The Martinborough Music Festival & Covid 19
It will come as no surprise to many that the Martinborough Music Festival (MMF) to be held from 25-27 September, 2020 has had to be cancelled.
Two main events influenced the decision. Both to do with border control.
Firstly, Australia has tightened up its exit border controls considerably only allowing those whose journey can be considered essential to leave that country. Since four of our musicians were coming from Australia, their participation cannot be guaranteed.
Another musician was coming from Japan. Altogether these overseas musicians numbering five, are more than half of the eight musicians participating in the Festival. This latest information has made further planning with certainty unviable.
Secondly, the control breaches at the New Zealand border for incoming travellers and subsequent measures put in place to rectify this further undermines continuing with Festival planning.
The programme for the 2020 MMF was a chamber music lover’s dream. It is anticipated that this programme (or parts of it) can be rolled over for the MMF 2022. Planning and securing artists for MMF 2021 is already underway.
Needless to say, the MMF team wish they had better news for their audiences. The team are now looking at presenting an alternative chamber music treat this Spring and pressing ahead with our planned local Schools’ programme.
Keep watching this space and visiting the MMF website! Winifred Bull
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