By Faye Lychnou
In spite of difficulties all events of this kind are facing at the moment, Paxos Festival Trust (PFT) and local Municipal authorities decided that the continuation of the September festival is fundamental, albeit on a reduced scale and despite the withdrawal of the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. Discussions with some of last year's performers led to Guildhall graduate Lara Dodds-Eden's offer to devise a program of three concerts rehearsed in London and then presented in Paxos between the 7th and the 11th of September in the old Loggos school. The diverse works were performed by an experienced group of musicians, most of whom played here last year and were very grateful and excited to return on the island. All three concerts were quite successful almost filling Loggos hall every time.
PFT thanked the Thames Wharf Charity Ltd for their donation towards this year's festival, the Mayor and the Poseidon Cultural Association for their loan of the hall and its facilities, the Barry and Herdman families for the loan of their houses, the "aste due" meze restaurant and "Gaios travel" for the offer of a car.
The trust would welcome your views on the direction that next year's program might take. For instance, should there be wider diversity in the form of music played? Could we try to include musicians from the Music Department of the Ionian University of Corfu or perhaps create themed programs? Another concert could be based around the emerging skills of the island's younger players. Would you be willing to help the Trust in the fundraising necessary to achieve future festivals? All donations would be used to bring players to Paxos to continue John Gough's great legacy of bringing together talented musicians to develop their skills and to increase audience's understanding of a wide range of music. Please offer us your thoughts on these accounts at info@paxosfestival.org.uk.
Visit our new website: www.paxosfestival.org.uk! You can also visit: www.internationale-em-akademie.gr/english, www.megaron.gr And for information on what is happening on Paxos visit www.paxi.gr
