Paul Max Edlin has been appointed Artistic Director of Deal Festival of Music and the Arts.
Deal Festival is now in its thirty-third year and it is one of the landmarks of the English music festival scene and a treasured East Kent institution. The Festival brings music and arts lovers from far and wide to enjoy concerts and other events from world-class artists in a selection of fine venues and settings. In the last ten years the Festival has also developed a reputation for its outstanding and influential education and outreach work.
The beautiful and historic coastal town of Deal is one of Britain’s Cinque Ports and boasts two great castles and Britain’s youngest pier. It is located close to the magnificent White Cliffs. It has been home to the Duke of Wellington, Admiral Lord Nelson, and luminaries such as Sir Winston Churchill and Ian Fleming are among its illustrious visitors. Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother regularly stayed at Walmer Castle when she was Warden of the Cinque Ports. For many years it was also home to the Royal Marines School of Music. The Festival embraces the town of Dover and the mediaeval Cinque Port of Sandwich.
Paul Max Edlin’s predecessors include cellist Steven Isserlis, composer David Matthews and cellist and singer Matthew Sharp. However, Paul is not new to this role as he was Artistic Director of the Festival from 2004 to 2010, a period of increasing growth and considerable success.
Paul Max Edlin is delighted to be working once again with Deal Festival and is looking forward to helping develop its work and influence in its pursuit of making the best music and musical opportunities available to the region and further afield.