Weymouth & Dorset Music Festival ends after 36 years

Organisers say they have made the decision to end Weymouth & Dorset Music Festival (WDMC) with 'a heavy heart'.

The festival, which was held annually in Weymouth in March, was struggling to continue with a dwindling number of participants and had been running at a financial loss.

The long-established event gave musicians of all ages and abilities a chance to perform in front of a live audience and receive friendly feedback from adjudicators.

David Chitson, speaking on behalf of the WDMC committee, said the decision had not been taken lightly.

He said: "It is with a heavy heart that the committee has decided to end the festival after 36 years.

"This decision has not been taken lightly and comes after a general consultation had been undertaken with schools, music groups and teachers.

"It costs nearly £3,000 to run the WDMF each year and in the last two years it has run at a financial loss.

The situation cannot go on like this.

"Although there are still some funds in the account, the situation can not go on like this."

The Weymouth and Dorset Music Festival gave youngsters the chance to perform in public and receive encouraging feedback (Image: NQ) A last ditch attempt to save the festival and garner local support proved unsuccessful.

Letters were posted and emails were sent to 47 schools, 13 choir groups and 18 music teachers explaining what the WDMF was about and asking for feedback but just four replies were received - with just one being positive.

Mr Chitson said: "Consequently, the decision has had to be made to end the festival. Without the support of the schools, groups and teachers there is little point in continuing.

"The festival ends in the knowledge that it has inspired many young and not so young musicians to go forward with their music over the last 36 years."

READ: Hear talented musicians perform at festival

Duncan Honeybourne had been involved with the Weymouth and Dorset Music Festival for 35 of its 36 years (Image: NQ) Weymouth pianist Duncan Honeybourne, who has been associated with the festival for 35 of its 36 years, said it played a 'crucial' role in his early musical development.

He added: "It introduced me to my teacher at the Royal Academy of Music, where I now work myself. And it gave me an inspiring taste of the wider musical world beyond south Dorset.

Greatly saddened by the festival's demise

"It has been a privilege to maintain the association in recent years as a committee member and artistic advisor, and I’m greatly saddened by the festival’s demise.

"It seems that the musical landscape in Dorset is now very different, and that the interest and support simply isn’t there in a drastically changed world and educational climate.

"So many wonderful memories have been created and so many musicians supported, enthused and inspired by its non-competitive yet purposeful atmosphere.

"I just hope that alternative musical opportunities will continue to be nourished and developed as we move into a very different era, but we can rest in the knowledge that the founder Janet Ferrett’s original vision has been a triumphant success down the years.

"It has enriched countless lives for almost four decades, and its history is something of which the area can be proud.”