Classical Concerts & Landscapes

We rounded off Festival Friday with a hugely uplifting concert given by the English String Orchestra, conducted by Kenneth Woods, conductor  in The Priory Church at Great Malvern  featuring Rosalind Ventris - Violist  and including 2 beautiful works by our festival Ian Venables - Composer  alongside Peter Fribbins, Elgar and finishing with breathtaking Walton - what a performance!

All Saints Church was the venue for the free to enter event from the Worcestershire Symphony Orchestra  as part of the Elgar Festival  . Mozart, Ruth Gripps and of course Elgar were on the programme. Conducted by Keith Slade the full church were treated to some marvelous music.

The The Elgar Chorale  conducted by Piers Maxim  in St martins Church as part of the Elgar Festival  performed songs from Elgar and Ian Venables - Composer

April Fredrick , soprano and Eric McElroy , piano played to an audience in the Huntigton Hall. The programme consisted of : Elgar: Speak, Music, from Op. 41 Elgar: Rondel, from Op. 16 Elgar: Pleading, from Op. 48 Lennox Berkeley: Counting the Beats Ian Venables: Love’s Voice, Op. 22 Arthur Bliss: The Hare Arthur Bliss: This Night Arthur Bliss: The Fallow Deer at the Lonely House Eric McElroy: A Dead Man’s Embers

image by classical music concert photographer michael whitefoot

image by classical music concert photographer michael whitefoot

The ESO Youth  players, conducted by James Topp, wowed a packed Worcester Cathedral last night, joined by presenter Zeb Soanes  to perform Paddington's First Concert and other bear related repertoire! Congratulations also went to Rory Woodward and Ottilie Wallace, winners of this year's festival Young Composer Competition, who had their pieces performed by the wind players of the English Symphony Orchestra  and their prizes awarded by Ian Venables.

In a strange twist the Elgar Festival together with the National trust and Malvern Council decided to put on a days event at the Rushwick park. Free cycle and scooter repairs were on offer as well as refreshments Even the local police popped along to have a go. And of course the music in the background was written by Sir Edward Elgar.

A concert held in St Georges RC Church by the Elgar Festival involved hearing notes taken by Elgar whilst organ playing in the church and the quintet playing the pieces Elgar wrote.

At The Firs (Elgars Birthplace) the Elgar Festival ran a workshop for talented singers run by Ian Venables and April Fredricks. Five singers were out through their paces with constructive help along the way

Around 40 walkers with experienced guides walked from Blackwood Car park over the hills to St Wulstan's Church where Sir Edward Elgar and some relatives are buried. An hours walk followed by some reshments led to a marvelous recital by Shuwel Zuo (violin) and Jiayi Chen (piano). Both are participants in the Elgar Festival/Royal Birmingham Conservatoire Young Performer Showcase Programme.

Lynne Lindner and the Jenny Lind Singers performed to a full St Georges Church in Worcester as part of the Elgar Festival  2025. Included a programme celebrating the works of women composers past and present as well as songs by Edward Elgar.

Worcester Concert Brass conducted by Chris License entertained the shoppers in Worcester this afternoon with a string of well known tunes. Part of the Elgar Festival  2025

The Proteus Ensemble entertained an audience in Pershore Abbey this morning as part of the Elgar Festival  2025. Conductor Stephen Shellard  and his professional singers hail from all over the UK and even have a CD just out.

St Georges Church Worcester was well attended for this relaxed concert given by Stephen Warner and Corinne Frost who are known as the DownsideUp String Duo. This was part of the Elgar Festival  2025. Everyone enjoyed the variety of music played which included well known clap-along and sing-along pieces.

image by classical music concert photographer michael whitefoot

Michael attended the rehearsal and concert where the choir and soloists performed JS Bach St John Passion. Michael attended the rehearsal and concert where the choir and soloists performed JS Bach's St John Passion. The event was held in Worcester Cathedral, known for its excellent acoustics, which enhanced the rich, intricate harmonies of the music. Samuel Hudson directed from the Harpsichord. Worcester cathedral choir were complemented by soloists Dominic Neville, Giles Und

image by classical music concert photographer michael whitefoot

image by classical music concert photographer michael whitefoot

Alongside her professional work, Grace is completing a Master of Studies in Music at the University of Oxford. As well as performance, this is enabling her to do further research into the relationship between music and neurology, an area of particular interest. Grace is extremely grateful to the Elmley Foundation and the Kathleen Trust for their generous support towards her Oxford studies. Programme: Niccolò Paganini - Cantabile in D major Josef Rheinberger - Suite for Violin