Six outstanding churches along the Roman River valley in Essex – Copford, Peldon, East Mersea, Layer Marney, Abberton and Fingringhoe - will resonate with music played by leading national and international classical, jazz, folk and world musicians.Copford Church, whose frescoes are an architectural treasure of international repute, is the setting for an intimate folk recital by 25-year-old Bella Hardy, whose mesmerising voice and heart-aching lyrics are already making a stir.
Our chamber concert features the young horn virtuoso Katie Pryce (who won the brass section of the BBC Young Musician of the Year aged 15), James Willshire and Daisy Jopling in Brahms’ majestic Horn Trio and Britten's beautiful setting of some of the most evocative English poetry - the Serenade for Tenor, Horn and Piano, with the silvery voice of Christopher Lemmings, who also gives a recital of songs on Sunday morning in East Mersea.
Don't miss the amazing improvisations of David Gordon on Sunday morning, part of the song and cello recital in East Mersea.
The festival opens with the collaboration of two fizzing performers: a rap/funk violinist from New York and a choir specialising in soul music, and closes with the infectious rhythms and brilliant improvisations of the irrepressible Brass Volcanoes. James Willshire is the classical artist spotlight at our candlelit concert in Fingringhoe.
Our festival artist this year is the renowned water-colourist and etcher Charles Bartlett, who has generously given us use of this image for our festival publicity.
We will be offering £3 tickets to anyone under 30 years old. We continue the tradition of our popular social evening at the village hall and of a free concert at one of the churches. In the words of a festival-goer last year: “We are so lucky to be able to hear and watch first class musicians in our rural setting ... a wonderful feast.”
