Havering 60+ Musician of the Year
Friday 17 October 2008

Hornchurch artiste crowned Havering 60+ Musician of the Year

Hornchurch accordion-player Jon Polden is over the moon after winning the Havering 60+ Musician of the Year competition held at the Queen’s Theatre.

Jon was crowned victor of the annual contest, organised by the theatre in Billet Lane, Hornchurch, last Friday, in partnership with the London Borough of Havering, Age Concern Havering and Havering Music School.

His winning delivery of traditional Scottish and continental melodies The Furrow’s End and The Yodelling Polka played on a trusty accordion clearly struck a chord with the panel of judges, consisting of Queen’s Theatre Artistic Director Bob Carlton, Arts Development Officer for the London Borough of Havering, Jo Delaney, Queen’s Theatre Musical Director Carol Sloman. Matthew Strover, winner of Havering Young Musician of the Year 2008, who is studying cello at the Junior Royal Academy of Music, and Mike Palfreman, Chief Executive of Age Concern Havering.

Multi-talented Jon also plays the piano and organ and is choirmaster and organist at St Augustine Church, Rush Green. A retired school teacher of children with special needs, he now works as an Audio Describer at the Queen’s Theatre for partially-sighted audience members and also volunteers for the Havering Talking Newspaper, a newspaper recorded onto cassette catering for the blind and partially-sighted.

Jon was among the competition’s 21 entrants, who were aged between 64 and 85 and hailed from Romford, Hornchurch, Upminster, Harold Wood, Harold Hill, Rainham, Elm Park, Collier Row, Cranham and Rise Park.

Some 150 audience members filled the Queen’s Theatre Foyer and enjoyed a fabulous fusion of classical, swing, country, folk and Music Hall melodies, with even some rock and pop thrown in. Contestants sang and played an array of musical instruments including the guitar, harmonica, ukulele and piano.

After much deliberation by the panel, Havering Deputy Mayor Cllr Pam Light announced the result and presented Jon with a trophy and CD vouchers worth £25 donated by Havering Music School.

Now in its sixth successful year, the Havering 60+ Musician of the Year competition is the sister event to the long-standing annual Havering 60+ Art Competition and Havering 60+ Creative Writing Competition and also an extension of the Havering Young Musician of the Year and Havering Junior Musician of the Year events.

Jon beamed: “I’ve enjoyed playing the accordion ever since I first learned to as a teenager and am particularly fond of German and Swiss tunes. I’m surprised that I won and very pleased!”

Queen’s Theatre Artistic Director Bob Carlton added: “The standard of performance was very high so it was a difficult decision to make but we were very impressed with Jon’s recital. It was a delightful afternoon and a brilliant, rare opportunity to encourage older people to display their musical ability.”