High Barnet Chamber Music Festival enters sixth year

This year’s event features a string of enticing concerts, supported by an Arts Council grant writes Rhian Morgan

Images of two women, on the left, woman with a flute, on the right, a woman with a harp. — Hannah Gillingham & Lise Vandersmissen – (Credit – High Barnet Chamber Music Festival)

The High Barnet Chamber Music Festival, which was established during Covid to provide opportunities for some of the country’s most promising young musicians, is now entering its sixth season with a trademark mix of well-known and not so well-known music, alongside schools’ workshops.

From a free family concert, at St Mark’s, Barnet Vale to contemporary music from the ensemble Mad Song, string quartets by Ravel and Britten at St John’s, Chipping Barnet, and an afternoon concert of early music by the all-women Portrait Players at QE Boys’ School, the music spans more than 400 years.

“We have many loyal and valued supporters who have been with us since the Festival’s first year” says its artistic director Dr Joshua Ballance.

“Our research tells us that audiences absolutely love what we are doing but I think there are many more would-be listeners out there who would really enjoy these concerts.

“People who feel they know nothing about classical music often wonder if they would enjoy it … and the answer is yes!

“Watching musicians play anything together is always an amazing experience” says Ballance. “We have some of the finest chamber musicians of their generation playing for us in Barnet and they are all passionate about this music.

“It’s not terribly formal … I’ll be introducing the concerts myself, there’s a free programme with every ticket and this gives you context and ideas for things to listen out for.”

Concerts:

6th June

3pm at St Mark’s Church, Barnet Vale, EN5 5HY

Hannah Gillingham & Lise Vandersmissen

Free Family Concert

13th June

7.30pm at St John the Baptist Church, EN5 4BW

Mad Song

Fire & Water: music by Ravel, Causton, Clyne, Murail, and more

20th June

7.30pm at St John the Baptist Church, EN5 4BW

Elmore Quartet

music by Ravel, Britten, Shostakovich, and Geyer

28th June

3pm at The Friends’ Recital Hall, Queen Elizabeth’s School, EN5 4DQ

The Portrait Players

music by Strozzi, Caccini, Leonarda, and Elton

Wine and other refreshments are served at all concerts.

For more details or to buy tickets, visit https://www.hbcmf.co.uk/

Or contact: [email protected] [email protected]

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