The 2026 Bradfield Festival of Music features returning, first-time and upcoming artists to entice over the week from Saturday 20^th June to 27^th June inclusive. There will be something for everyone in this season of international, highly sought after artists from the fresh a cappella voices of the Corvus Consort, to the saxophone of Jess Gillam, and with musical genres spanning firmly classical to that with film and jazz influences and beyond into unclassifiable styles.

All concerts take place in the magical setting of St Nicholas’ Church, High Bradfield with its superb acoustic and fantastic views across Bradfield Dale.

Tickets will be available from 1^st March 2026 by post, from our direct sales outlets and online. We also have our Patrons‘ Programme which includes all 7 concerts for a reduced rate, a reception evening at The Old Horns Inn, and early entry on each evening to choose favourite seats!

It costs quite a lot to provide a Festival with artists of this stature, and we are fortunate that we are able to support around half of these costs from our patrons, sponsors, both corporate and individual, donations and grants. We are forever grateful for the generosity of all of these contributors to the success of the Festival and helping to keep ticket prices as low as possible. If you would like to have more details on sponsorship, please contact us.

Bradfield Festival of Music Association offers a certificate, a cash award and an opportunity for a short, 5 or 10 minute performance to two especially gifted young artists selected by Sheffield Music Hub. The presentation will be made immediately before the concert on 20^th June.

Details of the concerts are below. Please note that programmes and other details are subject to change.

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Founded and directed by Freddie Crowley, Corvus Consort is a UK-based vocal ensemble comprising some of the country’s finest young professional singers. Described as “dazzling” and “always full of fresh thinking” by BBC Music Magazine, Corvus’s combination of musical excellence, passionate performance and imaginative presentation makes them hugely popular with audiences nationwide. In addition to frequent appearances as an a-cappella ensemble, the Consort places particular emphasis on its instrumental collaborations. Ongoing projects include upper voices and harp with Louise Thomson, voices and saxophones with the Ferio Saxophone Quartet, and contemporary explorations of Renaissance soundworlds with instrumental duo Music on the Edge. In collaboration with the Ferio Saxophone Quartet, Corvus released its debut CD ‘Revoiced’ in 2022 on Chandos Records, which was followed by their critically acclaimed disc ‘Welcome Joy’, a celebration of women’s voices with harpist Louise Thomson in 2024.

A Million Nightingales

Corvus Consort reveals how musicians and poets have drawn inspiration from their avian friends for hundreds of years, in a programme of choral music themed around birds. Charting a course from the 15th century to the present day, the singers of Corvus showcase their great versatility, performing renaissance madrigals, traditional folk songs, 20th-century British music, and contemporary works by leading living composers.

Ralph Vaughan Williams (1872-1958) Silence and Music
Linda Hirschhorn (b. 1960) I have a million nightingales
POEM Nightingales (by Robert Bridges)
Gerald Finzi (1901-1956) Nightingales
Orlando Gibbons (1583-1625) The Silver Swan
Paul Hindemith (1895-1963) Un Cygne
Jacques Arcadelt (c.1507-1568) Il bianco e dolce cigno
Trad., arr. Freddie Crowley (b. 1995) The Blackest Crow
Trad., arr. John Hearne (b. 1937) The Seagull
POEM Celestial Bird (by Jessica Powers)
Roxanna Panufnik (b. 1968) Celestial Bird

Interval

Charles Villiers Stanford (1852-1924) The Blue Bird
Caroline Shaw (b. 1982) And the swallow
William Cornysh (1465-1523) Ah, Robin
POEM To a Skylark (by Percy Shelley)
Becky McGlade (b. 1974) To a Skylark
Maurice Ravel (1875-1937) Trois Beaux Oiseaux
Trad., arr. Ralph Vaughan Williams (1872-1958) The Turtle Dove
Trad., arr. Edward T. Chapman (1902-1981) The Three Ravens
Clément Janequin (c.1485-1558) Le Chant des Oiseaux
Karine Polwart (b. 1970) Follow the Heron

Programme Notes.

Wigmore Hall artist-in-residence (2025-2026) Fenella Humphreys (violin) and internationally renowned Martin Roscoe (piano) have played together in various formats: as a trio (with cellist Jessica Burroughs) and, as they are in Bradfield, as a duo. Both are known for their total immersion in performance, their sensitivity and musicianship, and both have extensive and broad repertoire, discographies, international appearances and prestigious awards.

Lili Boulanger (1893-1918) D’un matin de printemps
Rebecca Clarke (1886-1979) Midsummer Moon
Sergei Prokofiev (1891-1953) 5 Melodies
Ralph Vaughan Williams (1872-1958) Lark Ascending

Interval

Samuel Coleridge-Taylor (1875-1912) Ballade (1895)
Sally Beamish (b. 1956) Tracing (2025)
Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827) Sonata no. 5 op. 24 ’Spring’

Programme Notes.

Trio Meister Raro was formed in 2022, a natural extension of Rachel Roberts (viola), Robert Plane (clarinet) and Tim Horton’s (piano) work together as members of Ensemble 360.
Whilst they had already explored works for the mellow combination of clarinet, viola and piano as part of Ensemble 360’s residency in Sheffield, becoming an autonomous ensemble has allowed the trio’s members to delve deeper into a rewarding selection of acknowledged masterpieces and fascinating curiosities. Much of the ensemble’s repertoire, from Schumann’s Märchenerzählungen, to Jorg Widmann’s 2015 tour de force ‘Es war einmal…’ (Once upon a time…) focuses on storytelling and fantasy and this narrative element is reflected in many of Trio Meister Raro’s programme offerings.

Claude Debussy (1862-1918) Première Rhapsodie
Edwin York Bowen (1884-1961) Phantasie, Op. 54
Robert Schumann (1810-1856) Märchenerzählungen, Op. 132

Interval

Huw Watkins (b. 1976) Speak Seven Seas
Josef Holbrooke (1878-1958) Nocturne, Op. 57, no. 1, Fairyland
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791) Trio for Clarinet, Viola and Piano in E flat major, K. 498, Kegelstatt

Programme notes.

This concert is sponsored by Christopher and Elizabeth Birkby.

Jess Gillam is a celebrated saxophonist and presenter. With her electrifying performances, vibrant stage presence and magnetic personality, the ‘uniquely mercurial’ (The Times) Jess has been invited to play on the world’s major stages since becoming the youngest ever soloist to perform at the Last Night of the Proms at the Royal Albert Hall, London. Equally at home behind the microphone, Jess’ award-winning weekly show, This Classical Life, on BBC Radio 3 is now in its seventh season. Jess seems so familiar from her relaxed manner as a radio presenter and unstuffy, engaging performance style. It is hard to believe that she is still only 27 with her popularity and continuing achievements in music (for which she has received an MBE in 2021).

Jess is passionate about broadening the repertoire for the saxophone, especially in the classical sphere. Recent commissions include Glasslands by Anna Clyne premiered with the Detroit Symphony. Other new works include Dani Howard’s Saxophone Concerto, first heard with Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra, and Karl Jenkins’s Stravaganza performed to a sold-out BBC Proms audience. Jess held the position of Associate Artist of the Royal Albert Hall until 2025 and was an Artistic Partner of Manchester Camerata.

The Jess Gillam Trio has Jess on saxophone with friends Zeynep Özsuca (piano) and Sam Becker (double bass). Typically wide ranging, their programme for Bradfield includes:

Nadia Boulanger (1887-1979) Cantique
Arcangelo Corelli (1653-1713) La Folia
Arno Babajanian (1921-1983) Piano trio excerpts
George Gershwin (1898-1937) Liza
Dani Howard (b. 1993) Dancing Shadows
Sidney Bechet (1897-1959) Petite Fleur

Programme notes.

This concert is sponsored by Dr Jane Doran.

Lisa Friend (flute) has performed as a soloist with the Philharmonia Orchestra, Mozarteumorchester Salzburg, City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra, Virtuosi Pragenses, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, Oxford Philharmonic Orchestra, and, at The London Palladium with the Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra. She has toured throughout Europe, the USA and Asia and has been broadcast on radio stations around the world including Classic FM, Scala Radio, BBC Radio 3, BBC Radio 2, BBC London, RTE Lyric FM, WQXR Classical Radio-New York and with the Brodsky Quartet live in the Classic FM Studios and on BBC One TV ‘The Andrew Marr Show’.

Lisa has recently released another album ‘An American Affair’ (Chandos Records) which has been reviewed by The Gramophone in glowing terms: “Friend’s tone, pure and clear, allied to her discerningly handled virtuosity makes for a performance to remember.” In this evening’s programme performed with her trio (Martin Radford (cello) and Mark Kinkaid (piano)) she includes works from this album. Additionally, Lisa’s intimate connection with her audience and performance space was very evident when she performed in Bradfield in 2024 and has carefully crafted a new programme of classical and filmic works that should appeal to both.

Carl Maria von Weber (1786-1826) Trio in G minor, Op. 63 (flute/cello/piano)
Amy Beach (1867-1944) Invocation (flute/piano)
James Horner (1953-2015) Original medley (flute/cello/piano)

Interval

Claude Debussy (1862-1918) Prélude à l’Après-midi d’un faune (flute/piano)
Johann Nepomuk Hummel (1778-1837) Trio in A major, Op. 78 (flute/cello/piano)
Astor Piazzolla (1921-1992) Oblivion (flute/cello/piano)
Leonard Bernstein (1918-1990) Candide (flute/cello/piano)
Jay Ungar (b. 1946) Ashokan Farewell (arr. Leigh Philips as featured on “An American Affair”)

Programme notes.

The Woolf Quartet are four postgraduate students from the Royal Academy of Music, each with their own rich and varied performance history. Together, they have been developing a diverse repertoire and already have sold out the Wigmore Hall where they are the Learning Ensemble Fellows for 2025-26.

The quartet frequently rehearse where Virginia Woolf once lived, from which they take their name. Described as “young artists who bring fresh ideas,” they have a reputation for bringing together familiar works with less well known, contemporary works, sometimes written by their cellist, Hoda Jahanpour.

Zosia Herlihy-O’Brien (violin) is from New Zealand and began her musical life as an organist. After gaining her BMus, she began her MMus studies at the Royal Academy of Music in 2023 (organ/violin). Until August 2023, she was the Director of Music at St Mark’s Anglican Church, Remuera, and previously held Organ Scholar roles at both Baradene College and Holy Trinity Cathedral, New Zealand. She is regularly sought after as a soloist (organ and violin) and conductor, and enjoys collaborating across an array of musical genres.

Emily Harrison (violin) is a versatile violinist, passionate about using her skills in diverse ways, as an outreach educator, soloist, orchestral and chamber musician. Emily recently graduated from the Royal Academy of Music in London and, this year, has a Fellowship at the Wigmore Hall with her ensemble, the Woolf Quartet.

Beatrice Slocumbe (viola) is currently studying with a full scholarship at the Royal Academy of Music. She is part of the Chineke! Orchestra and has played in performances with Stormzy at The BRIT Awards 2023, Max Richter, Skip Marley, JP Cooper and Ruby Turner, and with projects led by Sir Mark Elder, Semyon Bychkov, Edward Gardner and Rachel Podger. She has appeared at the O2, Concertgebouw and Royal Festival Hall, on BBC Four and Netflix.

Hoda Jahanpour (cello) is a composer, songwriter and MMus research student at the Royal Academy interested in musical experiences that move people and generate energy. Coming from a background in Western classical music, she loves to explore how the cello can express various musical languages including Jazz, West African and Scottish folk music. Having grown up in Slovakia, raised in an Iranian household and living her adult life in Manchester, Hoda has been on a journey to understand her place in society. She has received specialist coaching with members of the Elias Quartet, Trio Gaspard, and the Karenine Trio. Hoda does not shy away from unconventional ensembles and has been very eager to participate in any opportunities that come her way – most recently, founding a cello, saxophone, and guitar trio. She is also a two-time winner of the Gold Prize at the Musica Camerata Jan Albrecht national chamber music competition.

True to the Woolf’s credentials as composers, and with a keenness to show off their own musical personalities with a mix of modern and more established works, their programme include a new composition of their own alongside more familiar works from the last 200 years.

Anton Webern (1883-1945) Langsamer Satz
Felix Mendelssohn (1809-1847) String Quartet No. 2 in A minor, Op. 13

Interval

Dmitri Shostakovich (1906-1975) String Quartet No. 7, Op. 108
Anna Meredith (b. 1978) Honeyed words
Woolf Quartet New Composition
Claude Debussy (1862-1918) String Quartet in G minor, Op.10

Programme notes.

Award-winning Dutch violinist Tim Kliphuis has created a brand new style that embraces classical, gypsy jazz and folk. Hailed as a ‘current-day improvising Paganini’, his inclusive and innovative approach to music has united audiences and is influencing a new generation of string players.

As a composer, Kliphuis writes music that influences people through the heart – a very different route than the mind. For his newest piece ‘Kosmos’, he asked 5 Dutch star scientists about our future on this planet, and translated their stories and knowledge into music. In 2022, his climate change suite ‘The Five Elements’ accompanied the Royal mission to Stockholm and in 2023, he performed it for the United Nations General Assembly in New York. His 2021 Triple Concerto ‘Phoenix Rising’ (commissioned by NTR ZaterdagMatinee) considers our past, present and future.

When Tim performed in Bradfield (2024), his trio presented their unique version of three paintings from Mussorgsky’s ‘Pictures at an Exhibition’, supplemented with three more painting-inspired works he composed. A clip of the trio performing this can be found on YouTube. This year – the 20th year of touring with his trio – he will be presenting a brand-new, virtuosic interpretation of George Gershwin’s ‘Rhapsody in Blue’ that swings, grooves and dazzles. With their trademark high-octane sound, the three play the role of orchestra and soloist, bringing back the free-flowing improvisational energy that Gershwin’s timeless melodies deserve.

Paired with the ‘Rhapsody’ is the Trio’s popular arrangement ‘Hoedown for the Common Man’, as performed with orchestras across the world, that celebrates the music of yet another legendary American composer: Aaron Copland. To top this exciting programme off, the Trio play some Gershwin gems: ‘It Ain’t Necessarily So’, ‘I Got Rhythm’ and ‘They Can’t Take That Away from Me’ in a solo guitar version.

Programme notes.