Adam Chamber Music Festival sets record

Adam Chamber Music Festival sets record

Nelson¹s Adam Chamber Music Festival has set a new record, with ten of the 19 concerts sold out. In all around 3500 people attended concerts during the fortnight long festival, which started on January 26th and finished on Saturday night (10th Feb).

A survey of concert goers indicates sixty percent of them travelled to Nelson for the festival, with almost a quarter coming from overseas. Festival Manager Ro Cambridge says after sixteen years and nine festivals the Adam is really Œon the map.

It is extremely pleasing to note that 73% of our patrons attend three or more performances - these are mainly people with a high discretionary income who are choosing to holiday in Nelson and to stay for an extended period - perhaps the Adam is the new WOW that we are all looking for,² she said (referring to Nelson¹s loss of the WearableArt Awards to Wellington two years ago).

Adam trust chair Colleen Marshall said while ticket sales were satisfying they were just one measure of success.

More importantly the calibre of the visiting musicians and the quality of the music has been recognised by local reviewers and national music critics here for the festival,² she said. ³Our own New Zealand String Quartet which includes the festival¹s founder Douglas Beilman and its musical directors Helene Pohl and Gillian Ansell has surpassed itself, pulling exquisite performances out of the hat night after night, while the visiting stars such as Canadian clarinettist James Campbell and the wonderful Michelanglo String Quartet from Europe had standing ovations at every concert.

Although the Adam Chamber Music Festival employs a professional manager, it depends largely on the support of volunteers during the festival itself. Visiting musician James Campbell, who is the director of Canada¹s 27 year old Festival of the Sounds, said this helps make the Adam the friendliest festival he has ever attended.

It is the love of music that makes the Adam Festival special - I have never experienced such a high quality of listening from the audience. Nelson has something very special here.

ENDS

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