Cellist Julian Lloyd Webber is just one of the big names appearing at St Mary's Music Festival next month. TONY LELIW speaks to Irene Wears about the exciting programme on offer on the Hill and beyond

It's that time of the year when the phone never stops ringing at Irene Wears office in Whitehall Road, Harrow.

Not that Irene is complaining, but we're trying to do an interview about her involvement as organiser of next month's St Mary's Music Festival.

Scanning the programme I can well understand why the phone is red hot and the answering machine is on overdrive.

The centrepiece of this year's festival is internationally acclaimed cellist Julian Lloyd Webber, who is to play Elgar's Cello Concerto with the Harrow Young Musicians' Symphony Orchestra and Choir, on Sunday, May 17, at Harrow School's Speech Room.

"Julian has very strong views on music education," said Irene, a former civil servant, "and this was an opportunity to get him involved with a lot of young children."

She was also quick to point out that it will be possible to offer special low priced tickets for families bringing their children to the concert, thanks to financial support from the Harrow Times.

Further sponsorship has come from the Harrow Business Centre of NatWest, making it possible for special performances of South American masterworks by Harrow guitarist Andrew Keeping, at St Luke's Day Care Centre in Harrow View and Mencap's Harrow Activity Centre.

"With their help we have also made available low price tickets for our concerts to the long term unemployed which are available through the Employment Development Unit at the Civic Centre," said Irene.

New to the festival this year is the participation of students from Harrow School. Both performances will take place in the School Chapel and admission will be free. The concert on May 12 will be an organ recital. The concert on May 20 will be an early evening concert of chamber music.

The idea of having a music festival at St Mary's was born after the church celebrated its 900th anniversary in 1994. With events being held around the church, the success inspired the then Reverend Ron Swan to argue for a permanent festival.

"I knew Ron through the church and had experience in the music business as administrator of the New London Orchestra, so we had our first music festival in May 1996," said Irene, who has lived in Harrow since 1975.

"The idea was to bring some top names to Harrow and use the very good professional artists living locally. We were spoilt for choice and there were plenty of venues."

The success of last year's festival has not made Irene complacent and she is amazed by the level of enquiries from people well outside the Harrow area.

One part of the programme she is particularly excited about is pianist Jack Gibbons, who is doing a centenary tribute to George Gershwin on Sunday, May 10, at the Ryan Theatre in Harrow School West Street.

"He is absolutely brilliant and has had standing ovations at his concerts," said Irene. "He will be doing Rhapsody in Blue and Porgy and Bess Suite."

The final concert on Friday, May 22, is 15th and 16th century church music from the Eton Choirbook by the Cardinall's Musick. It will be recorded by BBC Radio 3 for future broadcast.

People wishing to get tickets for St Mary's Festival from May 6 to 22, should ring Irene Wears at the festival office on 0181 422 3119, between 10am and 8pm, Monday to Saturday.

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