festival history

The Festival has been a part of Bournemouth’s history since 1926 when Sir Dan
Godfrey, founder conductor of the Bournemouth Municipal (now Symphony) Orchestra,
gathered together several supporters of the newly-formed British Federation of Music
Competitive Festivals. A Town meeting was called to consider their proposal that “A
Music Competitions Festival should be held in the following year”

This was very well received and from that time progress was rapid and support from the
residents of Bournemouth enthusiastically received resulting in the first Festival being
held in the old Winter Gardens Theatre in July 1927 when 7000 competitors from all
parts of the country came together to compete in music, elocution and folk dancing.

From this beginning has grown the Festival as we know it today.

MUSIC is performed in every possible genre from young vocalists to pensioner pianists
with accomplished recitals by people of all ages providing the exciting atmosphere that
the Festival enjoys.

DANCE still includes National dances from many lands, but now encompasses both
classical and Modern dancing for ages from 3 to 21. The Dance Festival has become so
popular that the classes take place over a period of 6 to 7 days. The Festival supports
the All England Dance Festival and all the Dance Classes are based on their
requirements biannually.

DRAMA is also one of the most popular disciplines in the Festival with many schools
taking part as well as solo performances from talented pupils of all ages. The Festival
regularly introduces modern technology such as radio and television classes.

In 2012 The Bournemouth Music Competitions Festival will be celebrating its 84th year
of providing a public platform for competitors to take part in an established and
renowned Festival. (During the Second World War the Festival did not take place one
year).

All the adjudicators who come to Bournemouth are members of the National and
International Association of Festivals, as is the Bournemouth Festival itself; offering the
highest possible standard of adjudication for every competitor.

The Board of Trustees is dedicated to maintaining this reputation and it is hoped that
Sir Dan Godfrey would be delighted to learn that his vision in 1926 has become a major
event in the Bournemouth music, dance and drama calendars.