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Hertfordshire Festival of Music 2026 – 30 May to 8 June

Tenth Anniversary Festival

2026 is the tenth anniversary of the Hertfordshire Festival of Music (HFoM). HFoM is marking this milestone across 2026 and 2027 with the theme Made in Herts! – celebrating music, art, place and community in Hertfordshire.

The 2026 festival, Made in Herts: Part One, presents a focused programme of concerts and events that bring music into contact with local places, ideas and people.

During the festival period, concerts and events take place in venues in the towns of Hertford and St Albans. The programme brings together musicians at different stages of their professional lives, including artists with strong local connections and familiar Festival collaborators, and explores music alongside wider artistic and cultural contexts.

Events range from intimate concerts and solo recitals to talks and projects that place music in dialogue with visual art, film, landscape and a sense of place. The Festival also continues its commitment to supporting emerging musicians from the county, offering them a professional platform within the wider programme.

2026 Festival highlights:

  • Forms in Stone and Sound with art historian Barry Dodge and composer James Francis Brown
    An illustrated talk on sculptor Henry Moore (who lived and worked in Hertfordshire from 1940 until his death in 1986), interspersed with movements from string quartets by Elizabeth Maconchy (who was born in Broxbourne, Herts).
  • ‘Made in Hertford’ walk with Elizabeth Eastwood
  • Lunchtime Piano Recital with Adrian Oldland
  • New Virtuosi: A Meeting of Friends Featuring former HFoM masterclass participants and invited artists
  • Film Music from the Hertfordshire Film Industry with the Festival Community Concert Band. Often called “Hollywood in Herts,” Hertfordshire is a premier UK film and TV hub, home to world-class studios where films such as the Harry Potter, Star Wars, and Indiana Jones series, and TV shows like The Crown and Strictly Come Dancing are produced. 
  • Lunchtime recital in the Lady Chapel at St Albans Cathedral
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It’s never just the performances that define a festival – it’s the shared spirit behind them.
JAMES FRANCIS BROWN Artistic Director

Made in Herts: Part One marks the starting point of the Festival’s tenth‑year celebrations. Made in Herts: Part Two sees the programme opening out into an expansive and celebratory festival in 2027.

The Hertfordshire Festival of Music is fundamentally a community endeavour, created to bring people together, educate, and foster meaningful dialogue. Every element – from performances and educational projects to outreach and talks – is part of a larger conversation linking shared history with the promise of a more engaged future.

Full details of this year’s programme and performers can be found here: hertsmusicfest.org.uk

we are so lucky in Hertford to have such a wonderful festival

a wonderful celebration of music!

I love that the Festival brings us new music and young musicians

fantastic

Audience comments

Website: http://www.hertsmusicfest.org.uk
X: @HertMusicFest Instagram: @hertsfestofmusic Facebook: @Hertsmusicfest

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The Leith Hill Music Festival (LHMF) continues a long-standing tradition of bringing “the joy of singing” to the heart of Surrey. Since its founding in 1905, the festival has provided a unique platform where amateur choirs perform alongside international singers, conductors and professional orchestras, creating world-class musical experiences for local audiences.

Competition and Collaboration

The flagship two-day competitive festival takes place on Friday 10 April and Saturday 11 April 2026, the style of which has remained largely the same as when founded.

Giving choir members an unparalleled opportunity – out of reach for many choirs – to sing major works in the choral repertoire, this unique event balances the “fun of competing” for cups and trophies in morning sessions, judged by a professional adjudicator, followed by evening performances. After the competitions, the choirs come together for a combined rehearsal, taken by the Festival Conductor, ahead of the evening concerts, held at Dorking Halls.

For the competition element of the Festival each choir performs a short recital. They may also choose to enter
smaller groups of up to 12 singers into the Ensemble Class. The recital, which lasts no longer than 15 minutes,
comprises three pieces chosen by each choir. Composers featured in this year’s competition include Sir JOhn Rutter, Cecilia McDowall, Eric Whitacre, Russell Hepplewhite, Ola Gjeilo, Sarah Quartel, Michael Higgons, Amy Beach, Samuel Coleridge-Taylor, Johannes Brahms, Giachino Rossini, Edward Elgar, and Herbert Sumsion. This year’s adjudicator is composer, conductor and soprano Anita Datta.

FESTIVAL PROGRAMMES

Friday 10 April

Suffolk Suite Doreen Carwithen

Da Vinci Requiem Cecilia McDowall

The Lark Ascending Vaughan Williams

Five Mystical Songs Vaughan Williams

Participating choirs: Capel, Dorking, Epsom, Leatherhead and Oxshott, accompanied by Southern Pro Musica.

Saturday 11 April: A celebration of Baroque masters

Zadok the Priest George Frideric Handel

Dixit Dominus Antonio Vivaldi

Dixit Dominus Isabella Leonarda

Concerto for two violins in D minor, BWV 1043 Johann Sebastian Bach

The King Shall Rejoice George Frideric Handel

Participating choirs: Beare Green and Newdigate, Bookham, Buckland and Betchworth, Holmbury St Mary, Horsley, and Mickleham, accompanied by baroque orchestra Canzona.

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Performances that touch our hearts….That’s the joy of singing; that’s the joy of being part of our Festival. – Ges Ray, LHMF Chairman

The LHMF is more than a series of concerts. It revels in the bonhomie – even the ‘bon-harmony!’ – of voices from all walks of life coming together to celebrate in sound, with regular rehearsals and local concerts. A stress reliever and mental health workout like no other, it brings singers and audiences together to experience the excitement and joy of massed voices performing on a professional stage.

LHMF website

Neil Ferris, conductor
2026 Festival banner created by Leatherhead Choral Society for the Women’s Song Category
LHMF Choir
Festival flyer from 1929
Vaughan Williams statue in Dorking
Historic photograph of LHMF

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Residents both local and from further afield, including the Mayor of Hertford, Cllr Vicky Smith, attended a free, inaugural concert heralding the return of the Hertfordshire Festival of Music (HFoM). 

Renowned violinist Litsa Tunnah, who performed at the Festival in 2023, played at the concert, accompanied on the piano by Artistic Director, James Francis Brown. The concert took place at St Andrew’s Church in Hertford on Thursday 29 February. 

James Francis Brown, HFoM Artistic Director, said: “We were delighted to see such a large gathering of people both familiar and new, in shared appreciation for the music and what the festival is achieving. We are busy planning the full Festival, which takes place in June, but this inaugural event provided music lovers an opportunity to hear about our plans and enjoy some wonderful music.” 

Litsa Tunnah, violin
Litsa Tunnah performs The Lake Ascending with Artisti Director James Francis Brown

Planning for this year’s Hertfordshire Festival of Music, which takes place from 7 to 15 June 2024, is well underway. This year’s festival theme is The Power of 2: Musical and Artistic Dialogues, embracing the concept of partnerships – with the “whole” being more than the “sum of the parts”.  The full programme of events and artists will be announced soon.

Over the last eight years, the Festival has been built on the involvement, support and encouragement of Hertford and the county’s communities. 

The Hertfordshire Festival of Music, which is a registered charity (charity no. 1175716), is an annual summer celebration of classical music, based in and around Hertford. The Festival first took place in 2016. 

There are many ways that residents and businesses can get involved in the Festival, from volunteering at events to supporting the charity financially. For more information, contact info@hertsmusicfest.org.uk or visit www.hertsmusicfest.org.uk.

“the very highest level of music-making and extremely imaginative programmes” – Dame Judith Weir CBE, Master of the King’s Music (HFoM Featured Living Composer in 2021)

(Text by R Beahan, Trustee of HFoM)

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9-16 June 2023

Principal Artist: Emma Johnson, clarinettist

Box office now open

Hertfordshire Festival of Music celebrates live classical music in Hertfordshire with an exhilarating programme of magnificent classical music, both traditional and modern – an opportunity to enjoy world class music in the heart of Hertfordshire.

“The friendly, accessible vibe of Hertfordshire Festival of Music was accompanied by the very highest level of music-making and extremely imaginative programmes in beautiful locations.” – Judith Weir CBE, Master of the King’s Music

With a theme that explores the fascinating relationship between music and art, HFoM will unite the local communities of art and music lovers through illuminating talks and imaginatively devised concert programmes. The Festival will also mark the Coronation of King Charles III with two special events.

HFoM is honoured to have Emma Johnson, one of the world’s finest clarinettists, as this year’s Principal Artist, performing a captivating recital with the talented pianist Gregory Drott. There is also a special opportunity to observe her artistic insight in a masterclass for young and aspiring players at the beautiful Queenswood School in Hatfield. Emma Johnson will also be in conversation with Artistic Director James Francis Brown to talk about her musical journey, her passions and her interests, and to share insights and opinions on music, art and life.

Featured artists at this year’s Festival include:

Emma Johnson, Katya Apekisheva, Gregory Drott, Jack Hancher, Hertford Chamber Choir, Manvinder Rattan, Rossetti Ensemble, Daniel Swain, Litsa Tunnah, Daniel Grimwood, William Whitehead, ZRI

Highlights of this year’s Festival include:

Coronation Celebrations in Hertford

HFOM marks the coronation of King Charles III with two special events in Hertford. At Hertford Castle, the HFoM Community Concert Band musicians will perform arrangements of music associated with royalty in a fun, relaxed performance. The Hertford Chamber Choir and Manvinder Rattan take up the theme in a special performance at All Saints’ Church, including exquisite solo works for organ performed by William Whitehead.

The ever-popular ZRI ensemble return to HFoM with their genre-bending and audience thrilling ‘Cellar Sessions’, recreating the atmosphere of the legendary Red Hedgehog bar in Vienna, at the McMullen Brewery courtyard in Hertford.

Pianist Katya Apekisheva makes her Festival debut performing one of the war horses of art-inspired music, Mussorgsky’s Pictures at an Exhibition. Festival newcomer violinist Litsa Tunnah shares her passion for music and colour in a recital, and she will be in conversation with Artistic Director James Frances Brown exploring the rare phenomenon of synaesthesia, where sounds can trigger colours or shapes, and discussing how music can create visual impressions.

Guitarist Jack Hancher returns to Hertford with a solo recital of music inspired by art, and there will also be a special appearance of the highly regarded Rossetti Ensemble in a performance of music by David Matthews and Festival Artistic Director, James Francis Brown.

Emma Johnson
ZRI
Jack Hancher
Litsa Tunnah
Daniel Grimwood
Rossetti Ensemble
Gregory Drott
Katya Apekisheva
Manvinder Rattan
William Whitehead

HFoM plans 15 events/outreach projects in community venues, anticipating engagement with around 1,500 individuals (performers, audiences, participants/beneficiaries).  Eight of the events are free, with discounted ticket prices for concessions where possible.

As part of the Festival, and with the support of community sponsor, Network Homes and collaboration with Sing from the Heart, HFoM’s Music in Mind project offers a series of interactive sessions for people living with dementia, as well as their carers and families, in selected care homes across Hertfordshire. These sessions are led by specially trained musicians who share the gift of music with compassion and sensitivity. Music can have a positive impact on the symptoms of dementia, as well as bringing joy and happiness to those who participate.

In addition, HFoM is delighted to continue its vitally important education projects with exciting plans to get schoolchildren up and singing, in collaboration with Hertfordshire Music Service and Queenswood School, taking place later in the year.

Full details of this year’s Festival at hertsmusicfest.org.uk

Hertfordshire Festival of Music is the vision of the late Tom Hammond and composer James Francis Brown, and is registered as a charity supported by a board of Trustees and a team of volunteers.

Now in its eighth year, HFoM has grown rapidly from a small weekend event to one of the UK’s major summer music festivals, featuring international artists and ensembles alongside innovative outreach and educational projects, all based in and around the attractive historic county town of Hertford. Since its launch, HFoM has presented concerts that have inspired extraordinary audience responses to artists such as Tasmin Little OBE, Dame Emma Kirkby, Stephen Hough CBE, Steven Isserlis CBE, Ben Goldscheider, the Carducci Quartet, the Galliard Ensemble, Chloë Hanslip, ZRI and The Prince Consort.

HFoM is fortunate to receive support from a number of charitable trusts and foundations, county, district and town councils, while a growing Friends Scheme allows individuals to play an important role in supporting the Festival and furthering its scope and potential.

The Festival offers affordable ticket prices, several free events, concessions for those under 24 in full-time education, free tickets for the under 8s and a complementary ticket for a carer accompanying those patrons with access needs.

HFoM exists to celebrate and nurture exceptional music-making, featuring some of the world’s finest performers. The Festival also supports professional and young musicians from Hertfordshire, presents fascinating music by living composers and devises major, innovative projects for education and participation. Hertford is just over twenty miles from central London, easy to get to by rail and road but nestled in the beautiful countryside of the Lea Valley. Most concerts take place within a ten-minute stroll of the town’s centre, which boasts excellent restaurants, many independent shops and accommodation.

Website: www.hertsmusicfest.org.uk

Twitter: @HertMusicFest

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Hertsmusicfest/

Instagram: @hertsfestofmusic

Registered Charity Number 1175716

For further press information, please contact Frances Wilson | frances_wilson66@live.com