The NYS Sculpture
This sculpture was commissioned by the Society to celebrate the Millennium and also the importance of Lewesian Nicholas Yonge to the development of music in this country and the major part he played in bringing the Italian Madrigal to England.
The cast bronze figures are by Austin Bennett who had previous commissions for work at the Royal Opera House, Shell and Sainsburys. The stone plinth was created by Geoffrey Aldred, a local stonemason, carver and letter cutter.
There has been no attempt to portray Nicholas Yonge himself, but rather to mark the bringing of the Italian Madrigal to England. This is strikingly illustrated by the vitality and strong sense of movement in the two striding singing figures. The sculpture, sited in a prominent position in the Grange Gardens, Lewes, was unveiled in September 2000 by Mrs Catherine Moore, wife of the late Stephen Moore, and Mrs Juliet Fitch, daughter of the late James Reeves, joint founders of the Nicholas Yonge Society.
Thanks are due to Lewes District Council for a substantial grant and providing and preparing the site, Roche Diagnostics for a substantial donation, the Mettyear Charitable Trust for a substantial interest free loan, and Trusts and Individual Donors.