The Aims of the Elgar in Hereford Group
Registered Charity No. 1100709
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The initial aim of the group, to erect a statue of the composer to stand in the city, has now been achieved. It was unveiled by Dame Janet Baker in September 2005. A national competition had been held to identify a suitable sculptor and the commission was awarded to Jemma Pearson.
Jemma trained as a sculptor at the City and Guild of London Arts College where she won the Madame Tussauds Sculpture prize in her graduation year and was also awarded a travel scholarship to study at the British School in Rome. Her statue of Charles Darwin as a young man, displayed at Shrewsbury School, is perhaps her other best known large scale work. Currently both these eminent Britons arre celebrated on our Banknotes, Darwin on the £10, Elgar on the £20! For the Elgar commission Jemma undertook extensive research into the man, his work and his bicycle - as this formed an important part of his life in Herefordshire.
The group seeks to maintain the statue and to celebrate Elgar's immense achievements while living in Hereford. Here he composed many of his greatest works including his two symphonies, the violin concerto and the oratorio The Kingdom. His years here were certainly among the most creative of his life.
A programme of concerts, music workshops, talks and visits is organised for members and the public, while two annual Music Awards are also promoted. One is awarded in May of each year, going to a person or group deemed to have made a sufficiently high standard contribution to the musical life of the county. The other is for a Junior Music Group, under the auspices of the Herefordshire Competitive Festival for Music, Dance, Speech and Drama in March/April.