Stratford & East London Music Festival 
(Founded 1882)
Registered Charity No. 208659
Affiliated to the British Federation of Music Festivals
of which Her Majesty the Queen is Patron

126^th Annual Competition 2012

Music Council

Introduction

The Stratford and East London Music Festival is the oldest English Music Festival in England, having been founded in 1882 by Mr. John Spencer Curwen, after he had adjudicated at the National Eisteddfod in 1881. He called a meeting of Choirmasters and Music Teachers in and around Stratford. It was decided that it should be wholly musical and disassociated from the peculiarly Welsh bardic, literary, arts and crafts feature.

The first Festival took place over two days and there were five different sections, a total of 20 classes. The entry fee was 2s 6d (12p) for Solo Entries, 5s 0d (25p) for Quartets, 10s 0d (50p) for Choirs. The Festival was only open to those who resided in the following areas: West Ham Poor Law Union - (West Ham, East Ham, Leyton, Wanstead, Walthamstow, Woodford, Little Ilford), Plaistow, Forest Gate, Canning Town, Victoria Docks and Leytonstone.

How different from today's Festival. Last year there were just under 180 classes, divided into six sections, including both Music and Speech. This year there will be over 200 classes. With new classes always under consideration by the committee, we now have entries from the surrounding boroughs of Essex, Barking and Dagenham, Newham, Havering, Walthamstow and various areas of London with some entries from further afield.

The only time the Festival has not been held was during the Second World War. The festival receives no financial aid from any Authority and depends solely on donations from Friends of the Festival, income from the competitors' entry fees, along with audience entry fees and some advertising income from the syllabus.

If you are able to become a Friend of the Festival or Sponsor a Class from one of the Sections you will find further information on this site. You may consider your Friend's fee or sponsorship donation small but to us it is greatly appreciated.

The Festival is a Registered Festival, being affiliated to the British Federation of Music Festivals whose Patron is Her Majesty the Queen. It is organised and run by many dedicated people who give their services and valuable time free of charge to bring the Festival to the People. As Secretary and on behalf of all those who enter and enjoy just coming along to watch I would like to thank those helpers, who give up their free time to the Festival each year. If you are able to offer YOUR services during the Competitions please contact the Secretary (01708 731 101).

Music Council

Chairman:	Mr George Birtles MA
Hon Secretary:	Mrs M. Westcott
Hon Treasurer:	Mr R Small BSc(Hons), FBCS, MRI
Entries Secretary:	Mrs N Crombie GRSM, ARCM, DipRAM
	Miss O Burren BA
	Mrs. C. Davies LTCL
	Mrs T Egner LRAM, LTCL, DDMES, CertED
	Mrs. J. Holland-Young BA (Hons), MA, MPhil, PGCE, MCIPR
	Mrs. G. Jenkinson AGSM, DipEd Mrs. A. Knight MCIPD
	Mrs. S. L. Marr LRAM, ARCM, LRSM
	Mr. R. Skillett MIRSE, MICM Mrs J. Small Mrs. T. Stockwell FD Mrs. G. Worboyes ALCM
Membership Secretary:	Mrs J. Small
Official Accompanist:	Mr. Leslie Phillips BMus (Lond) ARCM

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