The Ealing Music and Film Festival is back making 2015 its third year.

With yet another eclectic programme of events to reflect the rich and varied music and film heritage of one of London’s most culturally enriched boroughs this year’s focus is on Poland.

The Festival programme celebrates Ealing’s Polish connections with jewels of music and cinema, some well known and others seen and heard for the first time. 

English Symphony Orchestra

It will take place from February 10 – 15 in and around central Ealing. 

Julian Gallant, the Artistic Director of the Festival said: “It’s simple - our Festival celebrates the deep human and cultural heritage shared by Britain and Poland. That’s what will bind a wide range of musical and cinematic styles, and it’s all happening over five glorious days in Ealing.”

The Festival continues its close association with the University of West London and Ealing Studios and other major venues include the Town Hall, the Church of St Barnabas and Ealing Abbey.

There will be three orchestral concerts, from the English Chamber Orchestra, Ealing Symphony Orchestra and Ealing Youth Orchestra. Solo violinist Kristine Balanas will be performing with the Ealing Symphony Orchestra on the Saturday.

Visitors will also be treated to more intimate performances with the piano music of Frederic Chopin played by virtuoso Julia Samojlo, the incredible choir Tenebrae and live band TJ 'Holyboy' Johnson and the Preachers playing a mix of music including Chicago Blues and Hendrix style RnB.

The world-class - Ealing-based - English Chamber Orchestra, the most recorded chamber orchestra in history, returns to present an exciting programme featuring music by Andrej and Roxanna Panufnik, William Boyce, Wieniawski and Mozart. 

Young bravura pianist Aristo Sham is the soloist in Chopin Piano Concerto in E minor. 

The programme includes Roxanna Panufnik’s Cantator and Amanda, a work specially written for ECO principal bassoonist Julie Price and concludes with a rousing performance of Mozart’s 'Prague' Symphony. 

The evening begins with an interview with Roxanna Panufnik, discussing ‘Music in Exile’.  She is one of the UK’s most popular and loved composers, whose works have struck a deep emotional chord with audiences everywhere.

Internationally renowned violinist Tasmin Little will accompany Ealing Youth Orchestra playing the Sibelius Concerto, a challenging work involving all sections of the orchestra.

Tasmin will then join Julian Gallant in conversation to discuss the Sibelius Concerto and her life as a violin virtuoso at the forefront of classical music.

Sylwie Bialas mixes Polish folksong with modern jazz genres. She sings with the Sirkis/Bialas International Quartet and is joined by star British reeds player Tim Garland. The best of British and Polish contemporary jazz, in one room.

The film programme, in cooperation with Ealing Studios, Ealing Club and the Polish Cultural Institute, will offer a range of feature films.

Screenings will include Kryztof Kieslowski’s 1980 masterpiece Camera Buff as well as The Pianist (2002) and St.Trinian’s (2007).

There will be a Talking Heads discussion with improviser Robert Sholl, who will explain how he rediscovered the excitement of the silent movie era.

Ealing Studios will open their doors for public tours, exploring stages and sets under construction, used in the making of famous film and TV productions.

As before, the Festival has been organised by an independent Charitable Trust of the same name, specially set up by a group of local residents and patron Angie Bray MP , and it is being supported by more than 20 local organisations and businesses including Ealing Council and the University of West London.

Patrick Chapman, Chairman of the Trust, said: “This is our third festival and we are proud to be able to bring this new programme to the Borough and help local young musicians and artists through our scholarships.”

For more information and the full programme, visit www.ealingmusicandfilmfestival.org