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- Victoria Hall
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- HWGT Winner Claudia Fivaz
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- Eric’s Blues Band
Hartley Wintney’s Victoria Hall is an award-winning venue and one which has served our community and visitors for over 100 years. Providing a spacious and flexible setting for live music and live performances, never before in their long history has the stage and auditorium been laid so bare and barren.
Late last year though the folks at Victoria Hall thought enough is enough, COVID-19 and a national lockdown will not crush the community spirit among us, “the show must go on” as they say. The show did go on, it went online. The thinking was to spread some cheer and celebrate the local and wider community with a talent competition, Hartley Wintney’s Got Talent was born.
The competition was simple enough and open to everyone living in Hampshire and Surrey. All the talented folks had to do was record themselves doing some good, i.e. singing, dancing, juggling, carving a piece of fruit to look exactly like Sir David Attenborough, beatbox or belly dance etc. Then they had to bravely submit that video and put it to the vote of the community, your neighbours suddenly become Simon Cowell and the other judges as it was up to them who was crowned champion and who would receive the voucher on offer.
CommunityAd had the pleasure of speaking with Jon Hearson from Victoria Hall:
So, why did this fantastic community event take place?
The event took place to bring some joy and happiness to the local and wider communities.
In normal times we run between 42 and 48 events every year ranging from live streams from the Royal Opera House and the National Theatre to live music and specialist talks. Whilst HWGT could not replace these events we hope that people enjoyed this social media event.
And do we know the answer to the question: does Hartley Wintney have talent?
We are so grateful to those who took part and all those who entered really showed what talent there is in the community. Our Facebook page was visited over 10,000 times and the performances were viewed on YouTube.
We are delighted to announce that the winner was Claudia Fivaz:
“I am a local mum of 2 and singing has always been a part of my life from school choir, school plays, voice training, singing at weddings and Amateur Dramatics musicals. I now sing for a living (lucky me!) as I teach Music with Mummy classes in Hartley Wintney, Hook and Church Crookham. It’s just the best that I get to share my love of music with so many families and be a part of creating their love for music and singing.”
Many of the entries were so good that we are planning to hold a live local talent evening later in the year.
What makes this a special community to be a part of?
Hartley Wintney is proud of its heritage and the strength of its community spirit having many community groups. It is a traditional village with events like the Wassail Night, the summer fair not to mention the iconic cricket ground and village pub. Its commons and woodlands encourage people to venture out for exercise and the High Street with its varied shops in normal times is a buzz of activity.
Are there any planned events at Victoria Hall that readers should be aware of?
Rest assured that when we are allowed, we will continue with terrific events in both the Victoria and Jubilee Halls.