A charity concert for Ukraine, a full orchestral concert and three chamber music recitals with award-winning artists make up this year’s High Barnet Chamber Music Festival which runs from July 2 to 17.
After last year’s sell-out and critically acclaimed inaugural series, this season’s expanded programme features some of the UK’s brightest young stars such as The Echéa Quartet pictured above as well as local students.
“We’ve been working painstakingly with our artists to craft a varied programme that juxtaposes familiar favourites with less well-known but equally fantastic music” said Artistic Director Joshua Ballance.
Alongside continental and north American repertoire, there are four fantastic British works in the programme. These range from Benjamin Britten’s much-loved Serenade through Elisabeth Lutyens’ powerful Sixth Quartet to Richard Causton’s evocative Sleep. The Festival will also host the world premiere of a new arrangement for string orchestra of Ailsa Dixon’s atmospheric Nocturnal Scherzo.
The concert series was set up to provide a platform for young professional musicians and to stimulate arts and music education in North London and Hertfordshire, while embracing diverse and adventurous programming. The organisation also offers music education opportunities, including masterclasses and a work experience scheme for local students.
It is supported by Arts Council England, The Worshipful Company of Grocers, the Music Reprieval Trust, and the Cavatina Trust, as well as by dozens of generous patrons who have contributed through the Festival’s Crowdfunding page.
“Barnet should be proud of hosting a festival of such high calibre. Chamber music at its best.”
See the events featuring British music in the BMS Concerts section. For more information about the festival visit www.hbcmf.co.uk