CO Newsletter March 2025

Dear Creative Oundle friend,

We recently announced details of our 2025 Summer Organ Recitals, which run during the week of our Creative Oundle for Organists Summer School. Recitals will be given by members of our illustrious team of internationally renowned tutors on 11, 13, 15, and 16 of August, with our own students playing the final recital on 17 August.

2025 is a special year for our organ courses, as we mark our 40th anniversary of their founding by James Parsons. Many of you might not realise that here, in our beautiful corner of Northamptonshire, these courses for young organists are happening – but they are, and their impact is recognized around the world!

Our Summer School for intermediate to advanced young organists and our Easter course for beginners have helped over 2000 young organists. We receive testimonies year after year about how COfO courses have changed lives and prepared students for things like university  and cathedral organ scholarship trials and conservatoire auditions.

From one of our 2024 students:

‘I felt the encouragement from the tutors that I really had the ability to thrive in a career of making music on the organ professionally. It also felt like the advice from them gave me a glimpse of what its like to make music at the highest level. Playing the organ can feel like a very isolating thing at times, but being surrounded by other like-minded musicians with similar mindsets filled me with so much confidence and inspiration. The experience I gained will stay with me for a very long time.’

Hear the musicians of the future on 17 August at 2pm in Oundle School Chapel. To read more about how we help young organists, please explore our webpages here https://www.creativeoundle.co.uk/cofo/

Bamboozle played an electrifying set at last year’s Party at the Wharf and we are excited to welcome them back to Oundle on Friday 30th May at Queen Victoria Hall. Get your dancing shoes on to boogie the night away to their alternative Rockabilly tunes supported by the lively T100’s. This event is proudly sponsored by the Talbot Hotel, Oundle. Tickets are available now at https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/creative-oundle

Ronnie Scott’s All Stars direct from London’s world-famous jazz club provide an evening to remember featuring classic music from the jazz greats on July 5th at the Stahl, Oundle.
Tickets are now available https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/creative-oundle

Oundle is now well and truly on the comedy circuit illustrated by the full house at the final event last week. The new series returns on the 26th September, four great evenings are planned for the late 2025 and early 2026. All four shows will be held at Queen Victoria Hall, Oundle and are proudly sponsored by the Lemon Tree Cafe and Restaurant (6 West Street).
As yet the acts and line-ups for the shows have not been finalised. However, we are offering a limited number of tickets for sale at last season’s prices before formally announcing the shows later this year. So, to get the best deal, do not delay. Grab your tickets now!
If you are coming with friends and family it is now possible to book a table for 6 or for 4 at reduced prices!
Tickets available from https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/creative-oundle

Volunteer opportunities

We are always grateful to our band of enthusiastic volunteers who give so much of their time and energy ensuring Creative Oundle continues to provide an exciting programme of events all year round to our community.
To become a volunteer please email info@creativeoundle.co.uk or contact us via our website https://creativeoundle.co.uk.  If you would be interested in getting involved by helping to plan and organise an event email – events@creativeoundle.co.uk.The work is not onerous and you get the enjoyment and satisfaction for helping a good cause.

Our website

If you haven’t taken a look at our website yet it is worth a look as it is updated regularly and contains all our events along with those in the community. Go to http://creativeoundle.co.uk

Community Events

There are many events happening in our lovely town, see the posters below. Alternatively visit our website or Love Oundle | Oundle – A great place to live, visit & do business which both provide details of all sorts of activities.

Your support helps us continue our mission of promoting the arts and fostering creativity within our community.

Warm regards from the Creative Oundle Team