Friday concert 2 years ago and I feel proud that we are party to the onset of her career.	Richard Reaville and Esen Thorley
My best friend and ace pianist, Clorinda Smith helped enormously in the early days of Music in Felixstowe with our recitals at St Nicholas Church at the Ferry. But she has now hung up her concert fingers. In the space of a year it has been an absolute pleasure to discover and play with harpsichordist Christine Whiffen and pianists John Stafford, Jonathan Rutherford and Tim Carey.	Christine Wiffen and John Stafford
There are many fine wind players in the area and we have had the pleasure of working with horn player Kay Dawson, Stephanie Wingham - flute, Melanie Tricker - oboe and Steve Lock - bassoon.	Wind Ensemble
Last but not least is my brother Nick Ward, a token East Anglian, who has regularly played with the City of London Sinfonia as leader at the Corn Exchange in Ipswich and also as leader of the Ward Quartet at our concerts. He now leads and directs us in the newly formed "Classic Strings Orchestra.	Nicholas Ward and Harriet Bennett
Who needs to travel further afield when there are such fine musicians living and performing here!	Strings by candlelight