Music in Thanet
Some links for those interested in playing music in and around Thanet. These links are primarily for classical music, with some jazz etc.; Thanet Youth Music Action Zone (at Pie Factory Music; a.k.a. Kent Music Scene), Oonagi, Music in Kent or Kent Gigs.
- Thanet Light Orchestra (amateur group playing anything from Bach to the Beatles, mainly for their own fun; meets in Broadstairs; keen to recruit string players)
- Thanet Music & Drama Festival (annual amateur competitive festival for both children and adults, with some non-competitive classes; not restricted to Thanet residents; also includes a dance section)
- Thanet Concert Band (amateur wind band)
- Thanet Community Music (part of Kent Music School; tuition, wind / string / steel bands, and more); the successor to Thanet Music Centre and the Thanet Youth Orchestra
- Strings and Things (Broadstairs; currently e-mail only)
- Thanet Male Voice Choir (Broadstairs; currently e-mail only)
- Thanet Festival Choir (Ramsgate)
- Seventy Choir (since 1944; Broadstairs)
- Broadstairs and St Peter's Concert Band: email or see UK Amateur Orchestras
- Birchington Silver Band (since 1930s; frequent concerts)
- Cantate (professional chamber choir; Ramsgate)
- Ken and Jocelyn Emptage (piano tuition & tuning; Margate)
- Dave Corsby (jazz composer / arranger / performer; Birchington)
- Chalumeux Sounds / Thanet Concert Clarinets (wind quartet; Birchington: 846427)
- Harry & Mandy Cook (classical, jazz, & oompah bands / tuition; Birchington)
- Theatre Royal (Margate venue)
- Broadstairs Folk Week (very popular event in August)
- Winter Gardens (Margate venue)
A few links not limited to Thanet:
- Kent Coastal Concert Band (based in Herne Bay)
- Herne Bay Concert Band (based in Kent!)
- Snowdown Colliery Male Voice Choir
- The Becker (professional Sandwich ensemble; also list of classical events in SE Kent)
- Whitstable Music Society (regular concerts with professional musicians)
- Let the Children Sing (massed choral workshops)
- Canterbury Choral Society (long established amateur choir)
- Crowthers of Canterbury (music shop, including sheet music, instruments, repairs, etc.)
- Strings Direct (buy strings / accessories etc. online)
- Thanington School of Music (near Canterbury)
- Canterbury Festival (annual professional festival of the arts)
- New Kent Opera (professional group performing throughout Kent)
- Marlowe Theatre, Canterbury
- Mr Gig (guide to venues & groups in the South East, both classical and otherwise)
- South East Arts
- National Federation of Music Societies
- Amateur Chamber Music Players (international network)
Some pieces connected with Thanet
- Royden Barrie and Kennedy Russell wrote a song praising St Nicholas at Wade in 1924
- Bill Worland wrote a suite of light music called Broadstairs in "1960-2000" (!)
- Thomas Dunhill apparently wrote a choral piece called "Thanet"
If you have any queries or can add to the information above, please email Ben Jones
