Music festival bookings taken

Bookings are being taken for the Pearl Beach Progress Associations annual music festival over the Queens Birthday Long Weekend from June 12 -14

Treasurer Tom Sarti said that ticket applications made before May 12 would qualify people for significant discounts as will a series ticket covering all five concerts over the three-day weekend.

"The early bird booking benefit over the five concert program can bring meaningful savings on ticket prices," he said.

The concerts are presented in the Progress Association's Memorial Hall in Diamond Rd, Pearl Beach, which has a limited capacity seating.

"While this provides an ideal atmosphere for chamber music, it makes the commercial side of the venture difficult because bookings have to be accepted strictly in date order in which they are received," he said.

"That's why we are encouraging audiences to make their bookings as early as possible so that we can ensure tickets are made available in the correct manner."

The 2004 program covers a wide spectrum of music and a broad cross section of musical ensembles.

The opening concert in the afternoon of June 12 will feature young Australian musicians.

A wind quintet drawn from Sydney Youth Orchestra will present a wide range of music for wind instruments.

Prior to the beginning of the concert, the Festival's official opening will take place by Central Coast ABC broadcaster Scott Levi.

Other program components of the Festival will include the Saturday evening concert by one of Australia's leading a cappella vocal groups, The Voice Squad, a recent winner of a Sydney Cabaret Convention Gold Award.

The highly acclaimed Tank Stream String Quartet, which has just returned from a successful tour of Japan, will also perform as well as the Renaissance Men.

The Monday morning (11am) concert will be given by Romanza Ensemble.

The Pearl Beach Progress Association uses all proceeds from the festival for its environmental projects.

Bookings can only be made by telephone and are currently being taken on 4343 1455 or 4341 5053.

The official opening will be at 3pm on the Saturday.

Tickets cost $27.50 for single tickets booked before May 12 and $30 for tickets booked after. Series bookings are $125 for five concerts and children 8-16 are half price for all bookings.

Press release, April 30