Thames Concerts

Thames Concerts - presenting high quality performances in Kingston

Firstly, to start on a positive note, the trustees were delighted that the Cantabile concert on Saturday 5th December went ahead as planned, with a sell-out audience. We extend particular thanks to the wonderful bassist Paul Morgan, who stepped in at the last moment to replace an indisposed Mike Pratt (who had contracted Covid-19).

Thames Concerts’ supporters will be well-aware of the challenges that the music industry has faced over these past few months. We have tried our best to run the series as fully as possible through these difficult times, whilst also supplying first-rate musicians for the Surbiton Farmers’ Markets. Generous remuneration has of course been offered to all series performers who have had their concerts with us cancelled.

The latest restrictions announced earlier this week cannot be ignored. On a practical note, it is not just the concerts themselves that are the issue. Performers must rehearse together safely in advance, and they must find venues that will allow them to do this. Even if restrictions are lifted in February, those and other logistical issues remain, and there are of course other unknowns, such as the unexpected need for a performer to self-isolate, which could jeopardise a concert completely. We have therefore been left with no choice but to cancel the remainder of the present series.

We wish all our supporters the best for 2021 and look forward to welcoming you back to concerts in our next series, which starts on Saturday 16th October.