News and Reviews

News: sinfonia ViVA Supports Village Hall Appeal
18 Aug 2010

Organisers of a unique classical music concert in The Palace community centre Ibstock are hoping that bumper ticket sales will help drive forward their plans to extend the rescued local facility.

The committee which saved the building from dereliction four years ago and have since run it voluntarily for the local community have teamed up with East Midlands-based sinfonia ViVA to stage The Palace's first classical music concert by a professional orchestra on Saturday October 16.

The Orchestra, directed from the violin by Leader Benedict Holland, will perform a toe-tapping programme of popular classics including Vivaldi's Four Seasons and Bach's Brandenburg Concerto No.3.

And, as Brian Hall from the Palace explained, they are hoping for a good turnout which will contribute to the £100,000 cost of a new extension to the community centre. The proposed new extension will enable the Palace to widen its field of activities which in turn will help with its future sustainability. "We are all very excited about the concert which will give local people the chance to enjoy top quality classical music on the doorstep rather than having to travel into one of the big cities. We are extremely grateful to ViVA for their support and also to North West Leicestershire District Council, Orchestras Live and Arts Council England who have helped make this dream possible."

He added: "Since opening the community centre four years ago, we have had many requests for a classical concert but we never thought that our hopes for an orchestra of ViVA's national reputation being interested in performing would ever become a reality."

Benedict Holland from sinfonia ViVA continued: "We are very much looking forward to performing in Ibstock as it will be a wonderfully intimate atmosphere. Directing from the violin rather than being led by a conductor enables the players to strike up a different and more personal relationship with the audience and allows to share our passion for wonderful scores with fellow music lovers. We hope that this concert will be well supported so that the volunteers who have already brought this much-needed community facility back to life can move forward with their ambitious plans for the future."

The Palace was originally built as a cinema in 1912 and later became a bingo hall before falling into disrepair. It was bought by Ibstock Parish Council and leased on a 60 year lease to the present committee who have restored it to its former glory – still retaining many of its original architectural features.

Run by a committee of volunteers, The Palace now hosts a wide range of concerts, theatre performances and cinema screenings as well as local community groups and activities from keep fit to playgroups. The Palace is also available for private and commercial hire.

Mr Hall concluded: "The Palace has always been a huge part in my life from sneaking in to watch films when I was a boy to still attending functions now that I am in my seventies. To have a professional orchestra performing here is a rare treat and I for one am very much looking forward to this concert."

Tickets for the sinfonia ViVA concert at The Palace in High Street, Ibstock are £15 and are available from Halls of Ibstock or on 01530 260460 during shop hours.

Media enquiries: Sarah Jenkin-Jones - Tel: 01332 515102/07951 945 665 sarah@jjpublicrelations.co.uk