London Mozart Players visit East Lindsey

Musical Celebrations for Captain John Smith quatercentenary

Hawk Henries, a native American Indian of the Nipmuc tribe, will visit the birthplace of Captain John Smith in the summer of 2007 to join the district’s celebrations of his life and times. These activities are running in parallel with events in the USA commemorating the 2007 quatercentenary of the founding of Jamestown, the first English settlement in the USA.

The steering group responsible for the London Mozart Players (LMP) orchestral residency in the district of East Lindsey, Lincolnshire, has successfully secured funding from Arts Council England to bring Hawk Henries to the area for 15 days. During his visit, Hawk will explore the connections between traditions of his own Nipmuc tribe and life in contemporary USA with communities and schools in East Lindsey. He will collaborate with local artists on the creation of new work, contribute to the LMP residency in the district and share his skills as an instrument maker and storyteller.

Hawk is delighted to be part of this project: I look forward to visiting the people of the Lincolnshire area with great excitement and enthusiasm. When people gather to share music, story, time, and do so with heartfelt intent, we can increase the ways of respecting each other. Consequently we improve the health of our world for our children and their children.

Hawk will be resident in the district from 27 June - 11 July, with the main public focus for his visit being five collaborative performances on 3, 4 and 5 July with the LMP. These performances will bring together the classical brilliance of the LMP with the haunting melodies of Hawk’s traditional Nipmuc flute in a new piece especially created for the John Smith celebrations. Some of these concerts will also showcase East Lindsey’s very own piece The Stargazer, a composition by Lynne Plowman that reflects on the historic vision and influence of John Smith, amongst others, commissioned by East Lindsey District Council in 2002.

On American Independence Day, the LMP and Hawk Henries are performing in the gardens of the Petwood Hotel, Woodhall Spa, with two special Wake Up Mr Mozart! concerts. The first performance is FREE to over 400 schoolchildren, while the second at 4.00pm is aimed at entertaining all family members aged five to 85. In addition, prior to the evening concert in Alford, the audience is invited to a pre-concert drinks reception at Alford Manor House, where John Smith is said to have visited, to explore the recently renovated early 17th century building.

Plans with Hawk Henries also include workshop sessions with local artists, both professional and amateur, in an exchange of ideas between the two nations, as well as educational workshops in schools in East Lindsey.

Nicki Gardner, Senior Community Arts Officer at East Lindsey District Council, said We are hugely looking forward to Hawk Henries visit to our district for what is sure to be a very exciting time for the East Lindsey community. This is a wonderful way of building and developing the LMP residency at a time when the whole area is taking part in the John Smith celebrations.

Details

Timetable of evening concerts