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This year was always going to be special for me. It was my first festival as Chairman and it was the first festival since Donald died. Even so, I didn't realise just how special it would be and I would like to thank, from the bottom of my heart, all of those involved: the performers the helpers, the local people, the audience and whoever organised such glorious weather. Even the cloudburst on Iona soon dried up and a number of our players, whose names I could reveal, went skinny dipping in the deceptively cold water off the north beach. It may look like the Caribbean on such a beautiful day, and it is true that the water is warmed by the Gulf Stream, but that just stops it being icy.

I have received positive comments from everyone who attended and we have made lots of new friends: a couple from Northern Ireland were so taken with the first concert they attended that they followed us round the island in their yacht: finally fetching up in Oban on Saturday night.

Musically, every concert I went to was a triumph: Gaby’s group in Dervaig; Marcia’s group in Salen Church and Levon’s in Craignure.

The Iona Abbey concert is always a joy, and despite the ridiculously early start to get there, I think I prefer the concert at 11.30. In the afternoon the time constraints on day trippers means that they cannot stop to listen. Moreover, having paid Historic Scotland to get in, they have every right to look around even though a concert is going on. In the morning the audience consists of those who have come especially, and the abbey was still packed, This year I had a seat at the front but in past years (when I used to try to manage the flow of visitors) I would usually hear the concert from the porch. The acoustic of the building is such that it is a surprisingly good place to hear every note, however softly played, with remarkable clarity. Don't all try it next year - it is a very small porch!

This year one of the guests at the Abbey was very kind to Marcia, lending her a hairdryer and making her a cup of tea. She was amazed to find on reading the programme that she had been 'entertaining an angel unawares' - Marcia, when a member of the Nash Ensemble, was one of her heroes!

Of course I think all our musicians are angels. We are very lucky that they give their time to play to mere mortals like me. If you have been to the festival before, please come again. If you haven't, please try to set aside a week next year to enjoy superlative music in the superlative setting of the Inner Hebrides.

Marilyn

Mendelssohn on Mull were delighted to put a special portrait of Mendelssohn on public display for the first time at this year’s Festival.  The portrait was painted during Mendelssohn’s famous first trip to Scotland in 1829 and was on view at the Festival’s final concert in St John’s Cathedral, Oban, on Saturday 4 July 2009 at 7.30pm.  The painting, authenticated by Sotheby’s, is an early work by the Scottish artist Thomas Duncan RSA and has been kindly loaned to the Festival by its owner. The public viewing has been made possible by the generous sponsorship of AXA Art insurance.

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JOIN THE FRIENDS OF THE FESTIVAL!

Marilyn Jeffcoat, Chairman of the Mendelssohn on Mull Trust, extends a warm invitation to you to join the Friends of the Festival. The Festival needs your support to enable it to continue to offer high quality experience to young professional musicians and excellent entertainment. Please click on this link for the application form