From choral masterpieces to folk stars, samba bands, cabaret and jazz, the 11th Southwell Music Festival brought a jam-packed programme of music delights to the Nottinghamshire town across the August bank holiday weekend.
With a range of outstanding music performances across the weekend, audiences were once again delighted with the Southwell Music Festival offer.
On Friday evening, Duke Ellington’s Sacred Concert, featuring the Festival Voices, the Cottontail Orchestra and jazz singer Clare Wheeler, brought a blend of jazz, choral, gospel and blues to Southwell Minster. Former Nottingham Young Musician of the Year and principal clarinet of the Royal Opera House, Matt Glendening, completed this musical melting pot with a vibrant performance of Leonard Bernstein’s Prelude, Fugue and Riffs.
Southwell Music Festival patron Kadiatu Kanneh-Mason also made an appearance on Friday, at a sold-out Festival talk, where she spoke about her own creative journey, inspirations and the experiences that have shaped one of the most remarkable musical families in the UK.
On Saturday, the annual Musical Picnic saw performances from Nottingham Samba Collective and the Nottingham Youth Jazz Orchestra in the beautiful surroundings of the Minster’s Palace Gardens. Families gathered in the late August sunshine to enjoy the music, face-painting and music-themed crafts.
Saturday evening saw a return performance from acclaimed folk artist Kathryn Tickell, who first played at the Festival in 2022. Performing alongside her band, The Darkening, to a packed Southwell Minster, Kathryn’s energy and beautiful music gave audiences an unforgettable evening, which included special new arrangements for the Festival Voices who joined the performance.
The grandeur of Southwell Minster was also the setting for Sunday’s evening concert, a sizzling performance of Bach’s Mass in B Minor, conducted by Festival Founder and Artistic Director Marcus Farnsworth, and featuring the brilliant musicianship of the Festival Voices and Festival Baroque Sinfonia.
The free Festival Fringe, raising money for Reach Southwell, showcased brilliant young music talent. This year’s partnership with Ceramics in Southwell saw the Festival curating a programme of local artists to perform for shoppers and artists at the Sunday event. The Festival also partnered with Inspire Libraries and hosted two Cabaret concerts in Southwell Library, taking music to a different part of the town.
The Festival prides itself on offering young musicians performance opportunities. This year, two apprentice string quartets, Telyn Quartet and Braeside Quartet, joined Festival musicians, taking part in a live masterclass and performing alongside professionals in the Festival Baroque Sinfonia. Telyn Quartet also wowed audiences with a Saturday afternoon recital and played at the Ceramics in Southwell market. Four vocal apprentices also benefited from the scheme, performing with the Festival Voices and as soloists for the Monday “Come and Sing” performance of Bach’s Magnificat.
Festival founder and Artistic Director, Marcus Farnsworth, said:
“It’s been another fantastic year for Southwell Music Festival. It is always a pleasure introducing musicians and audiences to our wonderful town, which I believe is the perfect setting for our late summer gathering. A big thank you goes out to Festival volunteers, Festival Makers, the organising committee and our sponsors, donors and Festival Friends. We couldn’t do this without their spirit and dedication”.
Southwell Music Festival returns this December, with its annual A Christmas Celebration concert in Southwell Minster. Tickets are now on sale at www.southwellmusicfestival.com.
Posted on 28 August 2025
