Autumn 2021: Contemporary Classical Festivals
Go and hear some new classical music at one of these UK festivals (there are picks in Suffolk, London, Kent, Glasgow, Yorkshire and Wales). If you enjoy our content, please consider supporting us by buying us a cuppa on Ko-fi. Thank you 😘
Friday 10 - Saturday 11 September
Snape Maltings, Suffolk
Festival of New is a whirlwind of freshly devised music and sound, exploring some of the most exciting work being made in the UK. The festival presents the culmination of a series of residencies in Snape and Aldeburgh that take place all year round, giving artists the freedom to take risks, be ambitious and release their creative spirit. This year, audiences will enjoy seven great performances and two installations packed within a two-day festival experience.
Thursday 30 September - Sunday 3 October
Glasgow Cathedral, Glasgow
GCF brings music, art and education to the dramatic setting of Glasgow’s historic cathedral. Take a moment to unwind at Explore Ensemble’s atmospheric and meditative offering; celebrate the extraordinary breadth of the African American female voice with mezzo soprano Andrea Baker; or hear Sean Shibe, a master of classical and electric guitars, playing contemporary music by Julia Wolfe and Steve Reich.
Thursday 18 - Monday 22 November
Multiple venues, Huddersfield
Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival is the UK’s largest international festival of new and experimental music. It’s going ahead this year in a slightly reduced format across 5 days in multiple locations. The 2021 festival features a new commission by Laurence Osborn, pieces from hcmf// composer in residence Chaya Czernowinas, and a live realisation of hcmf//‘s Zeitgeist Commissions (in partnership with the Riot Ensemble).
Saturday 11 - Thursday 16 September
Multiple venues, South Wales
The Vale of Glamorgan Festival brings the best of contemporary and new classical music from living composers to adventurous audiences from across Wales and internationally. This year there are eight concerts. The opening concert, performed by the UK’s leading under-30s orchestra Sinfonia Cymru, presents an eclectic selection of nine short pieces written by living composers from the early 2000s to the present day.
Friday 24 September - Saturday 2 October
Multiple venues, Kent
Music@Malling brings outstanding music to historic venues in and around West Malling, Kent. This year, the festival brings an eclectic mix of concerts – live and online – featuring music by leading contemporary composers alongside classical, jazz, world and vocal music. The programme provides a rich selection of contemporary instrumental music, featuring the work of Thomas Adés, Rebecca Saunders, Gavin Bryars, and Brian Elias.
Wednesday 1 - Thursday 30 September
Multiple venues, London
This festival celebrates the River Thames with arts events, active adventures, environmental initiatives, and heritage and education programmes. A group of singers performs whilst walking the length of Woolwich Foot Tunnel; 40 choirs from all over the country sing together; and a powerful beam of light projects the sound of Longplayer, a 1000-year long musical composition, across the Thames.
Hannah Fiddy is a creative entrepreneur, developing new audiences for classical music. She has created and promoted numerous concerts outside of traditional spaces, including warehouses, pubs, clubs, museums and even in Primark..
Dan Phillips is a freelance violinist and writer. Having graduated from the University of Manchester with a first-class music degree and three Hargreaves Prizes for Academic Achievement, Dan is pursuing a career as an academic musicologist.