Aldeburgh Music professional musicians to work with leading conductors, soloists and orchestral principals in both the Britten–Pears Orchestra and the Britten–Pears Baroque Orchestra. Many of the masterclasses are open to the public, and each course culminates in a public performance, including at the Aldeburgh Festival and Snape Proms. Auditions are held across the world, now using modern technology to access countries on the other side of the globe. In 2012, the Britten-Pears Orchestra was conducted by Antonello Manacorda, performing Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony at Snape Maltings Concert Hall at Easter. Previous conductors of the BPO include Edward Gardner, Oliver Knussen, Kirill Karabits, Vasily
Shifnal Festival Shifnal Festival The Shifnal Festival was an annual Music, Arts and Culture Festival held in the market town of Shifnal, Shropshire. Little is known about the origins of the festival. A book published in 1904 by Harold Sadler suggests the festival was a local event held in the grounds of Aston Hall to the east of the town. Aston Hall was at the time owned by Colonel McClean. Sadler's book marks the festival as being The Hadley Orpheus Choir's first competitive success. Research carried out as part of the Shifnal Town Plan in 2008 suggested residents of the town were