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The second New Paths festival – in Beverley, Yorkshire – has been every bit as successful as the first, with forty musicians performing in thirty events in five days, all of it spearheaded (and much of it performed) by Artistic Director Libby Burgess. From family events to late-night Bach, from chamber music and song to organ recitals, from to the world premiere of The Ebb Variations by Alasdair Nicolson to festival jazz drinks, it was an action-packed long weekend, and the audience of Beverley rose to the occasion with its characteristic warm welcome. The dates for 2018 have been announced as 5th – 8th April: put the dates in your diary! More information on www.newpathsmusic.com.

Libby’s latest disc with oboist James Turnbull has been released and is available for purchase here. ‘Airs, Blues & Dances’ includes works by Michael Tippett, Judith Weir, John Tavener and Richard Rodney Bennett.

James and Libby’s previous disc, ‘The English Oboe: Rediscovered’ was extremely well reviewed:

‘There is no disputing the technical facility of James Turnbull or the warm, sensitive pianism of Libby Burgess’ (Stephen Pritchard, Observer)

‘This CD is framed by arguably the finest ever recorded versions of Rubbra’s magnificent Sonata and Vaughan Williams’ Six Studies in English Folksong… I have little doubt that this new performance will become the benchmark recording…’ (David Jennings, Music Web International)

Both discs are released on Champs Hill Records.

April 2016 saw the first New Paths festival taking place – a feast of performances by some of the country’s finest young musicians at venues across Beverley. The festival, of which Libby is Artistic Director, immediately established itself as a major new event in the region.

There were 22 events during the four days of the festival, ranging from song and chamber music at St Mary’s, to organ recitals at the Minster, a Shakespeare celebration at the East Riding Theatre, and children’s events at Toll Gavel United Church. The town quickly took the performers to its heart, welcoming them in pubs and coffee shops throughout the town, and the new Premier Inn at Flemingate, as well as in the concert venues. Audiences blossomed, with over 1700 tickets taken and many people returning for event after event, as locals and visitors flocked to hear the vast array of outstanding music-making.

See here for further information.

Extremely excited to announce the launch of New Paths Music, a new festival of song and chamber music taking place in Beverley, Yorkshire, in April 2016. Have a look at our website, follow us on Twitter, like us on Facebook, put our dates in your diaries, and get ready to buy your tickets when they go on sale in January!

Back from an inspiring summer playing for various summer festivals – such a rich and important part of the British musical calendar. From the rural and picturesque Etchingham Festival – playing Brahms, Bridge and Schumann piano quartets with the Wieck Ensemble – to the heart of the City of London with St Lawrence Jewry Summer Music Festival – piano duets of Mozart, Schubert and Beethoven with Sholto Kynoch; from the long-established Dartington – Mozart, Berkeley and Poulenc music for winds and piano with the Berkeley Ensemble – to the new kid on the block, Southwell Music Festival, featuring a Schubertiade with Alison Rose, Nick Pritchard, and festival director Marcus Farnsworth, and then, perhaps the summer’s highlight, the Rite of Spring in its duet form with James Baillieu (lots of feedback, live commenting and photos available on their Twitter page, @Southwell_Music). Festivals are such a key chance for musicians to gather in different places, be inspired by their surroundings, their colleagues, and above all, the music. Thank you to those who make them happen!