Concerts at Cratfield provides financial support for musicians affected by cancellation of 2020 season
Cratfield, Suffolk, November 9 2020. Concerts at Cratfield today announced that thanks to the generosity of patrons, friends, supporters and other donors, it has been able to offer financial support to all the musicians affected by the cancellation of its 2020 season.
The 33rd season of chamber music organised by the charity in the church of St Mary’s, Cratfield, Suffolk, was due to be held from July to September. Musicians invited included Katya Apekisheva, Charles Owen, Tamsin Waley-Cohen, Huw Watkins, Julian Bliss, the Fitzroy Quartet, the Busch Trio, the Zemlinsky Quartet and the Carducci Quartet.
Concerts at Cratfield raised almost £6,000 from donated ticket money, gifts and external grants to offer some support to the artists, who have faced a devastating loss of income and livelihood during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Peter Baker, Concert Organiser, said: “Concerts at Cratfield was founded in 1987 with the ambition of supporting professional musicians and bringing the highest standards of classical music to this beautiful corner of Suffolk. Sadly, the Covid-19 pandemic forced us to cancel this year’s season, but thanks to the generosity of so many of our audience and other supporters, we have been able to fulfil our goal of helping the wonderful musicians who were due to perform for us. We are already planning an exciting programme for our 34th season in 2021 and we are working hard to find ways of making sure our concerts can go ahead next year while keeping our musicians and audience safe.”
Performances by all of the artists who were due to take part in our 33rd season can be found on our website, www.concertsatcratfield.org.uk.
“What generosity your Cratfield audience have shown us poor musicians. All very much appreciated and welcome!” Charles Owen
“I am very grateful for the generosity. These are difficult times…I hope it will be possible for me and Charles to return to Cratfield before too long.” Katya Apekisheva
“This is incredibly kind of your society and the quartet appreciates this very much!” Fitzroy Quartet
“This is a gesture of extreme generosity, which brings a smile to our faces and strengthens our belief. It is also a testament to the dedication of your public to supporting classical music by responding to the musicians’ plight. We wholeheartedly thank you and everyone connected to Concerts at Cratfield for this contribution.” Busch Trio
“What a wonderfully generous thing to do, and it will certainly be much appreciated. I’m just so sorry we weren’t able to come and play for you this year.” Huw Watkins
“Please send our kindest greetings and big thanks to Cratfield, this is very nice and very generous!” Zemlinsky Quartet
“This is so kind of everyone to support us at this difficult time!” Matthew Denton, Carducci Quartet
“It’s very kind of your patrons to donate to the artists and I must say it’s been very interesting that the smaller organisations around the country which have cancelled have been the first to put their hands in their pockets for artists, rather than any of the larger institutions who you might expect to have more cash available. I guess it shows what wonderful audience loyalty you have built up there and how they value artists.” Sarah Bruce, Lomonaco Artists, on behalf of Julian Bliss.
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Concerts at Cratfield presents six afternoon chamber concerts on alternate Sundays over the summer at the church of St Mary’s, Church Road, Cratfield, East Suffolk, IP19 0BU. Concerts include solo recitals, duos and trios through to string quartets and larger ensembles. Concerts at Cratfield and its predecessor Blyth Valley Chamber Music began in 1987 and became a charitable trust in 1993 and a Charitable Incorporated Organisation in 2016.
Cratfield has welcomed a wide range of leading professional musicians and ensembles over more than three decades. Since 2015, these have included the Allegri, Badke, Brodsky, Calino, Carducci, Cavaleri, Heath, Lendvai, Maxwell, Navarra and Zemlinsky Quartets; the Andre Trio, Aronovitz Ensemble, Chroma Trio and Leonore Piano Trio; and artists including tenor James Gilchrist, guitarist Craig Ogden, and pianists Charles Owen, Katya Apekisheva, Anna Tilbrook and Kathryn Stott. Cratfield is a small village in tranquil and rolling countryside about 5 miles west of the A12, close to Halesworth, Southwold and Aldeburgh. We especially welcome young people and students, who can book tickets at half price.