Mayfield pupils participate in prestigious Mayfield Festival

The Mayfield Festival is an internationally renowned biannual celebration of music and the arts set in the picturesque Sussex village of Mayfield. This year, the  girls of St Leonards-Mayfield School were once again privileged to be offered the opportunity to participate in such a prestigious event.

Once again the Festival programme was varied and remarkable, and featured world-class performers from both home and abroad. This year the Festival welcomed to Mayfield the highly esteemed Dame Janet Baker CH DBE, who delivered a lecture on the art of communication in singing; and Sir David Willcocks, who conducted the Mayfield Festival Choir as part of his 90th birthday celebrations.

“In Mayfield we are privileged to enjoy champion artists who share the platform with tomorrow's stars today, as well as champion sponsors who ensure through their generosity that our distinctive festival continues to enrich the community as a whole,” says the Festival’s Artistic Director, Neil Mackie CBE. “Together their generosity of spirit makes the Mayfield Festival the special event it has become.”

Performances featuring Mayfield pupils are listed below.

St Dunstan and the Devil

Taking the legend of St Dunstan that surrounds the village, the girls of St Leonards-Mayfield School explored the life and travels of Dunstan, bringing to life some of the folklore attached to this intriguing and fascinating man.

A mix of modern music and Baroque accompanied the piece, with the latter beautifully played live by Mayfield pupils. Lively, energetic and thought-provoking, St Dunstan and the Devil offered a thought provoking and enlightening celebration of the man who created the coronation ceremony still used today and was one of the most famous Archbishops of Canterbury that ever lived.

Festival Eucharist

On Sunday 25 April a special Eucharist was celebrated at St Dunstans Parish Church, Mayfield. The Reverend Nigel Prior, Vicar of St Dunstan's Church was joined by guest preacher, The Reverend Bruce Saunders, who is Canon Pastor of Southwark Cathedral.