Southport Strings

Southport Strings will be performing in the arcade from 1pm – 3pm.

Southport String Ensemble is directed and coached by Sarah Marks. It is a group of young people aged 8 – 18 most of whom started their musical journey aged 2/3 with Sarah in her Music Playtime early years classes where they toddled their first country dances. Once at school the children moved on to violin lessons and meet once a fortnight to play folk tunes and study the classical string orchestra repertoire. Interest and enjoyment of traditional folk music has come from regular Ceilidhs given by Sarah’s Band, Gallimaufry and workshops on fiddle, bodhran and long sword. Southport Strings won the Talleyman Trophy at Fylde Folk Festival in 2012, with a group of 20! The Strings have been guests at the Fylde Folk Festival for the last two years where they have played at several venues and opened the Grand Final concert in the Marine Hall. Southport Strings also have a very active classical programme. There are three orchestras, Juniors, Intermediates and Seniors. Their programme includes well known classical pieces like Handel’s Water music and Vivaldi’s Four Seasons through to Holst’s St Paul’s Suite, Bartok ‘s Ten Pieces for String Orchestra, Grieg’s Holberg Suite, Philip Glass, Gerald Finzi, to name a few. Over the years they have toured to Germany, Prague, Tuscany, Carinthia, Amsterdam, Budapest, Isle of Wight, Black Forest and recently, Finland.