The next Ageas Salisbury International Arts Festival will launch on Friday 22 May 2015 with Market Songs, a large-scale music-theatre commission that will take over the city’s Market Place and its surrounding streets for one summer evening.

Composer Michael Betteridge is writing a new collection of market songs, rounds, choruses and cries that will explore the medieval trades around which the city’s early life flourished.  400 singers, working with Michael and music director Howard Moody, will animate streets that retain their trade names to this day – Butcher Row, Fish Row and Silver Street to name a few – before coming together in the Market Place for the evening’s spectacular finale.

Building on the success of 2014’s Voices from No Man’s Land, which explored the Christmas Truce of 1914, Market Songs will celebrate Salisbury’s early history, and also traditions that continue to the present day, using song to bring centuries of colourful stories to life. 

We are looking for 400 singers, men and women (18 years and over) who together will create this opening event of the 2015 Ageas Salisbury International Arts Festival.  Come along for an introductory workshop at Sarum Academy, Westwood Road, Salisbury SP2 9HS on Saturday 10 January, 10am – 1pm, to find out more.

If possible, register in advance with Sue Kent on sue [at] salisburyfestival.co.uk or 01722 332241.

https://www.salisburyfestival.co.uk/editorial.php?ref=400singers