I’ve just received some great news that the UK Arts Council have agreed once again to help support our next rural tour.

Confirmation about the 10+ date tour will follow shortly.

Sadly, we are nearing the last concert in our premiere tour around Shropshire having just completed three consecutive Saturday evening performances at Cleobury Mortimer Parish Hall, the Victoria Hall in Broseley and the Red House in Albrighton (near Wolverhampton).

The feedback from all of the shows has been very positive and appreciative which is obviously great to hear.  We were overwhelmed with the comments of well-wishing and constructive support.  There were questionaires available to offer any suggestions to how we could improve as I’m very keen to know how we can make the concerts and our music as enjoyable as possible for everyone’s benefit.  While I’m on the subject I’ll take this opportunity to thank the audience members for taking the time and even writing complete pages of useful comments!  Many of these we have taken on board resulting in changes to the layout and programme.

Cleobury Mortimer

First let me say a big thanks to everyone who came along to the concert premiere at St Leonard’s Church in Bridgnorth – it was a great opening to the tour and very well received. How do I know this? Well I asked the audience to fill in a brief questionnaire (no, it wasn’t quite the drudgery it sounds!) and rate each piece so that I’ve got an idea of what’s liked out of the music we play. Typically the concert has about 16 or so pieces of music and not all of these are going onto the album so it’s important to me to see what is most enjoyed. Our music varies from the slow melancholy adagios to some quite upbeat almost ‘pop’ style pieces so it’s great to know what our listeners prefer. I’m really happy to report that it was well appreciated – well at least according to our questionnaires!

St Leonards Church, Bridgnorth

I must say thank you to the supporters and sponsors including our headline sponsor for this five date tour FBC Manby Bowdler LLP for helping make this tour possible. The support from the local businesses of Bridgnorth and the surrounding area has been absolutely fantastic.

Finally, we raised £55 from the prize draw in aid of Macmillan Cancer Support.

The first six dates have been announced. Fordante are playing the following dates:

Saturday 8th November Birmingham (as part of the Gigbeth Music Festival)

Saturday 13th December St Leonard’s Church, Bridgnorth, Shropshire

Saturday 24th January Cleobury Parish Hall, Cleobury Mortimer, Shropshire

Saturday 31st January The Victoria Hall, Broseley, Shropshire

Saturday 7th February The Red House, Albrighton, Shropshire

Saturday 28th February Chelmarsh Village Hall, Shropshire

Further information can be found on the Concerts page.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Arts Council (West Midlands) for their support and the Musicians Union for their assistance.