Click on the pink tape measure to see the report!
Early Music on the Bay published their Delivery Report!7 months ago
Help us bring fantastic professional musicians to Morecambe Bay to perform concerts of early and baroque music and to lead workshops for local singers.
As the climax to Silverdale Renaissance’s series of six early music concerts and two singers’ workshops the acclaimed vocal group 'I Fagiolini', directed by Robert Hollingworth, will perform their programme ‘Monteverdi Divine’ in St John’s Church, Silverdale on 4 October 2025. We hope to attract a sell-out audience for this special occasion. ‘I closed my eyes and I thought I was in heaven!’ (Concert goer) I Fagiolini will also lead a workshop in Arnside for up to 50 local singers, focussing on developing their vocal skills. ‘What a fantastic way to spend a morning! It was packed with informative teaching and wonderful music.’ (Workshop participant) Crowd-funding will enable us to cover our costs while keeping ticket price down to an affordable level. It will also help fund our next event in 2026. We have provisionally booked for this the instrumental group ‘Ensemble In Echo’ who will play a programme of works by J.S.Bach, interspersed with readings by Horatio Clare.
What we'll deliver:
Why it's a great idea:
Listening to, and participating in making music is good for your mental and physical health: research now proves this - if we didn’t know it already! However, in a rural area like ours, opportunities to experience professional live music of this calibre are few and far between. This project will bring the music to the people rather than expecting them to go to the music. ‘The best live concert I have ever been to – and just down the road from my house!’ (Volunteer). The singers’ workshop will have legacy benefits for local choirs: the last one attracted directors of local choirs as well as singers, so the learning was spread across the area. ‘It was fabulous to be able to experience such a workshop here in the rural North. More!' (Workshop participant) Additionally, volunteers will gain experience and satisfaction from participating, and local businesses will gain custom. The project will thus boost our cultural, social and economic capital.
Steps to get it done:
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Click on the pink tape measure to see the report!
Today we reached our target! This means all the money pledged can be released. We may have been sceptical about the whole concept of crowd-funding. It may have been an arduous process – and indeed it has required a lot of time and energy - but what an amazing result! What seams of generosity it has tapped into! Thank you again and again to all our backers. Our project is now sustainable. The first fruits will be the ‘I Fagiolini’ concert in October when we will be able to sell full-price tickets for only £20 with concessions for young people, and the organisers will not have to worry about footing the bill for any shortfall. Then we plan 2 more concerts in 2026 and another 2 in 2027, hopefully without any increase in ticket price. We cannot thank you enough, all you who have donated to the project. It is you who have made this happen.
Whoop, 80 people have pledged since fundraising began!
Brilliant news, thanks everyone!
We’re very pleased with how the campaign is going, even though the first flood of donations has slowed down. We’ve passed the watershed of 50% of our target, and with Lancashire offering 45% that takes us to 95%. Only 5% to go: the end is in sight! It is essential that we find that last 5% though, (around £450), before the dead-line in early September, or Lancashire will pay us nothing. No pressure, then! So far we’ve contacted friends, neighbours and relatives, people who have bought tickets for our previous events, local choirs and orchestras, plus all the bands who have performed for us, and we’ve posted on social media. Now we’re targeting the local community with posters and flyers, items in the local press and visits to businesses. Just 4 weeks to go. Watch this space . . .
How will the money be spent?Target (inc. fees) £8,781
Costs Breakdown
This shows how money raised for the project will be spent. These costs have been confirmed by the project's Delivery Manager and verified.
Overfunding
This project is enabled for overfunding. If the project hits its funding goal before the end of the campaign period, any extra funds raised will be spent (in order of priority) on:
Target (inc. fees) £8,781
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Volunteer
‘Silverdale Renaissance’ is a group of friends and neighbours in North Lancashire who came together in 2023 with the idea of organising a really special event to celebrate the end of Covid lock-down restrictions. Our first concert featured the well-known early music group The Gesualdo Six. It was a sell-out success and many people urged us to organise more similar events.
‘There was certainly a buzz at the concert. It just shows what an enthusiastic and able group of people can achieve.’ (Concert-goer)
Since then we have put on 4 more concerts and a singers’ workshop, all exciting, well-attended events featuring early and baroque music. The 2024 workshop, delivered by The Gesualdo Six, got rave feedback:
‘What a fantastic opportunity to sing with a world class group of singers who made me feel I can sing’
‘Very collaborative feel to the workshop and very well organised.’
‘More of these, please, so that we can spread this appreciation to the next generations.’ (Workshop participants)
Our next venture is our most ambitious yet. We want as many local people as possible to be able to enjoy the fabulous I Fagiolini in concert, however the costs of putting on an event like this are substantial. We are a not-for-profit organisation, entirely staffed by volunteers, and up to now barely breaking even. Any loss has to be borne by the organisers personally. We need to raise funds so that we can be sure of covering our costs, and also so that we can keep ticket prices down to an affordable level in order that as many people as possible are able to come. Additionally, the age profile of our audience tends to be older and we want to invest in the future by encouraging more young people to take part. We will offer them concessionary ticket prices to both events and there will also be some low-price tickets available for seats with restricted view of the performers. These have been well-received:
'I bag the two middle seats on the altar steps the moment booking opens and we enjoy every aspect. And we've made friends with the people who have sat next to us for the two most recent concerts. So please don't abandon that seating option!'
Musicians, too, have welcomed the opportunities the series offers them: every group we have hosted has asked to come back.
‘[Silverdale is] fast becoming a hub for exceptional music-making that reaches far and wide!’ (Owain Park, Director of ‘The Gesualdo Six’)
Project Owner: Silverdale Renaissance The Project Owner takes legal responsibility for receiving and spending the funds raised and ensuring the project is delivered.
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