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; The Dorking Halls was built to house the Festival and opened in 1931; 'Song for a Spring Festival', written by RVW to celebrate the Festival's 50th year, may only be performed at the Festival; RVW retired as Festival Conductor in 1953, but continued to conduct the St Matthew Passion until 1958; Whilst living in Dorking, RVW composed works including Serenade to Music, Symphonies 4 - 7 and The Pilgrim's Progress; RVW conducted the first combined choirs concert at the Festival on 10 May 1905; The first competition day at the Festival exclusively for children was held in 1921; In 1934 the BBC broadcast part of the Festival performance of Dream of Gerontius; The first Festival performance of the St Matthew Passion in 1931 had 800 singers;

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Events and tickets

The 2015 Festival is Over!

Look here for a report on three wonderful days and the results of the competitions.

Highlights:

Thursday:

World Premiere of John Rutter's Awake Ye Heavenly Choirs, written by him as a special gift to LHMF
Dorking win a close-fought contest to take the aggregate award

Friday:

World Premiere of Bob Chilcott's Dances of Time, commissioned by LHMF as a tribute to Brian Kay on his 20 years as festival conductor
Holmbury St Mary take most of the honours

Saturday:

Cecilia McDowall presents the awards to the choirs who have just sung her Fantasy of Folk Songs
Apart from these is the madrigal Since first I saw your face, where Beare Green & Newdigate start the day at 0920 as they mean to continue, and in just one song win that class and the awards for best madrigal and highest score of the three days.

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Matthew Philips
Simon Ames
Brian Bailey
Richard Dowding
Tony Rowe
Chris Westbey

(Other images – public domain).

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