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1924 Festival - Stour Choral Union in the Town Hall, Chipping Norton

Brief History:(Dates and facts are as currently known - if you know anything different please contact us.)

1904 Festival starts as Stour Choral Union in Shipston-on-Stour by Miss Ruth Dickins & Mrs Eleanora Dickins for the "encouragement of part-singing in the country districts".
1905 Festival moves to Moreton-in-Marsh.
1907 Extended to three days due to popularity - one day devoted entirely to school singing. Small string orchestra introduced.
1911 Festival moves to Chipping Norton.
1914-19 No Festivals.
1920 Festival restarted by Ruth Savory (née Dickins).
1927 Sir Richard Terry becomes President.
1935 Financial difficulties restrict Festival activities to one day.
1938 Sir Hugh Allen becomes President
1943-45 No Festivals.
1947 Sir Thomas Armstrong becomes President - a position held for over 40 years.
1958 Instrumental section introduced.
1962 Stour Choral Union adopts a formal constitution and festival extended to two days.
1963/4 "Friends of the Festival" formed.
1968/9 "Stour Choral Union" becomes "Chipping Norton Music Festival" and becomes non-competitive. Combined choirs rehearsal introduced for final concert - this continued until 1998. Festival extended to three days.
1972 Founder Mrs. Eleanora Dickins dies.
1975 Children's Concerts introduced
1976 Affiliated to the Federation of British Festivals for Music, Dance & Speech. Extended to four days.
1980 Strings and woodwind classes withdrawn.
1981 General instrumental class introduced for strings, woodwind & brass.
1986 Strings class separated from woodwind and brass.
1993 Guitar class introduced.
1994 The Rotary Club of Chipping Norton introduced a cup for the most promising participant under 18 years with a bursary for furthering musical education. Festival activities now spread over a week.
1995 Dr Philip Cranmer becomes President.
1996 New President's Cup for the most promising participant under 14 years.
1997 Vocal Recital Class introduced for experienced, diploma standard singers.
1998 Opening concert introduced at Chipping Norton Theatre.
2000 Speech and Drama classes introduced, adjudicated by James Patrick.
2001 Anthony Williams becomes President.
2002 Composition class introduced. Wychwood Trophy (donated by Pauline Carter for the most promising pianist of primary school age up to and including Grade 5), and Padawa Award (bursary of £50 for the most promising performance by a pupil attending a Chipping Norton Partnership School). Festival goes on-line and launches website.
2003 Folk classes introduced.
2004 Festival Centenary, including opening concert by Joanna Macgregor.
2005 William Bailey Folk Award donated by the members and friends of the Folk Club, Highworth given in his memory.
2006 Open recital class extended to experienced, diploma instrumentalists.
2007 One-Act Play Festival to open the Festival. Folk award donated by the Chipping Norton Folk Club. The town of Chipping Norton celebrates the 400th anniversary of the Charter.
2007 Hummer Prize for Creative Writing in memory of George Hummer. To find out more and read winning entries click here.
2008 First masterclass given by President Anthony Williams for piano students.
2009 Youth Jazz Band Challenge introduced in association with Chipping Norton Rotary Club. More about the Challenge! Festival runs its own children's workshops for the first time. Master-classes for strings and piano.
2010 Debut concert of Jacqui Dankworth and Charlie Wood.
2012 Not history, as yet, but 2012 will be the 100th Festival ...
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"Voiceworks" from Chipping Norton School at the 2002 Festival
conducted by Peter Hunt (right)


Recent Adjudicators:

  2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006
Singing Melanie Armitstead Gaynor Keeble David Kirby-Ashmore
Ann Lampard
Marilyn Hill Smith
Peter Hunt
Christopher Field
Penelope Price Jones
Luise Horrocks
Stuart Smith
Choirs Stephen Clarke Colin Touchin Andrew Padmore Ann Lampard Ann Lampard
Vivien Pike
Robert Latham
Simon Lole
Strings Kathryn Hardman Robert Bailey Viviane Ronchetti Keith Smith Helen Browne Viviane Ronchetti
Wind & Brass Elizabeth Childs James Stretton Paul Harris Gill Johnston James Stretton Colin Touchin
Piano James Kirby David Oliver Graeme Humphrey Anthony Williams Anthony Williams Ruth Gerald
Guitar Kathryn Hardman Gary Ryan Craig Ogden Craig Ogden Ivan Scott Gary Ryan
Ensembles/Other Kathryn Hardman Robert Bailey Viviane Ronchetti Keith Smith Ivan Scott Betty Roe
Speech & Drama Norma Redfearn Priscilla Morris Susan Mackay Norma Redfearn Anne Harris-Norman Norma Redfearn
Folk Sarah Morgan John Kirkpatrick Pete Cooper John Kirkpatrick Dave Townsend Pete Cooper
Youth Jazz Band Challenge Ketih Allen James Stretton James Stretton - - -

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Award winners

  Rotary Club Cup President's Cup Wychwood trophy Padawa Award

William Bailey Folk Award

Chipping Norton Folk Club Award

Hummer Prize for creative writing

Rotary Youth Jazz Band Challenge

2011 Alex Chalstrey Lydia Ballam Benjamin Thompson Kitty Veale Jeremy Walton Chris Gardener Mary-Louise Crown King Eddie's Revival, Stratford-upon-Avon
2010 Catriona Bourne Swinton Hunter Lydia Ballam Benjamin Thompson Kingham Primary School Bill Pullen Sandra Shallis John Wheatley CNS Allstars, Chipping Norton
2009 Jonti Smith Benedict McCaw Darcy Watkins Hannah Lewis Mervyn Penny Sandra Shallis MS Clary King Eddie's Revival, Stratford-upon-Avon
2008 Therese De Souza Isabelle Bourne Swinton Hunter Esme Calcutt Imogen Mead Jeremy Walton Fiddles & Feet Rachel Bentham -
2007 Carys Butler Corinne Ellul Abigail Piercy Rosi Callery Fiona Kent & Mary Chowen Fiddles & Feet - -
2006 Josephine Organ-Jennings Leila Jinnah Emily Davenport Imogen Mead Helen Barr - - -
2005 Cleo Jones Catriona Bourne Swinton Hunter Tom Rees Connie Price Mervyn Penny - - -
2004 Sabrina Shortland Ruairi Garvey Peter Rycroft Frankie Holah - - - -
2003 Ruairi Garvey Josh Ridley Camilla Harrison Dominique Edwards - - - -
2002 Dominique Edwards Chadlington Primary School Camilla Harrison Nikki Pritchard - - - -
2001 Edward Lougher George Bone - - - - - -
2000 Frederick Emmott Hana Nishimura - - - - - -

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Concerts and events held at the Festival

2011 Craig Ogden (guitar)
"Brassed Up!" James Stretton & Iain Jackson
2010 Jacqui Dankworth & Charlie Wood
Diabolus in Musica
2009 Mike Bardsley (harpsichord)
Guy Johnston (cello) & Tom Poster (piano)
2008 Charleston Chasers
Phoenix Recorder Orchestra
Orichalcum (World of Brass) James Stretton & Iain Jackson
2007 Diabolus in Musica
Fairport Convention
Charter at Chastleton - Elizbeth Gray (harp) and Tina Gandy (flute)
2006 Beats4Three (percussion)
Stekpanna jazz trio with Digby Fairweather (trumpet)
James Gilchrist (tenor) & Anna Tilbrook (piano)
2005 Tom Poster (piano)
Ralph Allin (violin) & band
North Cotswold Chamber Choir
2004 Joanna MacGregor (piano)
Banchieri Singers
Oxford Classic Jazz Band
2003 Emma Johnston (clarinet)
Oxfordshire Youth Percussion Ensemble
The Adderbury Ensemble (string quartet)
2002 Craig Odgen (guitar)
The Adderbury Ensemble (string quartet)
Tom Poster (piano)
2001 The Adderbury Ensemble (string quartet)
Oxfordshire County Council Music School Chamber Ensemble
2000 John Suchet - the life & works of Beethoven
1999 Instant Sunshine
The Fountains Quartet
Baroque workshop & master-class

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