High Barnet Chamber Music Festival returns next weekend

Having received its inaugural season last summer, High Barnet Chamber Music Festival returns to north London next weekend. Set up during the first few months of the pandemic with the initial aim of supporting the return of smaller-scale performances once it becomes safe for audiences to gather.

Following last year’s success, this season’s expanded programme runs from July 2 to 17 in St John the Baptist Church as well as the newly built Friends’ Recital Hall at Queen Elizabeth’s School for Boys. The festival’s 13 July charity showcase concert in aid of Ukraine will be the Hall’s first public performance and will feature the school’s staff and students.

Artistic director Joshua Ballance (below) said: ‘We’ve been working painstakingly with our artists to craft a varied programme that juxtaposes familiar favourites with less well-known but equally fantastic music. With repertoire from over two centuries, we’re confident that there’s something for everyone here.’

The festival kicks off next Saturday (2 July) with the New London Orchestra, French Horn player and BBC Young Musician finalist Annemarie Federle and tenor Brenton Spiteri, performing music by Ailsa Dixon in the premiere of a new arrangement by Balance as well as works by Britten, and Schoenberg. Ballance's own ensemble, Mad Song, will make its second High Barnet Chamber Music Festival appearance on 15 July.

The concert series was set up to provide high quality classical music performance and education in North London and Hertfordshire outside the centre of London, with all performances within walking distance of High Barnet tube station.

The organisation also offers music education opportunities and a volunteering programme for A-level music students including masterclasses and a student ambassador work experience scheme for local students to gain experience of fundraising and programming.

The festival is supported by Arts Council England, the Worshipful Company of Grocers, the Music Reprieval Trust, and the Cavatina Trust, as well as by donations given via the festival’s crowdfunding page.

You can find more information about High Barnet Chamber Music Festival including tickets (there are free tickets for 8–25s for three concerts and £5 tickets for the other two) here.