Kensington Olympia Festival is back this Week

---

Offering concerts, architectural walk and masquerade charity dinner

The Kensington Olympia Festival of Music and the Arts. or KOFMA is back for a third year with events taking place throughout this week.

KOFMA serves the local community of the Kensington Olympia and Hammersmith area with the aim of promoting music and the arts, and to do so by providing a platform for young, emerging artists to perform their talents in this local area in a series of concerts and events.

On Tuesday, 10 October, there is a Public MasterClass followed by a Concert featuring up & coming vocal stars presented by Ashley Stafford, 21 years vocal professor at RCM, London, singer, teacher and an osteopath with special interest in the support and development of healthy singing for all, whatever their age or level of experience.

Visitors are invited to to attend either/both the masterclass between 12.30pm and 6pm and concert from 8pm to 9.30pm at St Luke's Church at 450 Uxbridge Road.

This event takes place in two complimentary parts.
The afternoon session will take the form of a performance workshop where the seven singers taking part in the evening recital will prepare their work with the guidance of Ashley Stafford in the presence the public.

The audience will be able to interact with the singers, as they discuss the nature of performance and its demands.

The evening performance will continue the theme, moving from workshop to performance. Ashley will continue to coach the singers as they perform before the public and help both singers and audience gain a deeper insight into the nature and challenges of performance.

On 11 October, from 10.30am till midday, there is an architectural walk called Discovering Hammersmith, led by Caroline MacMillan. Starting at the Bicycle parklet outside Brackenbury Deli, the walk will go through Brackenbury Village with its charming terraced streets the walk continues through Ravenscourt Park, where a Plantagenet king’s mistress once lived and later a Victorian novelist. Gothic follies nestle in leafy gardens in quiet residential streets which over the centuries have been home to writers, actors and pop stars. Every road in this delightful corner of London has an fascinating story to tell.

Caroline MacMillan has lived in west London most of her life and for several years has guided walks in the area. With her in-depth historical knowledge, she brings to life the buildings, streets and open spaces of Hammersmith as well as the people who once lived and worked here. Her walks are informal and informative and, as she always says, "to be enjoyed". For more information, visit West London Walks.

Also on 11 October, there is an Evening of Shakespeare at Holy Trinity Parish Centre at 41 Brook Green from 8pm till 10pm.

This event is created, directed and presented by students from LAMDA, who will delve into all of Shakespeare’s Sonnets that make reference to, "my love" exploring, unpacking and performing these Sonnets in ways you’ve never seen or heard before.

On 12 October, from 8pm till 9.30pm there is a performance at st Luke's Church by A Capella group All the King's Men.

The group's vocal colour and arresting, creative choreography has thrilled audiences across the globe, earning them an international reputation, from South Korea to Moscow and the USA. All The King's Men spent the summer working with Gareth Malone, recording artists Kelis and Bebe Rexha, and Bake Off's Mel Giedroyc, when they became runners up on BBC One’s new singing show, Pitch Battle! performing alongside stars such as Seal, Chaka Khan, and Joe Jonas.

On Friday 13 October, the week closes with a Masquerade Charity Call at Bush Hall, 310 Uxbridge Road from 8pm till midnight. At this year’s gala dinner and auction, food will be prepared by chef Fred Dickieson and his team, wines of Bordeaux by Anthony Barton and music will be provided by The Lallemant Trio and guest violinist Georgina Leach.

Dress code: Formal with a mask.

To find out more and to book tickets to any of these events, visit the website.

October 6, 2017