A decade of local music

Pianist Yoon Chung, the Artistic Director of the Islington Proms, played a Beethoven concerto to close last year’s festival.

The first issue of The Arlingtonian announced that 2012 was the Year of Music at St James’. That’s when the concert series known as the Islington Proms was founded by Fr John Burniston, vicar of our local church in Prebend Street.

Fr John wrote back then: ‘It really was launched on a wing and a prayer. With only very limited funding and just a few musical contacts, we were amazed at just how much interest the concerts generated – and how high the standard of performance was.’

Since then, our local music festival has grown in scope and ambition, and now attracts performers with national and international reputations.

This year’s Proms run from 9 to 24 September and promise the usual mix of top-quality music – orchestral, choral, chamber music, solo singers, an organ recital etc – together with talks on art and music and an art exhibition in the church.

As a curtain-raiser, the traditional Pocket Prom will take place on 12 June, starting at 4pm in the Vicarage garden, 1a Arlington Square. Bring a picnic and enjoy arias and songs from operatic sop rano Tanya Hurst and swinging jazz from the Martin Klute Trio.

For more information, visit the website: www.islingtonproms.com. Or to join the mailing list, email contact@islingtonproms.com.