The President’s Message

It is with great pleasure that we present you with the 2009 Camden Haven Music Festival programme. We hope you enjoy the high quality offerings, which cover a range of musical genre.

The classical component of the Festival during the opening weekend should please classical music lovers. It offers a feast of musical delights beginning with “Candlelight Fantasie” on Friday evening. Our Young Virtuosi concert introduces for the first time at the Festival the hauntingly beautiful sound of the Chinese harp and the prestigious Sydney Chamber Choir provides the Sunday afternoon finale to this first weekend. We feel sure there is something to please the most discerning classical music palette or palate.

The second part of the Festival programme offers lovers of diverse music a choice of world music, blues, jazz, klezmer and gospel. Past audiences will be pleased by the return of the popular Saturday evening jazz concert.

We are happy to be working with Camden Haven Chamber of Commerce Industry & Tourism and Hastings Valley Fine Art Association to again present a final Festival weekend of music, art and wonderful local produce. The successful 2008 Slice of Haven, will return even bigger and better, accompanied by a three-day art show and competition awarding the best interpretation of “The Spirit of the Camden Haven”. Our Festival will conclude with a free outdoor jazz concert on Sunday afternoon on the banks of the Camden Haven River.

We welcome visitors to our beautiful area and urge you to join us in Celebrating the Spirit of Music and we wish you a wonderful Camden Haven Music Festival experience.

Dr Chrystine Bouffler, President
on behalf of the Management Committee

The Patron’s Message

That wonderful time of year for music lovers is fast approaching: the Camden Haven Music Festival! How fortunate we are to have such a festival in this area. Thanks must go to you the community, who have shown such reassuring support for the continuation of the festival.

For many of us times are more uncertain now than they have been for several decades. It’s easy to be concerned about the future for ourselves, our families and friends. A music festival may be considered an extravagance. However, history has taught us that during the difficult periods the arts continue to flourish. New movements and directions are borne out of adversity and seemingly in spite of adversity. As a community which values the performing and visual arts we know how the transient experience of listening to a beautiful piece of music, looking at a painting or piece of sculpture can lift our spirits. For the time being our daily worries can be set aside; maybe they can be diminished permanently.

Looking through the program you will see the number of performances has been reduced. Be assured that the quality and variety is of the same high standard as past years. The organising committee has worked long and carefully in selecting this exciting program. There is something to suit most tastes, to entertain you and to expand your musical experience. I trust that you will thoroughly enjoy the 2009 Camden Haven Music Festival.

Ensi Payne

2009 FESTIVAL HOME PAGE

OUR VISION STATEMENT

The Camden Haven Music Festival (CHMF) strives to deliver a festival of national significance that provides a unique celebration of fine and diverse musical experiences

The Camden Haven area occupies the southern part of the Greater Port Macquarie region, and is approximately half way between Taree and Port Macquarie on the mid north coast of NSW. It is a region graced with some of the best weather and scenery in Australia.

For 14 years the Camden Haven Music Festival (CHMF) has welcomed visitors and locals to participate in one of the country’s most enjoyable regional festivals.

In 2009 our Festival performances will be presented in venues in Laurieton, North Haven, Kendall Wauchope and Port Macquarie. We offer music in a variety of styles, dance and theatre, in a friendly atmosphere served with typical country hospitality.

THE THREE BROTHERS STORY

William Barton

A capacity audience in the shadow of “Big Brother” Mountain at Laurieton was privileged to hear the world premiere of William Barton and Sean O’Boyle’s specially commissioned musical work “Ancient Souls, Ancient Land’ commissioned to mark the 10th Camden Haven Music Festival (CHMF) in March 2005.

>> READ MORE about the Three Brothers Project and to order your copy of the CD “Ancient Souls Ancient Land”

EXPRESSION OF INTEREST

We invite expressions of interest to fill the role of artistic director from 2010 to 2012.

We would be happy to hear from suitably experienced individuals who believe they can contribute their skills and talents to uphold the Vision and Objectives of the Camden Haven Music Festival (CHMF) and who can work with the Management Committee to continue building on the Festival’s growing prestige and attraction to local and visiting audiences.

You will be required to submit a CV, with testimonials and recommendations particularly relevant to working with volunteer committees, demonstrating a wide musical interest and solid contacts within the professional music and performance industry. A personal interview will follow with those candidates who are shortlisted.

Further information can be obtained by contacting the Festival Director Alvena Ferguson on 02 6556 9622 or emailing chmf@tsn.cc