Four young string players stood together outside holding their instruments and laughing.

An interview with Eve Quigley, player in the Sonas Quartet

Eve Quigley plays viola with the Sonas Quartet. Along with Yente Lotmann and Isabelle Allan (violins) and Alice Abram (cello) the quartet are this year’s String Apprentices.

They are all students at the Guildhall School of Music and have been playing together for two years. As this year’s String Apprentices they will play will perform their own showcase concert and at the Festival Eucharist, as well as receive coaching from our team of professional musicians.

In case you were wondering, the word Sonas means happiness in Irish.

Buy tickets: Sonas Quartet

Interview by Dinah Wilcox

How did the Sonas Quartet become this year’s String Apprentices?

We applied, sent off videos and got it!

Why did you choose viola as your instrument?

Like many others I started with the violin. Then I realised I loved the mellow sound of the viola so I switched.

What is your favourite piece to play?

Y. Bowen’s Phantasie for viola and piano Op. 54. It’s a beautifully lyrical piece with many opportunities for lyrical, expressive playing as well as being technically difficult.

What will you be playing for Southwell audiences this year?

We’ve put together a programme for our Friday morning concert that includes Schumann’s String Quartet No. 1 in A Minor, Stravinsky’s Three pieces for String Quartet and Janáček’s String Quartet No. 1 – Kreutzer Sonata.

Sonas Quartet will be performing in the State Chamber, Southwell Minster on Friday 23 August. They will also be performing together as part of the programme for this year’s Musical Picnic.

Composer Cheryl Frances-Hoad pictured in green field with yellow flowers. Black and white picture of poet Kate Wakeling, with a brick wall in background

An interview with Cheryl Frances-Hoad and Kate Wakeling

To celebrate ten years of Southwell Music Festival, this year we have commissioned a new work from composer Cheryl Frances-Hoad and port Kate Wakeling. The new piece, With What Sudden Joy, will have its world premiere at this year’s Festival, alongside a performance of Mozart Requiem. The piece will also be available for choral groups and societies to perform, with other performances in the pipeline in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. The piece sets five new poems and is scored for a string orchestra with a soprano soloist (Alison Rose) and chorus.

Buy tickets for the Tenth Anniversary Concert.

Interview by Dinah Wilcox.

Kate, have you collaborated with Cheryl before?

Yes, in 2021 we were commissioned by the Oxford International Song Festival and Oxford Botanic Garden to write a song cycle for Marcus Farnsworth to sing (with pianist Libby Burgess) called Everything Grows Extravagantly.

And how do you become a librettist?

I write poetry and this was my route into writing words specifically to be set to music by composers. I also have a music background; I studied music at university and went on to do a PhD in ethnomusicology. I don’t have anything to do with the music Cheryl writes, but I really enjoy writing for music.

Tell us more about this commision for Southwell Music Festival?

Kate: The original commission was for a piece that would pair with the Mozart Requiem. We were asked to create a piece that celebrates music and people coming together to make music.

[Kate worked with two groups of primary school children in Southwell and ran two workshops with adults in the community, exploring their personal reflections on what music meant to their lives].

Kate: The libretto is then created entirely from words and phrases taken from these different conversations – it’s a kind of mosaic.

And how does it fit with the Requiem?

Cheryl: Marcus (Farnsworth, Artistic Director of Southwell Music Festival) wanted something positive and joyful for the tenth anniversary. It’s a piece that can be paired with a second piece with similar orchestration. Legacy is a really important thing and the piece is intended for future performances. Marcus wanted something special for the anniversary and this included commissioning a piece. Similar voices and a slightly reduced orchestra. It’ll last for about 15 minutes, with five movements.

Cheryl, how did you become a composer?

Originally I wanted to be a cellist. I went to the Yehudi Menuhin School for ten years from the age of 8. As soon as I started playing I also began to compose – I wrote a piece for open strings as I hadn’t yet learnt how to use the finger board! I was painfully shy as a child and music was my way of communicating. When I was about 25 I won a competition that was worth a substantial amount of money in the States but to collect the prize I had to do a 90-minute lecture. It was a formative experience.

How does the process of composing work?

Cheryl: I sit at the piano and write on a sheet of paper.

So you don’t use a computer program?

Cheryl: Ten years ago I did all my composing like that; now I have a bigger computer screen so I can see the whole score – previously I could see only about a quarter – so I now write about 25% with the computer program. As technology advances I feel less and less of a barrier between me and the music.

With What Sudden Joy premieres as part of Southwell Music Festival 2024, at the Tenth Anniversary Concert on Sunday 25 August.

Audience sat outside on a sunny day watching a performance

Visiting Southwell Music Festival 2024? Essential Festival information

Southwell Music Festival 2024 opens on Friday 25 August, with four days of sensational live music across venues in the town.

If you’re coming to the Festival (or maybe you still need to book your tickets), here’s the essential information you need to make the most of your Southwell Music Festival weekend. We can’t wait to welcome you to the Festival!

Visit the Festival Hub

The Festival Hub is this year located at Trebeck Hall on Bishop’s Drive (What3Words: founders.fall.valuables). At the Festival Hub you can:

  • Buy tickets for concerts
  • Buy your souvenir programme book and browse the range of Festival merchandise
  • Festival Friends can pick up their Membership cards and buy tickets to the Sunday Friends’ Reception event
  • Meet our volunteer Festival Makers, who are here to answer your questions and help make the 2024 Festival as brilliant as ever

Festival Hub opening times are:

Tuesday 20 August: 9am – 5pm
Wednesday 21 August: 9am – 5pm
Thursday 22 August: 9am – 5pm
Friday 23 August: 8.30am – 9.15pm
Saturday 24 August: 8.30am – 9.45pm
Sunday 25 August: 9am – 7.30pm
Monday 26 August: 8am – 3.30pm

What’s on in the Festival Marquee

The Festival Marquee – to be found in the beautiful surroundings of the Palace Gardens – and is a popular meeting place for audiences and performers alike.

This year the Marquee will be serving drinks, including tea and coffee, plus light snacks. If you’re coming to an evening concert in the Minster you can also book a pre-concert evening meal through our Meals in the Marquee offer.

On Sunday at 1.30pm the Marquee becomes a music venue as we welcome folk trio Leveret for a special Fesitval Folk performance. Book tickets for Leveret.

And on Monday, join us at 12.30pm for free Music in the Marquee – grab a drink and enjoy! No booking required.

Marquee opening times are:

Friday 23 August: 12pm – 11.30pm
Saturday 24 August: 11am – 11pm
Sunday 25 August: 1pm – 9pm
Monday 26 August: 12pm – 2.30pm

Food and drink options

If you are attending an evening concert you can pre-book a two-course Meal in the Marquee. Each evening there is a set menu with a vegan and gluten-free option available. Meals must be booked in advance – find out more and book online.

The Minster Refectory will also be open each day of the Festival, with extended opening hours on Friday and Saturday. Advance booking is recommended. Please call 01636 815691.

The Chess Master Cafe has also extended its opening hours on Friday, Saturday and Sunday and The Stalls street food market will be taking place in Southwell on Friday afternoon/early evening.

The Festival Marquee in the Palace Garden will also be serving drinks, including tea and coffee, plus light snacks.

More about food and drink options in and around Southwell.

Support the Festival Fringe

The Festival Fringe is a selection of free performances taking place across the Festival. No booking is required, just turn up. This year the Festival Fringe is raising money for Beaumond House Hospice Care.

Nottingham Youth Jazz Orchestra
Friday 23 August, 11am, Market Square

Pop-up performances with Head Rush Brass Band
Saturday 24 August, various times and venues – full schedule on our Free Events page

Music for Ceramics in Southwell
Sunday 25 August, 10am – 4.30pm, Market Square – see full schedule

Young Musicians Showcase
Monday 26 August, 11am, Southwell Methodist Church

Southwell Methodist Church – a note on access

The usual access lift at the Methodist Church is out of service and unfortunately it will not be repaired in time for the festival. However, a stair lift is available – Front of House staff will be able to guide you on arrival. If you need to check whether your access needs can be met, please call the Methodist Church on 01636 812166. If any access issues impact your ability to attend Methodist Church events and you therefore wish to request a refund, please contact the Box Office boxoffice@southwellmusicfestival.com

A coffee in a white cup and saucer with a heart in milk forth. It is placed next to a filled croissant with cheese and salad.

Food and Drink at Southwell Music Festival 2024

If you’re attending his year’s Festival, you may already be thinking about pre- or post-concert meals or where to get a drink or snack when in Southwell.

Returning for a second year, we are serving Meals in the Marquee each day before the evening concert. This is a set menu and we ask that you book in advance – find out more and book online.

The Festival Marquee will be also be open throughout the day to buy drinks and snacks. Opening times as follows:

Friday 23 August: 12pm – 11.30pm
Saturday 24 August: 11am – 11pm
Sunday 25 August: 1pm – 9pm
Monday 26 August: 12pm – 2.30pm

The Minster Refectory will be open each day of the Festival, with extended opening hours on Friday and Saturday. Advance booking is recommended, please call 01636 815691.

The Chess Master Cafe has also extended its opening hours on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Details are in our PDF list (see link below).

The Stalls street food market will be taking place in Southwell on Friday afternoon/early evening.

Our team of volunteers has kindly put together a list of other catering options available in the town or nearby, with opening hours and contact details. All information is correct at the time of going to press (August 2024). We strongly advise contacting individual businesses directly to check opening times and to book a table in advance. Southwell Music Festival is not directly connected to any of these food outlets.

Download Food and Drink information [pdf]

There is still time to book tickets for this year’s Festival. Visit our online box office for more information.

Southwell Minster on a sunny day with a festival sign in the front. On the right there is a head shot image of Amanda Farr. She has mid-length blond hair and is wearing a black jumper

Southwell Music Festival appoints Amanda Farr as its new Chair

We are pleased to announce that we have appointed Amanda Farr as the next Chair of Southwell Music Festival.

Amanda is a practicing partner in Sweeney and Farr mental health consultancy and was formerly a clinical lead of the NHS county primary care mental health service. She is also a Deputy Lieutenant and former High Sheriff of Nottinghamshire.

She is Chair of the Trustees at Nottingham Playhouse and brings to her new role a wealth of experience working with arts organisations, including significant experience in fundraising and relationship building.

Amanda is local to Southwell and passionate about expanding arts provision and access in Nottinghamshire and the East Midlands. Amanda will succeed Tom du Plessis as Chair of Southwell Music Festival.

Speaking of her appointment, Amanda says:

I am delighted to take over the role of Chair of Trustees at Southwell Music Festival. We are so privileged to have access to a festival of this quality and standard of music in Southwell. It punches well above its weight both nationally and internationally, a jewel in the town’s crown. I look forward to working with trustees, the Artistic Director and General Manager in the Festival’s next stage of development.

Southwell Music Festival Artistic Director Marcus Farnsworth says:

“I am delighted to welcome Amanda to the team as we celebrate our 10th festival. She brings a huge amount of expertise and experience as a trustee, and I look forward to working with her as we shape the future of the festival

The Festival welcomes Amanda to the team and looks forward to working together to continue programming sensational live music in Nottinghamshire.

A group of people stood together with leaflets chatting in the garden of Southwell Minster. It's a sunny day, they are smiling, wearing lanyards and holding leaflets.

Now recruiting: Freelance Festival and Artist Administrator

Southwell Music Festival seeks an exceptionally organised Freelance Administrator (part-time) to support the Festival Management team with artist management and general administration. This key role sits within a dedicated team of staff and volunteers.

We are looking for candidates with:

  • Exceptional administrative and organisational skills
  • Excellent communicator with a friendly and professional manner
  • Proven ability to deliver work consistently and efficiently under pressure
  • Excellent attention to detail
  • Confident in working with senior creative and management teams, artists, agents and customers
  • Experience in a customer-facing role
  • Passionate about the arts

The contract runs from July – August. The Festival team works remotely and between 19th – 27th August, we are based at The Festival Hub, Southwell Minster, NG25 0HD. Accommodation will be provided for this Festival period.

For a full job description and how to apply visit the vacancies page.

View job description
Marcus Farnsworth conducting musicians playing in the Festival Sinfonia in a packed Southwell Minster.

Announcing our 10th anniversary programme

Southwell Music Festival returns for a music-filled August Bank Holiday weekend.

This year’s 10th anniversary Festival will see Southwell teeming with musicians as we celebrate our town and the universal language of music. Our programme promises something for everyone, with music ranging from the medieval to the modern and everything in between. Read on for more programme details and to start planning your Festival weekend.

Tickets go on sale on Monday 17 June, with Festival Friends enjoying Priority Booking.

Tickets start from just £5, and with free events too, we hope to see familiar faces and new ones for this special anniversary year!

You can pick up our 2024 brochure in all the usual local places in and around Southwell, or you can view this digital version. Festival Friends will receive a copy in the post, along with details about how to book in your Priority Booking period.

Here are some of the highlights from this year’s jam-packed programme:

  • Celebrated tenor Mark Padmore is our first-ever artist-in-residence, performing in several concerts across the Festival, including a Saturday afternoon English Song Recital where he will perform a distinctive selection of English songs from composers old and new, as well as Benjamin Britten’s song cycle Winter Words.
  • On Sunday evening, the Festival Voices and Festival Sinfonia come together to perform Mozart’s Requiem. Joined by a cast of superb soloists, this promises to be a memorable performance of a great masterpiece.
  • The Sunday evening concert will open with the world premiere of a new work by composer Cheryl Frances-Hoad and poet Kate Wakeling. Specially commissioned by Southwell Music Festival to mark this anniversary year, With What Sudden Joy features the words of Southwell residents and school children who were asked to share their personal perspectives on the power of music.
  • British jazz singer and lyricist Norma Winstone brings unforgettable tunes and inspiring improvisations to Southwell for a Friday afternoon performance.
  • Folk trio Leveret bring their unique sounds and approach to music-making to the Festival Marquee on Sunday afternoon.
  • Fans of opera and musicals can experience a showstopper of a Saturday evening and hear stellar performances of some of the greatest tunes ever written for stage at our A Night at the Opera! concert.
  • The Musical Picnic is back for its second year. Head to the Minster’s Palace Gardens for a Saturday afternoon of free music, workshops and fun for all. Pre-booking is essential.
  • The free Festival Fringe returns for 2024, this year raising money for Beaumond House Hospice.

The Festival also sees the return of its unique Surround Sounds series in the intimate setting of the Chapter House, a Live and Late performance of Beethoven’s hauntingly beautiful String Quartet No. 15, a celebration of medieval repertoire and a performance exploring the scandalous life of poet Lord Byron.

Head to our What’s On page to explore the programme or download the digital brochure.

Musician talking with a group of children

Recruiting now – Chair of board of trustees

We are seeking to recruit a new Chair who is passionate about and supportive of the arts and who understands its benefits to wider society. Could this be you? Or perhaps you know someone who would make a great Chair for Southwell Music Festival.

Southwell Music Festival is a small but ambitious musical charity and the role of Chair is crucial to the success of our organisation.

The Chair and the board of trustees are ultimately legally accountable for everything we do, including our overall governance and strategic direction.

The Chair works closely with Marcus Farnsworth (Artistic Director), Sarah Rennix (General Manager), and our local volunteer committee, offering a balance of support, challenge and scrutiny, helping advocate for the company, develop our strategic aims and objectives, making sure we account fully to all our funders and our regulators the Charity Commission and Companies House. They also oversee our overall financial health. This is all done by our Articles of Association, charity, and company law as well as other relevant legislation such as employment and health & safety law.

We are looking for candidates with:

  • Senior leadership experience in at least one of the charitable, public, academic or business sectors.
  • Previous experience as Chair of a charity is desirable.
  • A well-developed understanding of charity governance and finances.
  • An understanding of the the current fundraising environment, from major donors to trusts and foundations.
  • The ability to chair Board meetings successfully.
  • Excellent communication skills with the ability to represent Southwell Music Festival with confidence with key stakeholders.
  • An interest in music and commitment to supporting the delivery of inspiring, high- quality music that benefits music lovers and local people in Southwell and the wider county.

For more information about the role and how to apply download our Chair Recruitment Pack.

Download recruitment pack
Poet Kate Wakeling running a poetry workshop in a classroom. She's wearing an orange jumper and talking to three children, in school uniform who are sat at a desk.

Award-winning poet Kate Wakeling asks “what does music mean to you?”

On Monday 26 February Southwell residents were treated to a visit from award-winning poet, Kate Wakeling.

To mark Southwell Music Festival’s 10th anniversary this August, Kate is working with composer Cheryl Frances-Hoad to create a brand-new 15-minute piece for soprano soloist, string orchestra and chorus. This new piece will celebrate the power and possibilities of music and will be premiered as part of the Festival’s Sunday night concert alongside Mozart’s Requiem.

Kate is keen for the text creation to be a collaborative effort, and plans to weave together historical texts with words from the Southwell community.

As part of her visit to Southwell she ran workshops with Year 3 and 4 pupils from Lowes Wong Junior School and The Minster School, exploring their thoughts on music by asking them to explain it to an imaginary alien. Later in the day, she worked with two adult groups to explore their musical memories and what music had brought to their lives. She is also collecting responses to prompt questions by email, so it is not too late to submit your words if you would like to participate.

Southwell Music Festival 2024 takes place from 23 – 26th August with the full programme being announced at a free Launch Concert at Southwell Minster on Saturday 11 May. Free Launch Concert tickets can be booked via the Festival online box office.

Book Launch Concert Tickets
Marcus Farnsworth conducting a group of musicians in Southwell Minster

Celebrating 10 years of Southwell Music Festival.

Southwell Music Festival returns this August for its 10th anniversary year. The four-day festival runs from Friday 23 – Monday 26 August.

Established by Artistic Director Marcus Farnsworth and music-loving members of the Southwell community in 2014, the Festival is celebrating 10 years of welcoming professional musicians and performers from across the UK, as well as shining a spotlight on the best of Nottinghamshire’s home-grown talent.

10th anniversary commission and Mozart’s Requiem

To mark this special year, we are commissioning a brand-new 15-minute piece for choir and orchestra, written by award-winning British composer, Cheryl Frances-Hoad, with text by poet Kate Wakeling.

The as-yet-untitled new work will be premiered as part of the Festival’s Sunday night performance of Mozart’s Requiem and will be a contemporary companion piece to Mozart’s captivating choral masterpiece.

As part of the commission, award-winning poet Kate Wakeling will visit Southwell on 26 February to run a series of workshops with local people. Working with students from Lowes Wong Junior School and The Minster School, plus two adult community groups, Kate will collect texts about what music means to them, embedding their words and experiences into the final piece.

Book your place on a free workshop (places are free, but there is limited availaibility). You can also submit your reflections on music to Kate via email – find out more.

The new commission will also premiere in Scotland later this year and then in Northern Ireland and Wales in 2025, with the piece being made available for choirs worldwide via publisher Chester Music.

Come and Sing returns to Southwell Minster

Continuing the Mozart theme, the ever-popular Bank Holiday Monday Come and Sing will be a performance of Mozart’s Coronation Mass. Following a singing day and morning rehearsal, keen singers of all abilities will perform alongside professional soloists and the Festival Sinfonia in the brilliant acoustic of Southwell Minster, led by Festival Director Marcus Farnsworth.

Artist-in-residence – Mark Padmore

This year we will also welcome the celebrated British tenor Mark Padmore to Southwell as Festival headliner and artist-in-residence.

Mark will perform alongside the Festival Strings on Friday evening, curate and perform a Saturday lunchtime concert of English Song, perform as a soloist in Sunday’s Mozart Requiem, and will also feature as part of our Festival Marquee talks programme. 

Mark has an established international career in opera, concert and recital and has previously performed at the Royal Opera House, Glyndebourne Festival and with Sir Simon Rattle and the Berlin Philharmonic.

For children and families

Returning for its second year, Saturday afternoon’s Musical Picnic is a free family event open to all in the Minster Gardens. Plans are afoot for an afternoon of live performances by local ensembles, musical workshops, crafts and activities for all ages.

Book your free launch concert ticket

The full four-day Festival line-up will be revealed at a free Launch Concert on Saturday 11 May at Southwell Minster. Reserve your free tickets.

Tickets for the 2024 Festival are on sale from Monday 17 June. Festival Friends enjoy Priority Booking for all concerts and events. More about joining the Festival Friends.

As a registered charity, Southwell Music Festival also welcomes new sponsors and donors. If you or your business wants to make a difference to arts in the region by supporting Southwell Music Festival 2024 please email sar@southwellmusicfestival.com.