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Here are some of the comments we have received from those attending the English Baroque weekend of of 23rd to 25th March at Dartington:

What a fantastic truly memorable weekend, musically and socially!
Anthony & Jerry Hill (Saltash, Cornwall)

The lectures were perfect but above all, the music! Dido & Aeneas was the best I have ever heard.
Margaret Taylor (Aylesbury, Bucks)

It was an added bonus to find we were able to mingle with the musicians and lecturers. Roger & Diana Hardiman (Kingsbridge, Devon)

The programme was perfect, quite impossible to miss anything so I am now recovering! It was so enjoyable to meet and talk to the musicians.
Elizabeth Todd (Exeter)

Everything about the weekend was a joy – the beautiful setting, the excellent organisation and of course the splendid music.
Maureen Stone (Stonehouse, Glos)

Everything was great and the music divine.......the musical experience quite transcended that of the single performances we have attended over the years.
David and Jackie White (Ringwood, Hants)

It got better each day and I felt the performance of Dido & Aeneas was a wonderful culmination.
Rosemary Ellerbeck (Plymouth)

It was a feast from beginning to end...... Lovely music, great company, good food and drink, amazing weather and wonderful gardens: what more could the heart yearn for?
Keith Dawson (Sidmouth)

Devon Baroque announces that Margaret Faultless has decided to stand down with effect from the end of March as its Leader and Artistic Director after twelve years in these roles. During this time she has brought the orchestra to its present high standard and reputation. The March weekend was her last appearance with the orchestra for a while but she has agreed to act as Guest Director. The Trustees, Committee and players wish to acknowledge the time, energy and inspiration which Margaret has brought to Devon Baroque over the years.

The appointment of the new Artistic Director has been made and Jonathan Watts takes on the role from the end of March.

Jonathan Watts is well known in Devon musical circles, but started his organ training in his native Wales at St Woolos Cathedral in Newport. His plans for a career in medicine changed when he was offered a place to study music at Cardiff University. A scholarship at the end of his university years allowed him to study for his MA in baroque keyboard techniques under Malcolm Boyd. At the same time, Jonathan furthered his organ studies with James Dalton at The Queen’s College Oxford.

In recent years, Jonathan has lived in Devon, and his musical career has matured through involvement with many styles. He has accompanied choirs, singers, and instrumentalists, played in chamber ensembles including Devon Baroque, conducted orchestras, sung in specialist vocal groups, and played continuo organ and harpsichord. He has worked with many eminent musicians, particularly since becoming one of the house accompanists for the Dartington International Summer School, and he is Musical Director of the Dartington Community Choir.

Jonathan was delighted to be able to play with Devon Baroque two years ago and says that he is

thrilled to have been asked to take over from Margaret Faultless as Artistic Director. He plans to build on what she has achieved, and trusts that he can guide the ensemble through its next period of growth, bringing period instrument performances not only to Devon Baroque’s core fans, but to a wider audience as well.

Click here for an extended 'c.v.' of Jonathan.

Click on the logo on the left to see the Devon Baroque Facebook page. Here you can read news snippets, add your comments, notify your friends of up-coming concerts, comment on our concerts, offer suggestions for future programmes and much more.

Devon Baroque playing the second movement (Allegro) from Corelli's Concerto Grosso op6 no6 recorded at a public concert in Wells

For further recordings from the same concert, visit the Baroque Music & Instruments page accessible from The Orchestra page

You will need Quicktime for Mac or Windows to hear the music. If you have not got it in your Applications, it can be downloaded free from:
www.tucows.com
Click on Mac or Windows and enter Quicktime in the Search window.

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